Global antisemitism reshapes priorities as donors back Torah study while standing firmly with Israel’s security forces.
A group of haredi businessmen and Jewish donors from the United States has announced the formation of a new funding framework, the Coalition for Torah Study and Security, declaring it will withdraw financial support from Torah institutions in Israel that publicly oppose the Israel Defense Forces.
The decision, which has drawn both support and criticism within haredi communities in Israel and the U.S., was explained in a sharply worded public letter citing the escalation of global antisemitism and rising physical threats to Jews worldwide.
“The Jewish nation is under sustained attack,” the coalition wrote, pointing to intimidation and violence across Europe and North America, and referencing the recent massacre at Bondi Beach as a tragic example of how far anti-Jewish violence has spread beyond Israel’s borders.
According to the coalition, Israel’s security has become inseparable from Jewish survival everywhere. “The future of our people is increasingly tied to the Land of Israel,” the letter stated, adding that the safety of Diaspora Jews depends on the strength of the Jewish state. The donors emphasized that the IDF carries the burden of defending Jewish lives and therefore deserves unequivocal backing.
At the same time, the coalition stressed that it remains deeply committed to Torah learning, yeshivot, and kollelim. However, it drew a clear distinction between supporting Torah study and financing public attacks on Israel’s defenders. “We cannot support institutions whose public stance undermines those responsible for protecting Jewish lives,” the letter said, clarifying that funding would continue only for institutions that refrain from speaking against the IDF.
The coalition explicitly stated it is not taking a position on military conscription, noting that its policy does not address the draft debate but focuses solely on rejecting public delegitimization of the IDF during wartime.
The announcement has stirred intense debate, particularly as many yeshivot rely heavily on overseas donations following Israeli budget reductions. Some fear the move could further strain funding pipelines, while others see it as a moral correction aligning Torah support with national responsibility.
Not all donors agree. Several prominent contributors have publicly stated they will continue funding Torah institutions regardless of the coalition’s stance, underscoring ongoing divisions within the haredi philanthropic world.
