On the threshold of the days of selichos and heavenly compassion, with the return of thousands of yeshiva students and kollel members to their study benches, HaRav A. L. Shteinman and HaRav C. Kanievsky issued a special letter expressing their trepidation regarding the threat hovering over thousands of children, blessed products of intensive outreach efforts who registered for Torah schools, including first graders, who are in danger of slipping away from these sources of Torah waters due to lack of transportation to the Chinuch Atzmai schools throughout the country — and being lost to Klal Yisrael chas vesholom.
These thousands of children live in remote settlements. Up till now, they made their daily way to Torah schools to receive a well grounded education in the tradition of Yisrael Saba in the hundreds of Chinuch Atzmai schools scattered throughout Israel. However, due to various legal convolutions, the government transportation budget has been discontinued and has been sustained only by the [private] Transportation Fund established by HaRav Eliashiv and yblcht"a HaRav Shteinman, funded by philanthropists. In these recent months, with heavy debts incurred and a lack of ongoing support, the Fund is faced with a crisis of total collapse, and the education of tens of thousands of children hangs in the balance.
Torah leaders have stressed the deep responsibility that lies in very literally saving these souls. "It is stated that whoever sustains even one Jewish soul is considered to have sustained an entire world. Therefore, anyone with eyes in his head should grab the opportunity of this mitzvah and resolve to support one child via the Transportation Fund."
The cost of one child's transportation is approximately 100 NIS. per month or 1200 annually. Our leadership has set an example of undertaking the expense of several children, noting that "this is an opportunity to create a prime advocate for the Days of Judgment."
Donations can be give through tel. 177-50-66-22 or sent directly to POB 257 Bnei Brak, or deposited in Bank Hapoalim, branch 655, account number 339991.
