The epicenter of Keren Olam Hatorah’s historic campaign to be machzik the mosdos of Eretz Yisroel reached Lakewood on Tuesday and Wednesday. Following meetings and asifos in Baltimore and Chicago earlier in the week, the Lakewood kehilla was zocheh to welcome three of the dor’s towering gedolei Torah — Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a, Harav Dovid Cohen shlit”a, and Harav Don Segal shlit”a — who met with groups of baalei tzedakah and supporters at the homes of noted askanim and philanthropists.
Tuesday’s events – at the homes of renowned tomchei tzedaka R’ Reuven Wolf and R’ Baruch Jeremias – featured a live video hookup with Harav Dov Landau shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, who passionately addressed a common concern voiced by a participant: Does giving to Keren Olam Hatorah take away from local mosdos? Rav Dov answered emphatically, saying that “when you give to the mosdos haTorah in Eretz Yisroel, you are in fact strengthening Torah in America. The future of Torah in chutz la’aretz is intrinsically tied to the Torah in Eretz Yisroel.” He concluded with a bracha: “Whatever you give will be returned to you keifel kiflayim.”
At the event in the home of R’ Baruch Jeremias, one donor emotionally expressed, “Ever since getting involved in Keren Olam Hatorah as a friend of Reuven Wolf, my purpose in life went up exponentially.”
Rav Don Segal shlit”a, speaking at the same event, said, “Giving away hard-earned money that one would use for personal needs — that is true mesiras nefesh. And mesiras nefesh brings nissim.”
Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a recalled the unprecedented efforts of last year’s campaign, urging supporters to hold fast to that madreigah: “Last year we were tested to dig deep. This year, our nisayon is to maintain that exalted level of giving. In return, Hashem will shower us with brachos and an increase of kavod shamayim.”
On Tuesday night, the sense of achdus and urgency reached its crescendo at a massive atzeres tefillah held in Bais Medrash Govoha, led by the visiting gedolim together with the BMG roshei yeshiva. Thousands in person — and many more via live hookup — joined reciting Tehillim, davening for acheinu Bnei Yisroel amid the ongoing war with Iran and the struggles of bnei torah in Eretz Yisroel.
The next day, another gathering took place at the home of R’ Yitzchok Rokowsky, whose role in overseeing the distribution of the Keren’s funds was praised by Rav Moshe Hillel as a model of integrity and effectiveness.
“Our hatzlacha anywhere in the world depends on whether Hashem is with us,” Rav Moshe Hillel said during his address. “And the way to bring the Ribbono Shel Olam into our lives is by strengthening Torah. When we support Torah, we push away kfira.”
Rav Don Segal reinforced the same theme: “The whole kiyum of the world depends on Torah, and Torah in Eretz Yisroel has a special chibah. Those who support it will see brachah in both ruchniyus and gashmiyus.”
Yet perhaps the most powerful moment came at an event hosted by R’ Yaakov Taub in Toms River. R’ Reuven Wolf shared a story that silenced the room: A Rosh Kollel in Eretz Yisroel used to give each avreich an extra 200 shekel per child. One month, a yungerman came to him with a 200-shekel check, explaining that his child had tragically passed away — and although they had lost a child, he and his wife hadn’t lost their honesty. He returned the extra stipend.
“These are the people we are supporting,” R’ Reuven said, visibly moved. “I feel so small next to them.”
As of Thursday morning, at least $28 million had been pledged or donated to Keren Olam Hatorah by local philanthropists.
