Keren Olam HaTorah’s historic campaign to be mechazek the mosdos of Eretz Yisroel arrived in Lakewood on Tuesday, June 17, for two days of chizuk and achdus, marking one of the kehilla’s most memorable moments of the year.

The kehilla was zocheh to welcome three towering gedolei Torah — Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a, Harav Dovid Cohen shlit”a, and Harav Don Segal shlit”a — who spent their time in Lakewood meeting with baalei tzedakah and supporters in the homes of leading askanim and philanthropists.

On the first day of the whirlwind campaign through the Ihr Hatorah, gatherings took place at the homes of baalei tzedakah R’ Reuven Wolf and R’ Baruch Jeremias, featuring a live video address from Harav Dov Landau shlit”a. Responding to a question about whether giving to Keren Olam HaTorah takes away from local mosdos, Rav Dov noted that the opposite is true: “When you give to the mosdos haTorah in Eretz Yisroel, you are in fact strengthening Torah in America, because the future of Torah in chutz la’aretz is intrinsically tied to Torah in Eretz Yisroel.”

Rav Don Segal spoke of the mesirus nefesh inherent in giving away hard-earned money for Torah, stressing that such sacrifice results in open nissim for the donors.

Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, meanwhile, recalled last year’s unprecedented campaign efforts and urged supporters to hold onto 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 it will be marbeh kavod shamayim.”

The highlight of the first day was a massive atzeres tefillah in Bais Medrash Govoha, where the visiting gedolim joined the roshei yeshiva in leading thousands in Tehillim for Acheinu Bnei Yisroel, amid the then-ongoing war with Iran and the challenges facing bnei Torah in Eretz Yisroel. Thousands more participated via live hookup, creating a powerful display of achdus.

The campaign continued the following day at the home of R’ Yitzchok Rokowsky, a baal tzedakah whom Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch lauded for his scrupulous oversight in distributing the Keren’s funds. Rav Moshe Hillel told participants that hatzlacha in all areas depends on Hashem’s presence, 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 added: “The 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.”

One particularly moving moment came at an event in Toms River, hosted by R’ Yaakov Taub, when R’ Reuven Wolf shared the story of a Rosh Kollel in Eretz Yisroel who provided an extra stipend per child to his avreichim. After a tragic petirah of a child, one yungerman returned the stipend, saying that while he had lost a child, he had not lost his honesty. “These are the people we are supporting,” R’ Reuven said, visibly emotional.