SHOCKING: Conservative Movement Funded Charedi Ads Against Voting For Eretz HaKodesh

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Anyone familiar with the World Zionist Organization knows there have been significant struggles between the Conservative Movement and the charedi faction, ever since the latter—Eretz HaKodesh, led by Rabbi Pesach Lerner—joined the WZO in the last elections.

However, it turns out that the peak of the struggle remained behind the scenes, far from the glaring spotlight. It actually involves direct interference in the election by the Conservative Movement—through one of its leaders, Dr. Yizhar Hess, who serves as the deputy chairman of the WZO, a member of its executive board, and a board member of the movement’s organization.

A Kikar Hashabat investigation reveals why a few weeks ago, bulletin boards in  charedi neighborhoods across Israel were suddenly covered with wall posters and street ads strongly warning against participating in or voting for Zionist institutions. This is currently a live issue among Diaspora Jewry and under discussion among senior rabbis (Gedolei Yisrael).

On one side, Rabbi Dov Landau firmly opposed voting. On the other, “Eretz HaKodesh” presents support from the late Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, of blessed memory, along with other rabbis in Israel and the U.S. who supported voting in the previous elections.

Anti-election posters funded by Conservative movement

The posters, plastered around Jerusalem, were actually funded by the Conservative Movement. This is particularly unusual, given that the WZO elections aren’t widely discussed in Israeli media, and most of the Haredi public is unaware of the details—especially since the matter mainly concerns Diaspora Jews.

The Kikar HaShabbat investigation reveals that the “Merkaz Olami” association—an organization managing the Conservative Movement’s activities within the WZO—funded the printing and distribution of these posters.

As evidenced by an invoice obtained by Kikar Hashabbat,  “Merkaz Olami” transferred tens of thousands of shekels for a round of street ad placement against participating in the Zionist elections.

According to a charedi source in the WZO, “Despite their attempts to hide their involvement, the Conservative Movement views ‘Eretz HaKodesh,’ which represents the religious public in the WZO, as a political and ideological enemy and is trying to weaken it. They aimed to sway public opinion in the charedi world to harm Eretz HaKodesh and prevent its success in the U.S. elections.”

Beyond the shock and the audacity to speak in the names of Gedolei Yisrael and use their names on posters, the path they chose raises legal questions, possibly even slander violations and more.

It’s also clear they attempted to conceal their involvement. Dr. Yizhar Hess himself retweeted the posters, as if expressing solidarity with Eretz HaKodesh in the face of attacks—despite the fact that the posters were funded by the very organization he sits on the board of and helps lead.

Kikar HaShabbat also revealed that these posters are just the tip of a years-long influence campaign, in which the Conservative Movement has sought to sway key figures in the charedi public in order to damage Eretz HaKodesh.

Sources say the movement’s representatives approached charedi journalists, offering them large sums to promote anti-voting messages—falsely attributing them to the words of leading rabbis.

Most of these journalists declined once they understood the real identity of the backers.

One senior figure in the charedi media (whose name remains confidential) told Kikar HaShabbat:
“A well-known insider approached me some time ago with a vague, high-paying offer to join a campaign aimed at damaging Eretz HaKodesh through ads, media pieces, and social media. The strategy was to implant the notion that Eretz HaKodesh is trying to inject Zionism into the charedi sector, and to stoke opposition among more extreme factions.”

After a thorough investigation, he realized the campaign was entirely operated by the Conservative Movement, whose goal was to remove Eretz HaKodesh to further their own agenda in Israel. He declined to participate, despite the tempting offer.

Another prominent source in the  charedi PR world added that major players in mainstream Israeli media were also involved, using their connections to recruit charedi journalists for the long-term campaign against Eretz HaKodesh.

This wasn’t an isolated incident, but rather a structured and calculated campaign that may have crossed the line legally—potentially involving libel, illegal NGO funding, and election law violations.

Kikar HaShabbat reached out for responses from the Conservative Movement’s Merkaz Olami, Dr. Yizhar Hess (who declined to comment in a private conversation), and Eretz HaKodesh. As of now, no responses have been received, and they will be published if and when they are.