"Bnei HaTorah" exposed; this is how conservatives stirred up the sector | Investigation

A particularly disturbing investigation conducted by "Kikar Hashabbat" reveals that a conservative association financed the hanging of advertisements and pamphlets, totaling tens of thousands of shekels, at Haredi gatherings and also attempted to lure Haredi journalists under the guise of a "war on foreign labor" | In addition to stirring up trouble within the Haredi sector, extremely difficult questions also arise | The full investigation (Haredi)

Hanani Breitkopf | Shabbat Square |23rd of Nissan | 21.04.25

The CEO of the "World Center" movement, Mr. Mauricio Beltr, and a member of the association's board, Mr. Yizhar Hess, lead a procession with Torah scrolls as part of the Women of the Wall's activities on Rosh Chodesh. — The CEO of the "World Center" movement, Mr. Mauricio Beltr, and a member of the association's board, Mr. Yizhar Hess, lead a procession with Torah scrolls as part of the Women of the Wall's activities on Rosh Chodesh ( Photo: Jonathan Zindel/Flash 90 )

Will the sleepy elections for the Zionist Organization open a new storm over the conservative movement's conduct? This is what emerges from the investigation that we are publishing today (Monday) in Kikar Hashabbat, according to which it appears that the movement has rudely stuck its nose into the sector while falsely covering itself with righteousness, as if they do want the Haredim to be in the Zionist Organization.

Anyone who knows (and they don't know much... sorry) the Zionist Organization knows that there have been major struggles between the Conservative movement and the Haredi faction, ever since the latter entered the Zionist Organization - Holy Land of Rabbi Pesach Lerner in the last elections , a surprising move that was widely covered at the time in 'Kikar Hashabbat'.

But the peak of the struggle turns out to be behind the scenes and away from the hot rays of the sun, and as you will soon discover, it is about stirring up the Haredi "Holy of Holies" - by the Conservative movement and Conservative movement figure Dr. Yizhar Hess, who serves on its behalf as vice chairman of the Zionist Organization and a member of the Zionist executive board, as well as a board member of the movement's association.

The campaign on the Haredi street

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If you haven't noticed, a few weeks ago, billboards in ultra-Orthodox centers in Israel were covered with pamphlets and street ads that screamed bitterly against voting and participation in the institutions of the Zionist Organization - an issue that is currently on the agenda among Diaspora Jewry, and is subject to discussion among Jewish luminaries.

On the one hand, Rabbi Lando expressed a firm stance against voting in the elections, and on the other hand, the people of "Eretz Hakodze" present the support of Maran Rabbi Kanievsky ztuk"l, along with other rabbis in Israel and the US who supported voting in previous elections.

The ads and posters in the streets of Jerusalem, funded by the Conservative movement

The ads that were published here in Israel, along with several rounds of pashavils, were perceived as unusual due to the fact that the issue of the elections to the Zionist Organization did not arouse interest in the Israeli media, and most of the Haredi public was not even familiar with the details of the matter - which, as mentioned, mainly concerns residents abroad.

The 'Sabbath Square' investigation reveals that the printing and distribution of the paschquils was funded by the "World Center" association - this is an association that manages the activities of the Conservative movement in the Zionist Organization.

As can be seen in the invoice revealed here for the first time and constituting payment for part of the advertising campaign, "World Center" transferred tens of thousands of shekels in exchange for a round of street advertising, in exchange for participation in the elections for the Zionist Organization.

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The Conservatives ' interest is seemingly clear, a Haredi source in the Histadrut explains to Kikar Hashabbat that "despite the fact that they tried in every way to disguise their involvement: the Holy Land faction, which represents the Torah public in the Zionist Organization, is a political and ideological enemy for them and they are trying to limit its power. The members of the Conservative movement tried to act to influence public opinion in the Haredi public, in order to harm the Holy Land and prevent it from succeeding in the US elections."

But beyond the shock and the brazen pretension of speaking in the name of the great men of Israel and hanging street signs in their name, the path they chose raises legal questions and even seemingly concerns about defamation offenses and more.

Pashto ads, against the ultra-Orthodox faction in the Histadrut

Moreover, beyond the seemingly cynical attempt to play on Haredi public opinion, it can be seen that the Conservative leaders even tried to disguise their involvement in the campaign, when Conservative Movement figure Dr. Yizhar Hess was quick to retweet the image of the ads that were placed at Haredi gatherings and supposedly express his friendship with the people of "Eretz Hakodesh" who are dealing with the publication of ads against them. As mentioned, the ads were funded by the association in which Hess himself serves as a board member and as a senior representative involved on its behalf in managing the campaign.

World Center Association board member Mr. Yizhar Hess, flanked by the association's CEO Mr. Mauricio Beltr, at a High Court hearing on the "Western Wall Outline" — World Center Association board member Mr. Yizhar Hess, flanked by the association's CEO Mr. Mauricio Beltr, at a hearing in the High Court of Justice on the "Western Wall Outline" ( Photo: Jonathan Zindel/Flash 90 )

Beyond the moral aspect, the Conservative movement's conduct raises legal and ethical questions. A senior legal source involved in the details told Kikar Hashabbat today that "the distributors of the Pashkvili may be exposed to defamation lawsuits, and that if indeed elements connected to the movement running in the elections are behind them, this may be considered a violation of election laws. Also, according to him, the distribution of anti-Zionist material by an association supported by the Zionist Organization may constitute a violation of the Zionist Organization's budgeting procedures."

The Influence Network: Attempts to Recruit Haredi Journalists

Meanwhile, the 'Shabbat Square' investigation also reveals that the publication of the ads constitutes the tip of the iceberg of a campaign of influence lasting several years, in which, as mentioned, the Conservative movement is trying to acquire influence and key figures in the Haredi public in order to discredit the name of the "Holy Land."

It turns out that officials on behalf of the movement approached Haredi journalists in an attempt to entice them to echo messages against voting in the elections, supposedly in the name of the great men of Israel.

Needless to say, most of the journalists and media personnel who received the tempting offers refused to join the campaign after they were told who was behind the offer.

Yizhar Hess' tweets supposedly say he is in favor of the Haredim being in the Histadrut

"A while ago, a well-known figure from the Haredi community approached me and indirectly and implicitly offered me to join a campaign in exchange for a very high salary," a senior figure in the Haredi media (whose name is being withheld by the Habab editorial team) told Kikar Hashabbat: "The essence of the campaign was to harm the Holy Land organization and lead public opinion in the Haredi public against them through advertisements, press reports, and messages via social networks such as Twitter, etc. The campaign's strategy was to instill in public opinion that the organization is working to instill Zionism in the Haredi sector, and to inflame the opposition of the extremist factions against the Holy Land."

He said, "After further investigation, I realized that the campaign in question was done entirely for the Conservative movement, whose goal is to eliminate the Holy Land, which is hindering it from realizing its plans here in Israel, and for this reason I informed that person that I would not be able to take part in advising the campaign. Although he said it was a tempting offer, I preferred to give up and not work on behalf of the Conservative movement, and I know that they did not only approach me, but also other Haredi journalists."

He is joined by another well-known figure involved in many campaigns being conducted in the sector, who says that powerful figures in the general media are involved in managing the campaign and recruiting key figures in the Haredi media to join it.

He claims: "A few years ago, a large PR firm wrote a blank check for any Haredi PR person who agreed to join the campaign and lead it for them in the Haredi sector. They used key figures in the world of general media who harnessed all their business and professional connections, in order to harness Haredi elements for a campaign that would operate in the long term with the aim of discrediting the "Holy Land."

As mentioned, the publication of the ads and the scandals that were exposed are not a one-time act, but rather an organized and planned campaign that even touches on the fine line between the legal and the gray area, and acts with criminal aspects and offenses against the laws of defamation and libel, the financing of associations, and the laws of elections for the Zionist Organization.

"Shabbat Square" reached out to receive a response from the Conservative Movement's World Center Movement, as well as from Yizhar Hess (who in a personal conversation with him refused to comment. Hab.) and the Holy Land, but so far no response has been received. When it is received, we will enter.

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