In the world of business, the term “smart money” refers to investors who are more intuitive and aware of market movements and business health than others. The Financial Times describes “smart money” as “sophisticated investors who tend to pick the right moment to buy or sell assets because they can identify trends and opportunities before others do.”

In the Torah world, “smart money” means having a zechus in the support of the largest makom Torah in the world, Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim.

Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim stands at a crucial juncture: While hundreds of the yeshiva’s alumni have generously committed tremendous sums of money to sustain the yeshiva, Mir Yerushalayim today is facing a significant shortfall. Those who might have assumed that the larger donors and past supporters are covering the yeshiva’s budget and that others need not get involved are learning that that is not the case.

In fact, Mir Yerushalayim needs other alumni, as well as friends and admirers of the yeshiva all over the world, to step up, take notice, and get involved in a very real way. There’s no sitting on the sidelines now.

“The feeling of being part of the Mir family is a badge of honor that is carried by so many in Klal Yisroel today,” says Adrian Garbacz, chief executive of Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim. “The yungeleit of the Mir learn with tremendous hasmadah and dedication, upholding Klal Yisroel.”

“The Mir represents Klal Yisroel,” says alumnus Zevi Brodt. “It’s the epicenter of Torah in the world. The yungeleit of the Mir are being moser nefesh on a daily basis. With 5,500+ yungeleit in the kollel, along with their wives and children, Mir Yerushalayim is responsible for the wellbeing over 40,000 people! Everybody has to take achrayus on their level.”

Fellow alumnus Chesky Klein concurs.

“At the yeshiva, you see the yungeleit sitting and learning Torah mitoch hadchak. As the yeshiva grows, and as more talmidim and more yungeleit join the Mir, the budget continues to grow tremendously. A slight change in the yeshiva’s donor list and a slight change in the shekel have had dramatic and drastic results.”

To this end, the Mir is launching a new donor matching campaign, with a 48-hour limited time donation window on September 25-26. Titled “Catch Up the Yungeleit,” the campaign will seek to bring on board new donor sources, as well as new donations from prior contributors. All donations will be worth double thanks to the generosity of Mir supporters who have pledged to match every dollar contributed in this campaign.

“It’s up to us,” said Chesky Klein. “It’s up to you. We must make sure that this gets done. Take achrayus. Reach out to friends and family and let them know that this is their opportunity, ahead of the Yom Hadin, to acquire a zechus in the limud haTorah of thousands of bnei Torah.”

“The immediate short-term goal is to bring our kollel yungeleit up to date with their kollel checks,” says Mr. Garbacz. “Our long-term goal in this campaign is to bring on new donors.
Community by community, we need people to take achrayus and do what they can lemaan hayeshiva, ensuring the financial viability of the Mir.”

With tens of thousands of alumni spread across the world, there is virtually not one person in the frum community who has not been influenced by, or encountered, someone who has been impacted in some way by Mir Yerushalayim.

“Yungeleit come from all over the world to taste the pure Torah of the Mir, Torah lishmah combined with middos tovos,” remarked Rav Binyomin Cohen, maggid shiur at the yeshiva.

“The yungeleit are living it. They’re living the sugyos,” said Rav Moshe Aharon Friedman, maggid shiur at the yeshiva. “And now, the ship that’s called the Mir needs special anchoring to hold it down strong.”

“At this time of year, I can’t think of any greater zechus in the world than connecting to the Torah of the yungeleit of the Mir,” said Rav Yosef Elefant, maggid shiur at the yeshiva.

While hundreds have contributed, the yungeleit of the Mir still need YOU to participate in order to “catch up.”

This is our chance, as individuals and as a community, to give back and be there for Mir Yerushalayim when we are needed.

“Let’s do this together, demonstrating our unified commitment to Klal Yisroel’s yeshiva,” said Chesky Klein.

To participate, call 516.295.2900, email [email protected], or visit www.mirmatch.org.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)