Emergency Jerusalem Gathering Seeks to Save the ‘Fortress of Torah Study’

An historic emergency gathering took place this week at the home of Rabbi Yehoshua David Turchin, head of the yeshiva and president of the “Mivtzar HaKollelim” network, on Hosea Street in Jerusalem, alongside a reception for philanthropist Rabbi Menachem Markowitz. The event was convened to rally support for the Torah-study network, founded by the late Gaavad and now operating under Turchin’s leadership.

The network currently has 25 branches in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Safed, Harish and other cities, and about 800 married scholars study in its kollelim. Its day-to-day operations are overseen by administrator Rabbi Shimon Rotter. Organizers said the meeting was meant to sound an alarm for continued Torah study “in purity” in difficult times and to honor supporters of the project, especially Markowitz, described as a major pillar of the network in recent years.

Among those present were Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter, Rabbi Turchin, the admorim of Meshkenot HaRoim, Toldos Aharon, Rachmastrivka and Boyan, Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum of Satmar, Rabbi Chaim Zvi Tzambler? No, Rabbi Tzvi Meir Zilberberg, members of the Edah HaChareidis court, several Hasidic and community leaders, and senior administrators of the network. The gathering opened with remarks by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Weiss, who praised the expanding work of his father, the Gaavad of Shaarei Tuvia, and then Markowitz spoke emotionally about the privilege of supporting the kollelim and preserving Torah for future generations.

At the height of the event, the rabbis recited Psalms for the full recovery of the Admor of Hordenka. Rabbi Turchin delivered a forceful speech about sanctifying God’s name through Torah study and said the network is “the light in the darkness.” The Admor of Toldos Aharon and Rabbi Shechter also blessed the donors and urged the continued spread of Torah, while the leaders praised Rotter for his tireless work. The gathering ended with mutual greetings and blessings, and organizers said it has already stirred strong interest among potential benefactors.