A Message From Rabbi Pesach Lerner

 A Message From Rabbi Pesach Lerner

Chairman, Eretz HaKodesh  

Dear Friends,

There has been much discussion and confusion surrounding the World Zionist Organization (WZO) and Eretz HaKodesh’s role within it. To help clarify things, we’ve put together a few key points.

Let’s begin with some facts about the WZO:

• The WZO played a major part in creating the State of Israel. It has evolved since then and today plays a significant role in shaping Jewish life in Israel and around the world as the voice of the Jewish people, particularly American Jewry.

• It is governed by parties elected every five years at the World Zionist Congress and is determined by party size and coalition building.

• The WZO has a huge influence on many aspects of Israeli society.

• This influence is primarily gained through its annual income of $2.3 billion from its share of purchase taxes on land it owns in Israel.  

• These funds belong to Jews across the world. That includes us.

• The distribution of these funds and the influence the WZO exerts are determined by delegate representation and control.

Historically, the vast majority of WZO funds have been used to support the infrastructure and growth of the State of Israel, benefiting all its citizens.

For decades, this structure remained largely unchanged — until a dramatic shift occurred in recent times…

Let’s explain:

Facing a challenge of minimal relevance in Israel, the American non-Orthodox and liberal-left movements decided to make the State of Israel a central part of their agenda. Sensing an opportunity, they mobilized their membership to vote in the WZO elections.

The results speak for themselves:

For the last 25-30 years, the Congress has been controlled by the non-Orthodox and liberal-left movements. As the majority of the WZO, they claim to represent Diaspora Jewry — including YOU. Using their influence, they have utilized WZO funds to promote their agenda, undermine our Torah values, attack traditional family values, and challenge the Kedusha of Torah and Eretz Yisrael.

Perhaps their most effective tactic has been their use of challenges in the Israeli Supreme Court to attack many aspects of Orthodox religious life in Eretz Yisrael. Court cases have been brought against the use of Mechitzahs at Mekomos Hakedoshim, specifically the Kosel, against Mehadrin buses, Kosher cell phones, and most dramatically, welfare and childcare benefits for tens of thousands of Torah students and their families.

That’s when Eretz HaKodesh stepped in.

Under the guidance of Gedolei Yisrael, Eretz HaKodesh was founded to counter the non-Orthodox and liberal left movements and to give Torah Jews a much-needed voice.
In the past five years, we have stood on the front lines, fighting against the expansion of pluralism and the growth of alternative forms of Judaism in various areas of Israeli society.

In addition to many positive projects and endeavors, Eretz HaKodesh has successfully directed much-needed funds to vital causes. Since winning 25 delegates in 2020, Eretz HaKodesh’s representatives helped direct millions of NIS from the Jewish Agency and KKL/JNF toward causes close to our hearts.

This includes:

• 120,000,000 NIS for Youth and At-Risk Programs

• 35,000,000 NIS for American Yeshivos and Seminaries

• 40,000,000 NIS for Religious Cities (Youth Movements, activities)

• 6,000,000 NIS for Tuition Support for Israeli Seminary Girls

The next election is NOW.

In the last election, the liberal movements gathered 50,000 votes.
We, who truly care about the kedusha of Eretz Yisroel, must do much better.

We all need to vote to preserve Kedushas Eretz Yisrael!
VOTE Slate #11 today at www.ERETZHAKODESH.org.

Remember, not voting is, by default, a vote for the non-Orthodox and liberal left movements.

Wishing you a Chag Kasher V’Sameach, and a beautiful Yom Tov.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Pesach Lerner
Chairman, Eretz HaKodesh