Maranan verabonon the gedolei Yisroel have for
the first time issued a statement advising the chareidi
community to arrange a "Hishtadlus Plan" for life insurance.
The Tvuna company will operate under the supervision of the
Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Tzedoko and will offer the
insurance at a fair cost, under their supervision.
This recommendation by gedolei Yisroel was published
in the wake of the many calamities that struck families in
Israel and abroad of late. Support of these families involves
vast sums of money. Many funds had been formed to help these
families, and great sums are involved, creating serious
communal obligations.
As a result, the Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Tzedoko has taken
upon itself to supervise a life insurance plan for the
chareidi community, enabling its purchase at minimal cost,
thus fulfilling each individual's obligation for
hishtadlus.
In a response to a letter of HaRav Elya Svei and HaRav
Malkiel Kotler, HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv said, "Since this
also pertains to members of the community who must support
the bereft families and provide for their future, which is
difficult for the community, it is surely desirable to act in
this way."
In his letter, HaRav Eliashiv added: "Now that a number of
activists have become involved in arranging for life
insurance for the chareidi community in Eretz
Hakodesh, and since the most effective way [to this end]
must be determined, the arrangements should be supervised by
the Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Tzedoko in Jerusalem."
Last week, gedolei Yisroel issued letters stating that
there is a vital need to facilitate the acquisition of life
insurance policies at an affordable price. The letters also
stressed that all the activities are under the supervision of
the Vaad.
The Vaad HaRabbonim stresses that people interested in
purchasing life insurance policies must be careful not to pay
more than the rate which has been determined by the Vaad and
not to purchase policies from companies and agencies not
under its supervision. It was also stressed that the
recommendation of gedolei Yisroel is not a directive
or recommendation to purchase other sorts of life insurance
polices or to invest in savings programs.
Tvuna, which is selling policies of the Klal Insurance
company for this purpose, has announced that the cost of
insurance for a quarter of a million NIS is NIS 27 per month;
for a half a million: 47 NIS; for a million NIS: 87 NIS.
Tvuna has also said that in the near future, they will handle
no other type of insurance policy. This is in line with the
directives of the Vaad HaRabbonim LeInyonei Tzedoko.
