Leading roshei yeshiva from Eretz Yisroel kicked off Keren Olam Hatorah’s mission to the US in Baltimore, sharing a message of urgency, achrayus, and achdus. The delegation included Harav Yaakov Hillel, Harav Avraham Salim, Harav Yosef Chevroni and Harav Chaim Mordechai Ausband. They were joined by Baltimore’s rabbanim and manhigim, led by Harav Aharon Feldman and Harav Yaakov Hopfer.

The day began at the home of a prominent tomeich torah, where the roshei yeshiva shared divrei bracha and chizuk. The host reflected on the spiritual growth Baltimore has experienced through the visits of gedolei Eretz Yisroel, noting that numerous kollelim and yeshivos have opened in recent years.

“The roshei yeshiva have received from us, but we have received from them far more,” he said.

Rav Salim described the chizuk the gedolim themselves draw from the warmth of American Jewry. “In Eretz Yisroel we are disgraced. They pursue us, and we are degraded in the eyes of the public,” he said. “But we come here and we are respected. It is a hug for us. It is a hug for the Torah.”

Rav Ausband spoke of the severe pressure facing the olam haTorah, with yungeleit struggling to meet basic expenses and bochurim facing the threat of arrest. He recalled traveling to a chasuna with a bochur and asking whether he was afraid of being arrested. The bochur calmly replied that he was not, but Rav Ausband admitted that he himself was terrified. Breaking down in tears, he spoke of the fear the roshei yeshiva carry for the young men entrusted to them.

The delegation later visited the home of Dr. Paul Volosov, where community members came to receive brachos and hadracha.

During the meeting at his home, Dr. Volosov emphasized that the burden can no longer rest primarily upon wealthy donors. “This is no longer for the gvirim alone,” he said. “We need everyone. This is for Klal Yisroel.”

Citing the principle, “Ish nidcheh v’ein hatzibbur nidcheh,” he declared that when Klal Yisroel unites behind the olam haTorah, it becomes a force that cannot be displaced.

At a community-wide asifa that afternoon at Khal Shomrei Emunah, Rav Feldman warned that any weakening of the Torah of Eretz Yisroel affects Jews throughout the world. “The Torah of Eretz Yisroel is the engine for Torah in the entire world,” he said.

Rav Hopfer spoke of the extraordinary nissim Klal Yisroel has witnessed during the wars of recent years. “Torah is meigen umatzil,” he declared, urging the kehilla to support the Torah that provides protection for all of Klal Yisroel.

Rav Hillel then spoke, declaring that Klal Yisroel can no longer rely upon changing political coalitions to sustain the yeshivos.

“Klal Yisroel must support its own Torah,” he said. “The baalei batim who give to the Keren do so with real mesirus nefesh, and those who receive the money must match it with their own mesirus nefesh in learning.”