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NEWS
Call for United Campaign to Increase Yeshiva Funding
By Betzalel Kahn
An emergency meeting of roshei yeshivos held at the home of
HaRav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi together with MKs from Degel
HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel focused on the severe financial
condition of the yeshiva world in Eretz Yisroel.
The meeting was initiated by HaRav Ezrachi, rosh yeshiva of
Yeshivas Ateres Yisroel, after speaking with several roshei
yeshivos about the extreme difficulties they face in
maintaining their yeshivas. HaRav Ezrachi opened the meeting
with an account of the existential threat to the yeshiva
world. He welcomed those present at the meeting and conveyed
the regrets of several prominent roshei yeshivos who were
unable to participate on such short notice: HaRav Chaim
Pinchos Scheinberg, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Torah Ohr, HaRav
Nosson Tzvi Finkel, rosh yeshivas of Yeshivas Mir, HaRav
Yehuda Addes, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Kol Yaakov, HaRav
Yigal Rosen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Or Yisroel, and HaRav
Eliyahu Abba Shaul, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Ohr Letzion.
Speakers included HaRav Simchah HaKohen Kook, the rov of
Rechovot and president of Yeshivas Me'or HaTalmud, HaRav
Nosson Rothstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Nezer HaTorah,
HaRav Moshe Mordechai Chodosh, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr
Elchonon, HaRav Boruch Weissbecker, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas
Beis Mattisyohu, HaRav Gavriel Toledano, rosh yeshiva of
Yeshivas Ohr Boruch, MK Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz, deputy minister
of welfare, MK Rabbi Shmuel Halpert, deputy minister of
transportation, MK Rabbi Meir Porush and MK Rabbi Moshe
Gafni.
Among the other participants attending the meeting were HaRav
Ben Tzion Ezrachi, a ram at Yeshivas Ateres Yisroel,
HaRav Yitzchok Ehrenfeld, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Beis
Shmuel, HaRav Gavriel Yosef Levy, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas
Be'er HaTorah, HaRav Avrohom Yitzchok HaKohen Kook, rosh
yeshiva of Yeshivas Me'or HaTalmud, and HaRav Moshe Yehuda
Schlesinger, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Kol Torah. At the end
of the meeting the host, HaRav Ezrachi, read aloud the
following resolutions:
1. A forum of roshei yeshivos will be set up to
represent the yeshiva world. The forum will meet periodically
at intervals to be determined.
2. The Knesset members will meet with the forum
periodically and before every decision affecting the
yeshivas.
3. A delegation of roshei yeshivos will travel to
Diaspora countries to publicize the crisis situation and the
threat to the yeshivas' existence.
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