(Courtesy of World Mizrachi) The World Mizrachi 48-hour Emergency Campaign held July 27-28 reached a staggering $4.8 million, more than four times its expected target. This Mizrachi umbrella campaign was initiated on behalf of 50 institutions in Israel spanning the Torah spectrum.

An incredible 24,700 donors worldwide contributed. The monies raised will support student scholarships and strengthen yeshivot and seminaries at a time when COVID-19 threatens their very existence.

Part of the campaign’s success is that it releases 3:1 matching funds for hundreds of student scholarships from the MASA Israel Journey, a joint venture of the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Israeli government.

“We are deeply humbled by this global act of solidarity and unity on behalf of the amazing yeshivot and seminaries in Israel,” said Rabbi Doron Perez, World Mizrachi CEO. “Mizrachi’s emergency campaign has ensured that no gap year student who requires financial support is denied this transformative opportunity in Israel.”

Mizrachi is launching a Gap Year Division to support and advocate for Torah institutions across Israel, as well as the students and the communities they come from.

The 3,000-plus students enrolled in the coalition affiliated institutions began arriving in early August.

Donations can still be made on the CauseMatch platform via: www.causematch.com/en/worldmizrachicampaign/