"Bnei HaTorah" Exposed: This is how conservatives interfered in the sector - investigation

In a particularly disturbing investigation conducted by “Kikar HaShabbat,” it emerges that a Conservative organization financed the posting of notices and pashkevilim (protest posters), amounting to tens of thousands of shekels, in Haredi concentrations, and also attempted to lure Haredi journalists under the guise of a "war against idol worship." In addition to meddling deep inside the Haredi sector, very serious questions also arise, The full investigation (Haredim).

Will the sleepy Zionist Congress elections spark a new storm regarding the conduct of the Conservative movement? This is what emerges from the investigation we publish today (Monday) in “Kikar HaShabbat,” which shows that the movement brazenly pushed its nose into the heart of the sector, all while cloaking itself in fake righteousness as if they truly want the Haredim in the Zionist Congress.

Anyone who knows (and there aren’t many… ch”b) the Zionist Congress knows that there are major struggles between the Conservative movement and the Haredi faction, ever since the latter joined the Zionist Congress in the last elections – “Eretz HaKodesh” of Rabbi Pesach Lerner, a surprising move that was extensively covered at the time by “Kikar HaShabbat.”

But the height of the struggle, it turns out, remained behind the scenes and far from the glaring spotlight – and as you are about to discover, this involves meddling in the "Holy of Holies" of the Haredi world – by the Conservative movement and its member Dr. Yizhar Hess, who serves on its behalf as Deputy Chairman of the Zionist Congress and a member of the Zionist executive, and also sits on the board of the organization involved.

The Campaign in the Haredi Street

If you didn’t notice, a few weeks ago the notice boards in Haredi concentrations across the country were covered in pashkevilim and posters crying out against voting and participating in the Zionist Congress – a topic currently on the agenda in Diaspora Jewry, and under discussion among the leading rabbis of Israel.

On one hand, Rabbi Dov Landau expressed a firm stance against voting in the elections, and on the other, “Eretz HaKodesh” officials presented the support of the late Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky zt”l, along with other rabbis in Israel and the U.S., who supported voting in the previous elections.

The posters that appeared here in Israel, along with several rounds of pashkevilim, were seen as unusual because the issue of the Zionist Congress elections did not raise much interest in the Israeli media, and most of the Haredi public wasn’t even familiar with the details – which, as mentioned, mostly affect Diaspora residents.

Kikar HaShabbat’s investigation reveals that the printing and distribution of the pashkevilim was funded by the “Merkaz Olami” organization – an organization that manages the Conservative movement’s activity in the Zionist Congress.

As can be seen in the invoice revealed here for the first time, representing payment for part of the campaign, “Merkaz Olami” transferred tens of thousands of shekels for a round of street poster distribution, against participation in the Zionist Congress elections.

The interest of the Conservatives is apparently clear. A Haredi figure in the Congress explained to Kikar HaShabbat: "Despite the fact that they tried in every way to mask their involvement: the Eretz HaKodesh faction, which represents the Torah-observant public in the Zionist Congress, constitutes for them a political and ideological enemy, and they are trying to weaken its power. The Conservative movement activists tried to influence public opinion in the Haredi sector in order to harm Eretz HaKodesh and prevent its success in the U.S. elections.”

Beyond the shock and the arrogant presumption to speak in the name of the great rabbis of Israel and to hang posters in their name, the manner in which they chose to act raises legal questions and even possibly libelous offenses.

Additionally, beyond the seemingly cynical attempt to manipulate Haredi public opinion, it can be seen that Conservative leaders also tried to conceal their involvement in the campaign. Dr. Yizhar Hess, a Conservative movement activist, hurried to retweet the photo of the posters that were hung in Haredi concentrations, as if to express camaraderie with Eretz HaKodesh members facing those posters – when in fact, the posters were funded by the very organization in which he serves on the board and represents in managing the campaign.

Beyond the moral aspect, the behavior of the Conservative movement raises legal and ethical questions. A senior legal source involved in the details told Kikar HaShabbat today: “The distributors of the pashkevilim may be exposed to defamation lawsuits, and if indeed elements related to a party running in the elections are behind it, it may be considered a violation of election laws. Moreover, he said, the distribution of anti-Zionist material by an organization funded by the Zionist Congress may constitute a violation of the Congress’s funding rules.”

The Influence Network: Attempts to Recruit Haredi Journalists Meanwhile, Kikar HaShabbat’s investigation also reveals that the poster campaign represents just the tip of the iceberg in a years-long influence effort, whereby the Conservative movement has tried to gain influence and key figures in the Haredi public in order to defame the name of “Eretz HaKodesh.”

It turns out that individuals from the movement approached Haredi journalists, attempting to entice them to amplify messages against voting in the elections, allegedly in the names of the great rabbis of Israel.

It goes without saying that most of the journalists and media professionals who received these enticing offers refused to join the campaign once it became clear who stood behind the offer.

“A while ago, a well-known figure in the Haredi media approached me and indirectly and subtly offered me to join the campaign for a very high salary,” a senior figure in Haredi media (whose name is withheld – ch”b) told Kikar HaShabbat. “The essence of the campaign was to harm the Eretz HaKodesh organization and steer Haredi public opinion against them using posters, news items in the press, and social media messaging, including Twitter. The strategy of the campaign was to plant in public opinion the idea that the organization is working to inject Zionism into the Haredi sector and to inflame opposition from the extremist factions against Eretz HaKodesh.”

He added, “After more thorough investigation, I understood that the campaign was entirely orchestrated by the Conservative movement, whose goal is to eliminate Eretz HaKodesh, which is obstructing their plans here in Israel, and therefore I informed the person that I would not be able to take part in advising the campaign. Despite the tempting offer, I preferred to refuse and not work on behalf of the Conservative movement, and I know they did not only approach me, but also other Haredi journalists.”

Another well-known figure involved in many sector campaigns added that powerful figures from general media are involved in managing the campaign and in recruiting key figures in Haredi media to join.

According to him: “Already several years ago, a large PR firm wrote a blank check for any Haredi PR person who would agree to join the campaign and lead it for them in the Haredi sector. They used key figures in general media who mobilized all their business and professional connections to recruit Haredi agents for a long-term campaign aimed at defaming ‘Eretz HaKodesh.’”

As mentioned, the posters and pashkevilim that were revealed are not a one-time act, but rather part of a deliberate and organized campaign that may touch the fine line between legality and the gray area, involving actions with potential criminal elements and violations of defamation laws, nonprofit funding laws, and Zionist Congress election laws.

“Kikar HaShabbat” reached out for a response from the Merkaz Olami of the Conservative movement, as well as from Yizhar Hess (who personally declined to comment – ch”b) and from Eretz HaKodesh, but so far no response has been received. Once received, it will be included.