An organization named "Degel HaTorah" was part of Agudas
Yisroel over fifty years ago. This is the announcement of its
founding.
Purpose:
Degel Torah wants to mobilize and centralize the forces of
Torah, the sages of the yeshivos, and to render them a
dynamic, active and influencing factor in Jewish population
of the Holy Land.
Degel Torah intends to make the light of Torah illuminate the
whole of the Jewish Palestine, to organize all Torah forces
to fight for the sovereignty of the Torah over the whole
public life of the people of Israel in the Holy Land.
Plans:
Degel Torah have fixed an elaborate plan of activities toward
the realization of their noble purposes. The preliminary
activities, according to the plan, are as follows:
1. SHLUCHIM: "For the Torah shall come from Zion and
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." From time to time
"Shluchim" from Jerusalem are to visit, alone or in pairs,
all the corners of the country, in all towns, villages and
settlements of the new Yishuv, to influence, to encourage, to
communicate with the people there. They will gather all the
dispersed sparks to one great light to enlighten the deep
darkness.
2. PRIZE FUND: This fund will distribute prizes for
distinguished pupils of the Torah educating institutions, in
compliance with a fixed program worked out by experts. The
"Shluchim" actually arrange the examinations and the
distribution of the prizes, in the towns of the New
Yishuv.
The benefit of those prizes is double: first it will
encourage the pupils to continue their learning, and will
thereby help to create a living contact with the discouraged
pupils in the middle of the proud irreligious neighborhood
surrounding them. Especially in the new Yishuv, those prizes
will prove and assure them that they do not stand alone.
3. COMBATING THE IGNORANCE: To propagate the knowledge
of Torah by founding lectures everywhere, support and
centralization of the lecturers.
4. FUND FOR AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS: This fund was
established in order to enable the young Torah authorities
who meet difficulties in fulfilling their duty of publishing
works in Torah-literature, the importance of which is
inestimably high, and the relevance of which is very great
due to the constantly arising Halachic problems developing
together with increase of the Yishuv.
5. FUND FOR STIPENDS: There are many among the younger
Torah scholars who might become famous sages, but are
compelled to neglect their studies due to financial
difficulty. This fund is to supply such stipends to these
skilled youths, to enable them to advance in their
knowledge.
Torah Friends are requested to participate in the holy
activities of Degel Torah.
For the sum of $40 he will acquire the merit of a pair of
Shluchim to be sent.
For the sum of $20 he will acquire the merit of 100 pages
gemora which a pupil will study.
For the sum of $20 he will acquire the merit of supporting a
Lecturer for a month
For the sum of $50 he will acquire the merit of helping to
publish Torah Literature.
For the sum of $50 he will acquire the merit of a stipend for
one of the skilled young scholars for a month.
