By 5 Towns Central Staff

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (August 17, 2026)

A newly released 60-page document offers a detailed look at the massive private fundraising effort supporting Torah institutions in Israel following the loss of government funding tied to the draft controversy.

According to the document, Keren Olam HaTorah raised and distributed more than NIS 500 million between July 2024 and December 2025, providing financial assistance to approximately 1,450 institutions.

The fund was established as private donations became increasingly important for maintaining yeshivas and kollelim after state support was reduced or halted for institutions affected by sanctions related to draft noncompliance.

The figures, first reported by Mordechai Halperin of Army Radio, show that some of Israel’s largest Torah institutions received millions of shekels in support.

The Mir Yeshiva received the largest allocation, totaling NIS 18.8 million. Ponevezh received approximately NIS 13.2 million, while Ateres Shlomo received about NIS 13.1 million.

Other institutions among the largest recipients included:

• Siach Yitzchak — NIS 9.1 million
• Chevron — NIS 7.4 million
• Wolfson — NIS 6 million
• Kol Rina — NIS 4.9 million
• Tifrach — NIS 4.9 million
• Belz Institutions — NIS 4.7 million
• Beis Matisyahu — NIS 3.7 million

The fundraising effort has reportedly continued beyond the period covered by the document, with estimates placing additional distributions at roughly NIS 200 million as donors continue stepping in to help sustain the Torah world.

The scale of the campaign highlights the growing role of private philanthropy in supporting Israel’s yeshiva system amid the ongoing political and legal dispute over military service for Chareidi students.

A major gathering of donors is scheduled at the Setai Hotel in Tiberias, where organizers are expected to review the fundraising effort, examine its impact and discuss whether the Torah institutions can maintain their operations over the long term through private funding.