The night after the Pesach cleaning and bedikas chometz were finally over and bochurim of the Yeshiva were fast asleep, anti-Semites made their way into the Yeshiva campus to set an arson all over the place. This was their way to celebrate the 130th birthday of their role model – Adolf Hitler (yimach shmo vezichro!).
(The writing reads "Death to Jews")
It was only a miracle that a late guest has arrived to the Yeshiva and scared away the evildoers. Boruch Hashem no one was hurt, but anti-Semites still managed to cause some considerable damage.
The Yeshiva was full of guests for Pesach – around 200 people including children. It is shocking just to think of possible consequences if the criminals succeeded to set on fire the dormitory and the cistern with the gasoline used to heat the Yeshiva campus during the cold Russian winters…
(CCTV video of the fire)
Yeshiva “Toras Chaim” of Moscow is the center of Torah in Russia. It was established by a renowned Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik ztz”l straight after the collapse of the “Iron wall”. Over 3000 students graduated from the Yeshiva during this time, many of whom have become rabbis and leaders of numerous communities all over the world.
It is no doubt that the merit of Torah learnt in the Yeshiva day and night has guarded over 200 Jewish people. The bochurim, rabbis and guests of the Yeshiva sang “Vehi sheamda” particularly emotianally this Seder Pesach.
We live in a material world and can not rely on G-d's miracles. We must make our efforts, and in the light of the resurrection of antisemitic attacks we are obliged to take care of the protection of the Yeshiva. We must rebuild the burnt down premises.
But most importantly, we must strengthen the Torah learning – this will be an appropriate reply to anti-Semites. They say “pen yirbe” (lest Jews multiply) and G-d says “ken yirbe” (Jews will in fact multiply)!
How much can we raise for the protection of Jewish lives and G-d's Torah?
The target of this fundraising campaign is in 3 stages:
1. Urgent need - $ 100,000 - to rebuild what was destroyed by arson, to organize permanent security for at least one year, to upgrade video surveillance around the perimeter, to repair the fences and locks.
2. Current need - $ 200,000 - urgent needs plus comprehensive measures to ensure fire safety of the entire complex of the Yeshiva.
3. Real need - $ 1,000,000 - all of the above plus complete renovation of the Yeshiva premises, solving all the problems accumulated over the years (leaking roof, old wiring, whole floor in need of repair, problems with water and sewage, a broken road on the Yeshiva premises, and other problems).
We need you! Please donate generously!
You can address whatever questions and queries you have to Pinchos Shwalb on his WhatsApp +972-52360-7875. Anytime.
Large donations can be made by transferring to our bank account in the UK:
Beneficiary's Name: Jewish Education and Publishing Trust
Address: 441 Bury New Road, Salford, Manchester, M7 4LE, United Kingdom
(The writing reads "Death to Jews")