Approximately 20,000 seminary girls gathered at three major events across Israel on Tuesday ahead of a nationwide fundraising day for Keren Olam HaTorah.
The gatherings were held in Bnei Brak, Modi’in Illit and Yerushalayim as dozens of seminaries prepared to send tens of thousands of older students out Wednesday morning to raise funds for yeshivos and kollelim throughout Eretz Yisroel.
Approximately 5,000 girls attended the Bnei Brak gathering at Keter Harimon, where the central address was delivered by HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau.
HaRav Landau told the students that they had been given a rare opportunity to take part in a mission affecting all of Klal Yisroel and supporting what he described as the foundation of the Jewish people’s eternal existence.
He invoked Rav Saadia Gaon’s teaching that the Jewish nation exists only through the Torah and urged the students to help sustain the yeshivos and kollelim of Eretz Yisroel through Keren Olam HaTorah.
HaGaon HaRav Avraham Salim, a member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, also addressed the gathering and praised Jewish communities in Israel and around the world for shouldering the responsibility of supporting the yeshiva world.
HaRav Salim said the students were being entrusted by the Gedolei Hador with the responsibility of working on behalf of Keren Olam HaTorah and inspiring others to participate.
In Modi’in Illit, approximately 3,000 girls gathered at the Opalion Hall under the leadership of HaGaon HaRav Shimon Galai and the city’s rabbonim. The hall’s owners donated the venue despite receiving very short notice.
Keren Olam HaTorah chairman Rabbi Reuven Wolf described the severe financial challenges facing yeshivos following government funding cuts and told the students that the situation was critical.
“This is a genuine cry,” Rabbi Wolf said, assuring the students that their work was being carried out with the full backing of the Gedolei Hador.
The largest gathering took place in Yerushalayim, where approximately 12,000 seminary girls filled the large Boyan kloiz on Malchei Yisrael Street.
The event opened with the recitation of Tehillim for the success of the campaign.
HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch adjusted his regular Torah schedule to attend and deliver the central address. HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron, and HaGaon HaRav Avraham Salim also participated.
HaRav Hirsch spoke about the tremendous zechus awaiting those participating in the campaign ahead of Yom Kippur. He stressed that the future of the yeshivos and kollelim now rests heavily upon those working to secure their continued financial support.
The three gatherings concluded with the students preparing to begin the nationwide fundraising drive Wednesday morning, seeking to ensure the continued growth and survival of the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
5 Responses
What a zechus for the nishei yisrael and such a valuable lesson in chinuch and hashkafa that they should take part in such a tremendous thing. Ignore the scoffers and self-hating Jews telling you otherwise, giving something to this is certain to Grant you a healthy and successful New Year, hashem doesn’t punish helping tzadikim
Does this include Americans whose parents paid for a year of learning, but are now asked to fundraise? Why can’t bochurim themselves make the calls?
Just to clarify – the use of the word “seminary” in this context is a translation of the word “Seminar” as used in Hebrew – which refers to Israeli Chareidi girls’ high schools. These were high school students – not American seminary girls.
an Israeli Yid
You don’t understand the concept of Merit? Nobody is being forced to give anything. It’s your privilege to give. And those who do will be rewarded immensely and the one who facilitates the donation gets full benefit of the donation plus extra for facilitating. Learn Judaism
Yid, thanks for the clarification!
Rebemes, I was not questioning donors, just whether girls were really volunteers here.