As War Rages

What are the important things to tell the Jewish People?

So, what are the important messages to get out while Israel is engaged in the most serious war in fifty years?

It depends who is sending out the message. My shul sent out the following:

To our dear Kehilla,

On behalf of the vaad, we are reaching out to anyone who might be on their own, or whose husband has been called to miluim, or anyone who is struggling with all that is going on and/or has any other needs whatsoever. We are here for you. If you are on your own and would appreciate company, or need help with your kids, or need errands, or anything at all, please reach out to us and we will do our best to arrange whatever you need.

And in the same spirit we are thinking of all of you who have sons and daughters called up. Please check this list to see if your family members that have been called up are listed, so that we can continue to daven for their safety and well-being.

Meanwhile, my museum is preparing to send out an inspirational message about how the name “Rising Lion” is taken from a verse that symbolizes the Jewish People’s return to strength. And on my blog, my previous post was about expressing appreciation not just to God but also to the endless thousands of people whose incredibly ingenuity and hard work over the past twenty years are keeping us safe (and who are working around the clock right now).

Let’s contrast all that with an email that was sent out on behalf of “The Gedolim” by Keren Olam HaTorah, a major organization currently organized a fundraising mission by The Gedolim to the USA:

Friday, June 13, 2025

A message from Keren Olam Hatorah

Klal Yisroel davens for the safety and security of Acheinu Bnei Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel.

The Roshei Yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, told us on a phone call this morning that the zechus of supporting Torah learning in Eretz Yisroel will protect the entire yishuv in Eretz Yisroel. They added that it is up to us in the United States to put in the effort to support Torah. The Roshei Yeshiva told us that, at this moment, we must continue working to raise money for the yeshivos and kollelim in whichever way we can.

Not a single word about the hundreds of thousands of Jews currently putting in enormous physical effort to protect the entire yishuv. Just an ask for money to sustain the unsustainable, the people who do not give any material help and instead increasingly drain the economy. And it’s dressed up with a non-traditional, non-supported, non-reasonable, non-seriously-believed claim that financing a mass-kollel system that never existed before in Jewish history will provide protection from Iran’s missiles.

I decided to take a look at Keren Olam HaTorah’s website. And what I found was the most beautiful, slick presentation of how the charedi world is so fundamentally broken.