A group of prominent Orthodox rabbis is set to embark on an international fundraising campaign this week.
Recently, Haredi Rabbis in Israel went to the U.S. to raise funds. This was after the Israeli High Court suddenly stopped public funding to yeshivas whose students are avoiding serving in the Israeli army.
That fundraising drive was led by Rabbi Dov Lando, 94, and Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, 87, joint leaders of the non-Hasidic Lithuanian Haredi community. It was wildly successful, and the rabbonim raised the incredible sum of $100 million.
Although this is a huge sum, it can't support these yeshivas in the long-term. What it did though was that it provided much needed "breathing room" for affected yeshivas as they face these new budget cuts.
Keren Olam Hatorah is a foundation established to support affected yeshivas. Under their auspices, seven rabbonim figures will travel to North and South America to raise additional funds. The delegation includes:
- Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsh
- Rav Don Segal
- Rav Yaakov Hillel
- Rav Avraham Salim
- Rav Shimon Galai
- Rav Malkiel Kotler of Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood
Their itinerary covers Brazil, Panama, and Mexico from Sunday to Wednesday, returning on Thursday.
Rav Dovid Cohen, the head of the renowned Chevron Yeshiva, will also tour North American communities including Lakewood, Monsey, Passaic, Toronto, and Miami over the course of a week.
The High Court's ruling went into effect in April, and stopped the flow of 270 million shekels ($72 million) for the current year and is expected to create a 400 million shekel ($106 million) shortfall in 2025.
Since this ruling, and the subsequent call-up orders, Haredim have been protesting, taking to the streets to fight what they view as an attack on their way of life.
The ultra-Orthodox Shas party urged haredi young men to ignore call-up orderes from the IDF, as political divisions over the controversial issue showed signs of widening.
Shas explained: “The Gedolim have instructed, categorically, that as of now, as a new law defining the status of Yeshiva students has not been passed, there shall be no response to any summons or even summons for a first order, and therefore, not to show up to the recruitment stations.”
“It’s our duty now to stand strong, like a wall that can’t be breached, and make clear for the world to know, that there’s no force in the world that will, God forbid, succeed in detaching the students of the Torah from their studies.”
