Keren Olam HaTorah’s mission to Switzerland began in early November in Zurich and continued to Geneva, where they arrived to a jubilant welcome from the city’s kehilla. 

Their first stop was Talmud Torah Sinai, where hundreds of children greeted the gedolim with singing. The Gedolim then addressed the talmidim and rebbeim, offering divrei bracha and chizzuk in their learning.

Throughout the day, the rabbanim and roshei yeshiva met privately with numerous philanthropists and community leaders who sought to join Keren Olam Hatorah’s cause with generous pledges to support the yeshivos and kollelim of Eretz Yisroel.

A grand dinner for the nedivei lev of Geneva took place that evening at the Intercontinental Hotel, featuring addresses by Rav Yosef Chevroni shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron; Rav Mendel Pevzner shlit”a, Rav of Geneva; and R’ Reuven Wolf, Chairman of Keren Olam HaTorah. Each speaker emphasized the privilege and achrayus of sustaining lomdei torah, highlighting the enduring bond between the Swiss Jewish community and Eretz Yisroel.

Following the dinner, the Gedolim entered a packed adjoining ballroom, where thousands of men, women, and children — including many from nearby French communities — awaited their arrival.

The maamad opened with a video address by Rav Dov Landau shlit”a, who extended a bracha to the Swiss kehillah for their steadfast support of Torah. A letter from Rav Baruch Dov Povarsky shlit”a was then read by Rav Yosef Toledano shlit”a, who vividly described the financial crisis facing yeshivos and praised Keren Olam HaTorah as a vital lifeline for them.

The keynote drasha was delivered by Rav Avraham Salim shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Maor HaTorah, who described the dire need for global tomchei Torah to stand shoulder to shoulder with Eretz Yisroel’s yeshivos. Rav Shimon Galai shlit”a concluded the evening with powerful divrei chizuk, calling for achdus and a renewed commitment to the mission.

Late that night, the Gedolim departed Geneva for their return to Eretz Yisroel.