In a landmark decision with far-reaching implications for the Torah world, the rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, Maran Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, has announced that the Keren Olam HaTorah initiative will be extended for another year.
The fund, established last year to provide critical support to Israeli yeshivos and kollelim grappling with steep budget cuts, is set to continue its lifesaving mission following months of deliberation.
Sources close to the rosh yeshiva confirmed that Rav Hirsch will be embarking on another global fundraising mission shortly after Shavuos, joined by leading gedolim representing all sectors of Torah Jewry.
The delegation will travel to the United States and other major Jewish centers as part of the renewed effort to raise funds.
The decision to continue the campaign came after intense internal debate and discussions with major philanthropists. In recent weeks, numerous roshei yeshiva visited Rav Hirsch’s home, pleading with him to maintain the fund that had provided crucial financial breathing room to Torah institutions throughout the past year.
As previously reported, during Chol Hamoed Pesach, Rav Aviezer Piltz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tifrach, visited Rav Hirsch and heard firsthand about the ongoing deliberations.
After extended consultation and soul-searching, Rav Hirsch reached a definitive decision: Keren Olam HaTorah will move forward into its second year.
Over the past year, the fund succeeded in distributing tens of millions of dollars to hundreds of yeshivos across Eretz Yisroel. This was done in direct response to severe government budget slashes that threatened to destabilize the backbone of the Torah world.
Last year’s fundraising efforts saw roshei yeshiva, admorim, and rabbonim travel across the United States, South America, and London, rallying support and galvanizing communities around the shared mission of hachzokas haTorah.
{Matzav.com Israel}