By COLlive reporter
Recently many families were greatly distressed to hear that Masa Grants to students attending Yeshivas and Seminaries and Israel were being suspended by the Jewish Agency.
At the same time grants to students attending non-orthodox programs would remain. The Masa program which historically supported study and experiential programs in Eretz Yisroel, including many Chabad Yeshivas and seminaries.
In response, a major effort was launched with activists of Mizrahi and Eretz Hakodesh parties. In the recent election to the World Zionist Congress, these two religious parties had a remarkable success. Bolstering the influence of the frum Jewish community, changing the political dynamics significantly.
Rabbi Doron Perez and Avraham Duvdevani of Mizrachi and Rabbi Pesach Lerner and Knesset member Yitchak Pindrus from Eretz Hakodesh lobbied the Jewish agency reconsider this idea.
Rabbi Perez, CEO of World Mizrachi, says, “Jewish Agency chairman, Bougie Herzog and his staff worked hard to restore the funding.” Perez reported that the Jewish Agency is expediting entry permits for those attending Masa programs.
The Jewish Agency will provide 75% of the funds with the help of the Israeli government, Mizrachi and Eretz Hakodesh will work together to find balance. Rabbi Lerner noted, “the involvement of Frum community the recent WZO elections had reaped a great benefit. By bringing all parts of the Orthodox community together we can influence these major institutions to be more open to traditional Yiddishkeit.”
The funding is being restored to orthodox institutions across the board, including many Chabad mosdos including yeshivas in Kfar Chabad, Migdal Hemek, Mayanot, Kiryat Gat and many seminaries.
VIDEO: Prime Minister Netanyahu tells Masa volunteers message from the Rebbe
