Vote Slate 5 in World Zionist Organization Elections—Now Through May 4
At this pivotal moment for the future of Jewish life in Israel and around the world, Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University, and Rav Hershel Schachter, YU Rosh Yeshiva, are proud to lead the ticket for the Orthodox Israel Coalition–Mizrachi (OIC-Mizrachi) Slate, working to ensure that Torah values remain central to Jewish communal priorities worldwide.
A vote for OIC-Mizrachi Slate #5 in the World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections is a vote to strengthen Torah, support Am Yisrael and uphold our religious and national ideals. With more than $5 billion in funding at stake, now is the time to make your voice heard—for Torah, for our values, for Israel.
“Yeshiva University has long stood at the forefront of Religious Zionism,” said President Berman. “And today in Israel, we need to support Mizrachi, we need to support the Religious Zionists, and specifically under the leadership of Rabbi Doron Perez. He is a gibor Yisrael and an ish emunah, a true hero and a leader who embodies our values. It is our zechut to stand behind him and this effort to get out the vote.”
Rav Schachter echoed this call, stressing the urgent need to strengthen and maintain Torah-based leadership in Eretz Yisrael: “It is very important for Orthodox Jews to vote for the OIC-Mizrachi coalition because millions of dollars are at stake,” he said. The Orthodox have many institutions in Israel that need support—yeshivot, mikvaot, batei knesset. We send our children to learn there, our children move there. The more representation we have, the more funding will go to support religious institutions in Eretz Yisrael.”
The WZO plays a powerful role in shaping Israel’s national priorities, directing resources toward aliyah, education, security, and global Jewish initiatives. This makes the election an unprecedented opportunity to ensure Torah values remain central to these institutions.
Over the past five years, OIC-Mizrachi has directed millions of dollars toward strengthening Religious Zionist institutions. The coalition has secured funding for yeshivot and seminaries, expanded MASA gap-year programs, strengthened Jewish campus life, and placed shlichim in communities worldwide. It has also played a key role in land development in Yehuda, Shomron, and key areas of Jerusalem, ensuring that Jewish communities in strategic regions continue to grow.
With more slates competing in this election than ever before, ensuring a strong voter turnout is critical. The coalition needs broad support to maintain and expand its impact, and every vote will make a difference in determining the future direction of Jewish education and religious infrastructure in Israel.
The election is open to all Jewish American citizens and permanent residents over 18. Voting is online, takes just five minutes, and costs $5—but its impact will be felt for the next five years.
“This is about ensuring that Torah values remain central to Jewish life in Israel and around the world,” Rabbi Berman said. “Now is the time to step up, be counted, and make a difference.”
It takes just 5 minutes and $5 to cast your vote for Slate 5 at voteoic.org/yu.
{Heller Family Endows Transformative Gift To Create New Scholarship Center at Yeshiva University
A transformative endowment from the Heller family has established the new Heller Center for Academic Excellence and Torah Values, providing scholarships to high-achieving incoming college students at Yeshiva University, as well as future educators and rabbis in the Azrieli school and RIETS. The Center plans to award one hundred $10,000 scholarships annually, supporting students who exemplify rigorous academic excellence and embody the Torah values at the core of Yeshiva University’s mission.
“We are deeply grateful for the Heller family’s generosity and vision, which will provide life-changing opportunities for our students,” said Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University. “The Heller Center for Academic Excellence and Torah Values will empower exceptional students, driven by purpose and grounded in Jewish principles, to lead and inspire their communities and beyond. By supporting the next generation of leaders, these scholarships will advance Yeshiva University’s tradition of scholarship, service, and academic excellence, all while upholding the values that define our community.”
The Heller family has long been a dedicated supporter of Jewish education and leadership, with a deep history of philanthropy at Yeshiva University. Their generosity has funded faculty positions and doctoral studies at YU’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, scholarship funds at Stern College for Women and a Rabbinic Fellowship and Chair in Talmud at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. With this latest initiative, they continue their commitment to strengthening Torah learning, ensuring that future leaders have the resources to thrive.
The Heller Center for Academic Excellence and Torah Values builds on Yeshiva University’s legacy of cultivating leaders who exemplify the highest standards of scholarship and service. It underscores the University’s dedication to creating opportunities that inspire students to achieve their potential by being firmly rooted in their faith and traditions. By reducing financial barriers, these awards enable students to dedicate themselves fully to their studies and prepare for impactful leadership roles within their communities and the world.
As the flagship Jewish university, Yeshiva University is animated by its five core Torah values: Seek Truth (Torat Emet), Live Your Values (Torat Chaim), Discover Your Potential (Torat Adam), Act With Compassion (Torat Chesed), and Bring Redemption (Torat Tzion). Founded in 1886, Yeshiva University brings together the ancient traditions of Jewish law and life and the heritage of Western civilization. More than 7,400 undergraduate and graduate students study at YU’s four New York City campuses: the Wilf Campus, Israel Henry Beren Campus, Brookdale Center, and Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus. YU’s three undergraduate schools—Yeshiva College, Stern College for Women, and Sy Syms School of Business—offer a unique dual program comprised of Jewish studies and liberal arts courses. Its graduate and affiliate schools include Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, the Katz School of Science and Health and Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. YU is ranked among the nation’s leading academic institutions. Visit YU.edu.
