Keren Olam Hatorah’s visit to Passaic, New Jersey, resulted in a powerful display of kavod haTorah, as Gedolei Yisroel joined local rabbanim, roshei yeshiva, and baalei batim to rally support for Torah in Eretz Yisroel.

The day began with an intimate gathering at the home of R’ Barry Lebovits, where Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a and Harav Dovid Cohen shlit”a were joined by Harav Meir Stern shlit”a, and numerous other local rabbanim. R’ Menachem Rokowsky addressed the group, invoking Chazal’s teaching that one who hosts and supports a talmid chacham is as if he has brought the korban tamid. Quoting Rabbeinu Yonah, he added that wealth given but not directed toward Torah has no permanence, for its purpose is to sustain Torah itself.

The private gathering set the tone for a public maamad later that day, where thousands attended. Following Tehillim led by Passaic Yeshiva mashgiach Rav Nosson Weissman shlit”a, host R’ Barry Lebovits highlighted the sacrifice of the Gedolim, who had traveled tirelessly for over a week to sustain not only the largest yeshivos, but also the small kollelim that might otherwise close. “They’re thinking about Klal Yisroel,” he said, “and now we have the zechus to stand with them.”

Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch described support for Keren Olam HaTorah not simply as tzedakah but as a declaration. “We’re saying: We want Torah! We want Hashem! And when we show Him that, He returns to us—with bracha, with hatzlacha, with yeshuos.” He added that Torah in Eretz Yisroel determines the success of Torah in America, and those who support it will merit bracha in every area of life.