Tishrei 5786 / September 2025
Dearest Friends and Partners of Eretz HaKodesh,
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, we extend to you and your families our heartfelt wishes for a כתיבה וחתימה טובה – a year of life, blessing, health, and joy. May this be a year of yeshuos and nechamos for Klal Yisroel, that we should speedily hear besuros tovos, see the return of the captives to their homes, and merit to behold the ישועת ה׳ with our very own eyes.
We daven that you and your loved ones be zocheh to renewed strength and connection – to Torah, to Klal Yisroel, and to Eretz Yisroel – and that together we continue to serve HaShem with warmth, love, and emunah.
Looking Back
The past year has been filled with challenges, but also with remarkable siyata d’Shmaya. This election, for the first time, Eretz HaKodesh took part in the elections for the World Zionist Congress in numerous countries around the globe: USA, United Kingdom-England, Russia, Ukraine, Belgium, Argentina, Canada , France, Australia, and Brazil, while at the same time establishing and setting up Eretz HaKodesh branches in many countries where we will start doing local activities.
Eretz HaKodesh represents the Ashkenazic Torah world, Shas Olami represents the Sefardic Torah world. In some countries, we operated independently, while in others we collaborated. In addition, Shas, as a political party in the Knesset, holds further representation within the World Zionist Organization (WZO). Between our two parties that will be working closely together, we have 75 Chareidi seats in the upcoming WZO Congress, a clear testament to the voice of Torah, mesorah, and the kedushah of Eretz Yisroel.
Looking Ahead
At this very moment, our representatives are engaged in discussions with the other right-wing factions in preparation for the Congress that will convene after Sukkos, where the division of roles and resources of Israel’s National Institutions will be decided.
We have spearheaded an agreement with the religious and political right to create a united coalition and to agree that the major positions in the National Institutions will be assigned only to the parties of the religious and political right.
The broad support we merited from kehillos worldwide gives us the achrayus to continue standing up for Kedushas HaAretz, and to bring real funding and resources to strengthen Torah life – in Eretz Yisroel and throughout the Diaspora – for the sake of all of Klal Yisroel.
Personal Reflection – Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Chairman of Eretz HaKodesh
Earlier this month, I was zocheh to spend a few days in Eretz Yisroel, and I wish to share some personal encounters that left a strong impression on me.
On Thursday evening, before leaving for the airport, I visited a project of the JNF / KKL, near the Botanical Gardens in Yerushalayim. What had once been an abandoned lot – filled with weeds, broken trees, garbage, and a collapsed shed – was transformed by a group of bochurim, 12–15 years old, who had fallen out of the system and were left wandering.
The boys cleared the land, rebuilt the shed, fashioned tables and benches with their own hands, and opened a small carpentry workshop. More recently, they planted a hydroponic garden. Each Thursday night, they host what has become known as Leil Shishi. With food, drinks, and a wholesome atmosphere, the place fills with Jews of every type – chareidim and chiloni, families, singles, young and old. By midnight, not a seat is empty, and there are plenty of tables and chairs, all built by these young teenagers.
I sat with these boys, listened to their stories, and they shared how this project has given them back a sense of worth. They are learning skills, connecting with Torah’dig mentors, and rediscovering their dignity.
During this trip I also met Roshei Mosdos and hanhala of seminaries, as well as parents whose daughters came from abroad for a year in Eretz Yisroel. They expressed heartfelt gratitude for the scholarship initiative, by the Jewish Agency, which eases tuition costs for talmidos from chutz la’aretz. Seeing the simcha on the faces of parents and daughters alike was a moving reminder that our shlichus is not only political. It is about creating opportunities for Yidden everywhere to come close to Eretz Yisroel and to feel its kedusha in a tangible way.
This is not a fundraising email but….
Eretz HaKodesh has spent serious dollars for our international campaign.
We still need to raise about $300,000. Your support is greatly appreciated. Your support will enable us to allocate funds to our Torah community. Please click on attached link, or contact Rabbi Lerner at [email protected] to further discuss.
We wish you a K’siva V’chasima Tova.
Thank you,
The Eretz HaKodesh Team
