In a revelation that will send shockwaves throughout our community, it has come to light that senior members of the Conservative movement have been secretly orchestrating a campaign to sway public opinion and even influence daas Torah within the heart of the chareidi community, using deception, subterfuge, and substantial financial incentives.
According to leaked WhatsApp conversations and internal correspondence obtained in an investigation by Kikar HaShabbat, high-ranking figures in the Conservative movement’s global apparatus plotted to funnel money into targeted ad campaigns, publish street posters and pashkevilim, and even offer payment in exchange for rabbinic signatures and endorsements.
The goal?
To undermine the Eretz HaKodesh slate and influence outcomes in the World Zionist Organization elections, all while pretending to be “insiders” in the chareidi world.
The deceit has been layered and carefully crafted. Conservative officials used code names, false identities, and messaging designed to appear authentically chareidi, all to gain credibility and push their anti-Zionist messaging into the streets of Bnei Brak, Yerushalayim, and the United States. The newly uncovered materials reveal a calculated effort to mask their involvement at every step, with instructions to campaigners to “never reveal the client” and to fabricate identities, such as falsely claiming to be “former talmidim of Rav Landau seeking to protect his honor.”
The Secret WhatsApp Group of Senior Conservative Officials
The attempts by the Conservative movement to meddle in the chareidi public are now fully exposed. Kikar HaShabbat’s earlier investigation that sparked widespread outrage in Israel and abroad, the news outlet has now revealed the full WhatsApp exchanges behind the campaign led by a senior representative of the Conservative movement and his assistant. They sought to run a major campaign within the chareidi world, both in Israel and the United States, involving themselves in every detail, while continuously hiding their involvement and covering their tracks.
As was reported, the Merkaz Olami the non-for-profit arm of the Conservative movement funded the entire campaign of posters plastered throughout chareidi neighborhoods attacking those who were participating in the World Zionist Organization. The organization and its representatives declined to comment—but did not deny the report.
Now, Kikar HaShabbat has revealed another chapter: explosive WhatsApp exchanges within a group chat involving Yizhar Hess, a senior Conservative figure who serves as Deputy Chair of the World Zionist Organization, and his chief of staff, Eyal Ostrinsky, a former Labor party member known as the mastermind behind many progressive campaigns in Zionist institutions. In the chats, they covertly coordinate every part of the campaign.
At the same time, Hess tweets publicly about his supposed partnership and unity with Chareidim, while behind the scenes he directs a targeted smear campaign, planting posters and pashkevilim against them to manipulate their opionion right in their own neighborhoods.
“When you get a personal flyer in front of your home, and the neighbors see it, it’s more effective,” he says.
In the WhatsApp exchanges, the deep and direct involvement of Hess and Ostrinsky as the masterminds of the misleading proganda against Eretz HaKodesh and its suporters is clearly visible, utilizing street ads, pashkevilim, social media posts, and even ad placement in American chareidi publications under disguised funding sources.
From the messages, it’s clear that not only did the money come directly from the Conservative movement, but Hess and Ostrinsky were personally involved in writing the ads, formulating the messages against the World Zionist Organization, and choosing locations, for maximum personal and communal pressure .
WHATSAPP CONVERSATION EXCERPTS
Campaigner:
“Should we start posting flyers near Gafni and Litov?”
Yizhar Hess:
“Eyal?”
Eyal Ostrinsky:
“Do we have a cost estimate for that?”
Campaigner:
“Yes.”
(Attaches pricing breakdown)
Eyal Ostrinsky:
“Both of those look reasonable to me.”
Campaigner:
“Tuesday coming up, or Thursday night next week?
When do we start?”
Eyal Ostrinsky:
“Next Thursday, in my opinion.”
Campaigner:
(Thumbs up)
At this stage, Hess and Ostrinsky await the final wording of the ad for approval, emphasizing the need to conceal their identity. They begin a long discussion about personal attacks on Shmuel Litov and his aide, Eliyahu Gafni, son of MK Moshe Gafni.
Campaigner:
“Initial draft of the flyer text.”
(File attached)
“Before proofreading, etc.
Your thoughts?”
Yizhar Hess:
“Great text.”
“Waiting.”
“And obviously, don’t reveal who the client is.”
“Let’s just say we’re former talmidim of Rav Landau who want to protect his kavod.”
Campaigner:
“Of course :)”
Yizhar Hess:
“What about Litov?
Gafni and his son?”
Campaigner:
“I wasn’t sure.
Do we do all three together?
Whatever you want.”
Yizhar Hess:
“Not sure.
Eyal, what do you think?”
Eyal Ostrinsky:
“Together.”
Campaigner:
“Great.
On it.”
Yizhar Hess:
“And all this right before Shabbos.”
Campaigner:
“Most likely Thursday night.
At night.
Thursday night.”
Yizhar Hess:
“So they’ll take them down Friday morning, no?”
Campaigner:
“No.
In my previous campaigns, they weren’t removed.”
Yizhar Hess:
“Cool.”
“This is for all four—Pindrus, Litov, Gafni Sr., and Gafni Jr.?”
Campaigner:
“Yes, I added them.”
They discuss ad pricing based on quotes from Bnei Brak and Yerushalayim. Hess asks whether the prices include getting popular chareidi Twitter influencers to post photos of the ads.
Campaigner:
“Tweets are separate, but it’s cheap.”
Yizhar Hess:
“How much approximately?”
Campaigner:
“No more than 1,000 shekels.”
Yizhar Hess:
“Ok.”
“Say, wouldn’t it be better to do 4 separate flyers? One for each person?”
“Doesn’t it make the message stronger when it’s personal?”
Campaigner:
“Definitely possible,
But it increases costs.
Want me to check price?”
Yizhar Hess:
“Yes. Check.”
“When you get a personal flyer in front of your house and neighbors, it’s more effective.”
They continue discussing the wording and how to make the ad appear authentically chareidi.
Campaigner:
“Should we include their photos in the flyer?”
Yizhar Hess:
“Not sure. What’s standard? What looks most authentic to this community? What’s the norm today?”
“What would supporters of Rav Landau likely do?”
Campaigner:
“Without.
We’ll do without.”
“Do you want two different texts? Or use the same one and just tweak it for each target?”
Yizhar Hess:
“I think two different texts is better.”
Campaigner:
“Okay.
On it.”
Yizhar Hess:
“And the one for Litov—make that one the strongest.”
Campaigner:
“LOL, got it.”
Yizhar Hess:
“And Gafni—focus on the son.”
Campaigner:
“Not both together?”
Yizhar Hess:
“No, no—both Gafnis together.”
Campaigner:
(Sends two different versions of the flyers)
“These are two separate drafts.”
Yizhar Hess:
“Go for it!”
Campaigner:
“Any comments or suggestions?”
Yizhar Hess:
“I’m not worthy.
Just make sure it’s written in authentic chareidi style.”
(Files attached)
Campaigner:
“Can you approve both of these for me quickly?”
Yizhar Hess:
“Approved.”
Campaigner:
(Thumbs up)
Eyal Ostrinsky:
“Looks excellent.”
After the flyers are posted in the streets, the group awaits complementary posts from chareidi Twitter influencers who will post photos of the signs targeting members of Eretz HaKodesh. In the meantime, Ostrinsky briefs the team on the salary details of Eretz HaKodesh personnel in KKL.
Campaigner:
“What exactly is Eliyahu Gafni’s role?”
Yizhar Hess:
“He’s the personal assistant to the Vice Chairman of KKL, Shmuel Litov.
21,000 shekels + car.”
Eyal Ostrinsky:
“He doesn’t have a car.
It’s just a salary of 21,000 shekels.”
Campaigner:
“Okay, not critical.”
Eyal Ostrinsky:
“Still, a very respectable salary, but best not to get the details wrong.”
After the Israeli campaign, the team begins planning for another round, this time targeting chareidi areas in the United States with anti-Eretz HaKodesh and anti-WZO messaging.
Yizhar Hess:
“[Name redacted.] What about placing ads in Yated Ne’eman and Mishpacha in the U.S.?”
Campaigner:
“The office requested price quotes. I’ll check what happened with that.”
A few days later…
Campaigner:
“There’s a guy putting up posters in Boro Park.
Is that useful for us? Do they have voters there?
Same style of posters as in Eretz Yisroel.”
Yizhar Hess:
“Wonderful.”
Campaigner:
“What other neighborhoods/cities should we target in the New York area?”
Yizhar Hess:
“Lakewood.”
“Five Towns.”
Campaigner:
“Okay.”
Yizhar Hess:
“Rockaway.
Though Boro Park is more Chassidish than Litvish.
They don’t vote?”
Yizhar Hess:
“Less so.
Eretz HaKodesh is stronger with Litvaks, if I understand correctly.”
Campaigner:
“Okay.”
(Ad file and U.S. pricing quote attached)
Campaigner:
“There will be one more small expense for graphics and an English copywriter, I believe.”
Yizhar Hess:
“And who can write the appropriate ad?
We need someone who speaks American Litvishe chareidi language.”
Campaigner:
“I’ve got someone.
Not a problem.”
Yizhar Hess:
“Meaning someone who can write English in American Litvishe chareidi dialect.”
Campaigner:
“You want the same text as the one from Israel, just rewritten in English? Or a brand new one, like I write it in Hebrew and someone translates it?”
Yizhar Hess:
“No, no. We need something completely different.
It has to speak their language. This isn’t just translation. It’s cultural adaptation.”
A few days later, they push forward with the U.S. campaign. The Conservative operatives are eager to launch, but adamant that their identity remains hidden.
Campaigner:
“Okay, I have an all-in-one price quote for the U.S.:
Ads in all the agreed neighborhoods.
Including an English-language copywriter familiar with the nuances.
Ad in Yated in English.
Ad in Mishpacha in English.
Ad in Ami Magazine (strongest reach there).
48,000 shekels.
Includes graphics, everything.
Assuming all three media outlets accept.
If one of them refuses, subtract $2,500.”
Yizhar Hess:
“[Name redacted.] The ad must be very simple, with Rav Landau’s letter front and center. In Hebrew and English. That’s it. No commentary.
Maybe just a headline: ‘It is forbidden to vote in the World Zionist Congress elections.’”
Yizhar Hess:
“Also, check what the legal situation is in the U.S.. Make sure that the agency you’re using won’t be forced to disclose your identity.”
Campaigner:
“It’s through the ad agency.
No one knows who’s behind it.”
Yizhar Hess:
“Which ad agency? The Israeli one?”
Campaigner:
“Yes.”
Yizhar Hess:
“I’m a little concerned. Double-check with them. What happens if they’re legally required to reveal the client’s identity?”
Campaigner:
“Checking.”
Yizhar Hess:
“There are some states where you can’t place ads without disclosing the sponsor.
Maybe it’s not like that there.”
Yizhar Hess:
“But we have to make sure.”
Campaigner:
“The ad agency is the one officially ordering it.”
In the continuation of the conversation, Hess gives specific guidance for the message to be included in the U.S. ads: a ban on participating in the Zionist elections. He insists the wording be clear and authentic.
Campaigner:
“What messages should go in the ad?”
Yizhar Hess:
“Just Rav Landau’s letter in Hebrew, and a simple title explaining the serious prohibition of participating in the Zionist elections.”
Campaigner:
“Okay, will take care of it.”
Yizhar Hess:
“But it needs to be written by a healthy, mainstream American chareidi. A typical Israeli ad agency will fail at making it sound authentic.”
Campaigner:
“They employ a professional English copywriter.”
Yizhar Hess:
“But that’s not enough. It’s not just English.
Even in England and Australia they speak English. It has to be someone who specializes in American chareidi language. Otherwise, we’ll fall flat.”
Throughout all the correspondence, it’s clear how obsessed the Conservative operatives are with not being exposed. They repeatedly emphasize that all publications must use chareidi-style language and design to avoid raising suspicion.
After the posters and related tweets featuring their photos appear in the streets of Yerushalayim and Bnei Brak, Hess himself retweets the photos, along with a message describing Eliyahu Gafni as “pleasant and kind.” This sparks a group debate about whether Hess’s tweet might reveal their involvement.
Campaigner:
“Yizhar, I don’t think this tweet is a good idea.
Not because of the content,
but because it might cause people to connect the dots between you and the posters.
It’ll raise suspicion, and people might stop tweeting in the future, etc.”
Yizhar Hess:
“If I don’t respond, it’ll look even weirder. That’ll raise suspicion.”
Campaigner:
“Don’t agree.
Pindrus’s people will jump on this.”
Eyal Ostrinsky:
“Yizhar, better listen to him.”
In another section of the chat, Hess reacts to a draft text:
Campaigner:
“Thoughts on the text?”
Yizhar Hess:
“Does it sound like something a ben Torah would write?”
Campaigner:
“I think so.
I’ll ask.”
Campaigner:
☺ “Love it.
Excellent. If it sounds like that, then it should reach the ears of the bnei Torah.”
Yizhar Hess:
“Now I know they say Tayreh, not Toyrah.”
Kikar reached out to Hess for comment, and shockingly, he admitted to everything. (Statement translated into English)
“All the information in the distributed publications is absolutely true. We took the halakhic ruling of Rabbi Dov Landau, which strictly prohibits serving in national institutions or participating in elections for these institutions, and assisted in disseminating it in ultra-Orthodox communities.”
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31 Responses
@YWN did they market with you as well? Was that letter signed by no one from them? Where some of the anti WZO Eretz Hakodesh posts on YWN stemming from them?
“ Exposing the hypocrisy of those affiliated with the leadership of the Lithuanian public in Israeli politics—Moshe Gafni, Yitzhak Pindrus, and Shmuel Litov—is the right thing to do. On one hand, they despise Zionism and its values, while on the other, they or their closest family members benefit from the perks of the Zionist movement through their unofficial affiliate party, Eretz HaKodesh, in the national institutions.
The “Eretz HaKodesh” party is nothing but a fraud. Behind it hide well-known ultra-Orthodox operatives who, in the Knesset, fight against conscription, but in Zionist institutions, for the sake of jobs and budgets, sign onto the “Jerusalem Plan,” which mandates conscription for all and clear loyalty to Jewish pluralism. This hypocrisy must be exposed.”
1- he is sadly correct, even the reform realize.
2- there is nothing illegal about what they did. US politicians do it all the time before elections.
3- was this a leaked signal chat? 😝😜
“…[Religious Zionist] figures in the [Modern Orthodox] movement…plotted to…undermine the Torah by putting forth the “Eretz HaKodesh” slate…in the World Zionist Organization elections, all while pretending to be “insiders” in the chareidi world.”
There. Fixed that for you.
I don’t see the relevance of who funded a pashkevilin campaign for the sake of the Torah Hakdosha.
If these Conservatives funded it, so be it. They were mechaven to the emes once in their lives.
Fact is that it’s assur to partner with those who attack Hashem and his Torah, and it remains assur even if the Conservatives funded the campaign.
I hope no one decides to vote in WZO just based solely on this, it has ZERO to do with the core issue.
Not sure what is so shocking about this. “Eretz HaKodesh” is pretending to be chareidi when they are actual “Religious Zionist” posing as Chareidi.
“All the information in the distributed publications is absolutely true. We took the halakhic ruling of Rabbi Dov Landau, which strictly prohibits serving in national institutions or participating in elections for these institutions, and assisted in disseminating it in ultra-Orthodox communities.”
So, if “Eretz HaKodesh” would have been honest and joined the WZO as just another Zionist party rather than pretending to be chareidi, then the Conservative would not have fought them on it just as they did not fight OIC and the other openly “Modern Orthodox” parties in the heretical WZO.
I wonder how many of the perennial anti-EHK commentors on YWN are agents of the conservative/reform?
What does it mean influence Da’as Torah? Isn’t that a heretical statement? At the very least, an oxymoron.
I think the headline is misleading. Why is Lakewood singled out more than any other US city mentioned in the article? It seems like it was a campaign for the US and they targeted Brooklyn, Lakewood, Five Towns etc.
Just wait until we find out who was paid. I can guarantee I know who. EXACTLY who.
And just wait until we find out that it’s the same people who are busy with lace top shaitel bans, mamzeirim, and fake kohanim.
Yea yea.
The gig is up.
“One Rosh Yeshiva in England – they say he’s a gadol – is backing this”
Moetzes member public statement to a packed bais hamedrash in BMG. Not one person was moicha for kavod hatorah. NOT ONE.
Shame on the entire Yeshiva. They are complicit in the public bashmutzing of one of the gedolei hador.
Time for Lakewood Roshei-Yeshiva to come out making a Kol Korei:-
1) Everyone must observe יום-העצמאות this year [I leave it up to them:- if בזמנו או מוקדם.
2) Everyone must now vote WZO to offset horrifying potential massacre by conservative/reform
3) Everyone must observe יום-ירושלים this year
Was wondering how Hakatan (aka Neturei Karta / Iran agent / BMG kanoi) would respond to this explosive shocking story.
Thanks for confirming who you are.
i fully agree; no one should vote for Eretz HaKodesh. MONEY IS DESPERATELY NEEDED BY THE FAMILIES WHO FATHER DIED DEFENDING ERETZ HAKODESH
Bottom line didn’t Rav landau says it’s asur to vote. So they spread the Daas Torah, I get that wasn’t the intention but if it helps more people follow the Gadol Hador what’s the issue ?
Sad how so many people think this is important.
The core issue has nothing to do with who is paying for pashkevilin.
The Torah Hakdoisha does not allow us to partner with those seeking its uprooting R”L.
@147 as usual your comments make no sense.
Stam a fake news headline: They spearheaded Lakewood’s campaign?! The Roshei Yeshiva just stood up for the Torah, happens to be the Conservatives paid for pashkevilin that contained a correct message.
This whole thing is such a non-story its pathetic
anchuldiks,
Incorrect! The Zionists are the robber who invaded EY and made itself the only force building and settling the land (there were many, and they destroyed them early on), thereby controlling all donations to build EY, and then they force any yid who wants to have a say how the land is governed to assign to their ideology.
They don’t own EY. They are the embezzlers, not the yidden trying to get equal control back.
I know for a fact gaboyim, drivers and kanyoim who were given hard cash. Wait until this drops. It will devastating for yidden. No one will trust what a gadol says anymore.
Good job!
Again and again: The fact that the Torah-true Judaism rejects Zionism, and therefore joining with them, is a fact, not payed for by anyone.
So all the rabbi’s that publicly said with their mouth not to vote, how is that being tricked by conservatives? That was their stated opinion. It’s fine I saved my $5 I don’t think it was going to anything holy regardless I have zero trust for anyone in that organization and not one person could show me what beneficial results we got from the last election
Everyone should do what his Rav says. Of course, there are 2 valid sides here.
I just feel that although we may have all kinds of reservations as to how the Moetzes is controlled, but ultimately, Hashem is the one controlling it. The דעת תורה of every generation is ultimately from Hashem.
I feel Zionism’s days are numbered, and it may by the רצון ה’ that at this point we stay far away from b”h. We don’t need to fight them from within by entering the back-door, the whole thing is already crushing down fast.
Anyone who feels outraged can do more than just post comments here. Just go vote. Now.
https://eretzhakodesh.org/
What is truly ridiculous here is how every hedyot reading YWN thinks that they’re the posek hador.
Non-gabrotzers don’t tell kenaidel-eaters that they’re chayav kares. If your posek says to vote, then vote. If your posek says not to vote, then don’t vote. There’s no kavod hatora in am ha’aretz brawling over whose team is “right”.
This article leaves out a key point (which is included in the Matzav story)
while it did referenced it in the beginning you fail to detail it later on.
“…and even influence daas Torah within the heart of the chareidi community, using deception, subterfuge, and substantial financial incentives.”
the deption to influence daas torah and get signatures?!… by paying off ppl to obtain them, likely by presenting a slanted picture designed to get them to sign against… this is another level and a lot worse than simply amplifying and paying for a campaign to publicize what rabonim already hold independently..
The inflammatory headline not withstanding, what about this story changes anything? The story does not allege that anyone from the anti EH camp in anyway coordinated or had any knowledge of the reform slate involvement. Just that the reform movement tried to exploit the anti EH feelings for their own agenda and got caught and perhaps now be in legal trouble.This is great news for both the anti EH and pro EH factions as we all want to see the reform movement LGBQMS-16 voices diminished.
Evil Headline.
Lakewood has nothing to do with this.
Read the WhatsApp conversation – they were getting signs hung up in Lakewood…
The sinas chinam among our community is astounding.
And Tisha bav is still a few months away.
When I read what these anti orthodox conservative heretical sect was up to I ordered my wife and adult kids to immediately vote for Eretz hakodesh ,which they did. There are individual machers who trick elderly rabbonim many times like what happened in Oslo and a thousand Jews were blown up.
Eretz Hakodesh has not produced a single ad with any significant list of Rabbanim signed supporting them, despite their obviously false claim of support by Gedolim and the significant resources they have. They do give a free comedy video if you sign up though… Oy.
the hypocrisy here is crazy when ppl from more kanoishe movements say that daas torah was influenced by lmashal gabboim everyone gets fuming mad at them chas vesholom how can you say such a zach koifer etc… but when ppl from the more liberal factions of the frume oilom wants to advance ther when agenda then the exact thing criticize the kanoim its suddenly mutar and daas toirah goes the window a CHUTZPA !!!!!! (not that im saying that daas toirah could be mushpah)