[COMMUNICATED] At a recent emergency meeting between Chinuch Atzmai’s Keren Kiruv and the Gedolei Hador, which included Maran Hagaon Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Maran Hagaon Rav Gershon Edelstein, Hagaon Rav Dov Landau and Hagaon Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Keren Kiruv executives outlined the dire financial picture facing the organization that could have a catastrophic impact on thousands of children in Israel’s periphery seeking a religious education, only weeks ahead of the new school year.

The gedolim were told that without a significant influx of support from donors, the organization would be unable to pay the bus companies who are commissioned by Keren Kiruv to transport twenty thousand of mostly secular boys and girls who live in outlying towns and cities to quality schools operated by the Chunich Atzmai educational system. “There is a very real possibility that many of these children will be disconnected from Moreshet Yisroel and be forced to learn in a secular school devoid of any Yiddishkeit,” exclaimed one of the Keren Kiruv directors to the concerned gedolim.

“Will they be turned away from a religious school just because they live too far away and can’t afford transportation!”

Rav Mordechai Karelitz, one of Keren Kiruv’s founders revealed, “Eleven years ago when we had a meeting at the home of Gadol Hador, Maran Rav Eliyashiv, Z’tl, which included many other leading Torah luminaries such as Maran Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman, we created the first ‘Kol Koreh’ aimed at potential donors in the frum community in Israel and America. When I realized the burden of responsibility involved, I asked Rav Elyashiv, ‘How can I commit to and handle with this important responsibility?’ The revered sage responded, ‘You will give this project everything you have. If it has to be halted for any reason, it will be halted.’ Well, Baruch Hashem, here we are 11 years later and after paying over 700 million shekels (almost $200 million dollars) towards transporting children to the Chinuch Atzmai schools all over Israel, we say that every day we are able to do so, is a miracle.”

Maran Rav Edelstein blessed all of the generous donors to the Keren. “Those who assist in bringing these children to religious schools so they can learn Torah and perform mitzvos are blessed in Heaven. The importance of contributing to this fund cannot be underestimated.”

At the end of the meeting, the Gedolim signed a special ‘Kol Koreh’ urging all G-d fearing Jews to donate to Keren Kiruv, and “Adopt a Child,” in order to provide them with a Torah education and lifestyle.

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