JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Images of thousands of Haredi yeshiva students lining up to receive cash from New York businessman Yoeli Landau have sparked a debate over poverty in the Haredi community.
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התמונות של אלפי אחים שלנו נדחקים בתור לקבל מעטפות כסף בערב החג הן לא רק כואבות ומשפילות, אלא תמרור אזהרה בוהק לעתיד שלנו אם דרעי וגולדקנופף ימשיכו להוביל את כולנו אל התהום.
זה לא סיפור הירואי על נדבנות, אלא על עוני מחריד ההולך ומתפשט בקרב הקהילות והמשפחות שלנו. אסור להשלים עם… https://t.co/CwOBLX75Ap
— מוטי לייטנר Moti Leitner (@MotiLeitner) September 25, 2026
Landau personally handed out 1,200-shekel envelopes to students ahead of the holiday, while thousands waited in line for their turn. Videos showed Landau distributing the money as large crowds gathered, creating significant congestion in the area, with police working to keep the roadway open.
Journalist Yoeli Brim praised the large-scale distribution, calling the scene “amazing” as he shared video showing Landau personally handing out the envelopes to students.
But Moti Leitner, chairman of the newly formed HaTzibbur HaCharedi, sharply criticized the reaction, saying there was nothing to celebrate.
מטורף! הנגיד יואלי לנדא חילק 7 מיליון שקל מזומן הבוקר בירושלים. אלפים עמדו בתור אך החלוקה הייתה מ 7 עד 9. המונים שהגיעו ועמדו שעות בתור חזרו בידיים ריקות. pic.twitter.com/KXMu9VHRtV
— הזווית החרדית (@k148165) September 25, 2026
Leitner said the images of thousands of Haredi men standing in line for cash should not be viewed simply as a celebration of charitable giving. Instead, he said, they expose a deeper economic problem facing parts of the Haredi community.
“The images of thousands of our brothers crammed in line to receive envelopes of cash on the eve of the holiday are not only painful and humiliating, but a glaring warning sign for our future,” Leitner said.
Leitner said the large turnout demonstrated the extent of economic hardship among Haredi families and called for policies that would allow more members of the community to earn a living with dignity.
“We must not accept this,” Leitner said. “We will act so that every Haredi can earn a living and live with dignity.”
In a follow-up post, Leitner invoked the Rambam, quoting from the Mishneh Torah, in the laws of charitable giving, to reinforce his argument that the highest form of charity is helping people become self-sufficient.
הרב קוק, לא נותר לי אלא לצטט לך את דברי הרמב״ם במשנה תורה, הלכות מתנות עניים.
״שְׁמוֹנֶה מַעֲלוֹת יֵשׁ בַּצְּדָקָה זוֹ לְמַעְלָה מִזּוֹ. *מַעֲלָה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁאֵין לְמַעְלָה מִמֶּנָּה* זֶה הַמַּחֲזִיק בְּיַד יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁמָּךְ וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ מַתָּנָה אוֹ הַלְוָאָה אוֹ עוֹשֶׂה…
— מוטי לייטנר Moti Leitner (@MotiLeitner) September 25, 2026
Leitner quoted the Rambam as teaching that there are eight levels of charity, each higher than the next, with the greatest being to support a person who has fallen into poverty by giving him a gift or loan, entering into a partnership with him or finding him work so that he can strengthen himself and ultimately no longer need to ask others for assistance.
The Rambam describes this as the highest level of charity: strengthening the hand of a person who has become poor so that he can become independent and “will not need to ask from others.”
Leitner’s reference to the Rambam underscored his argument that the goal should not simply be to provide cash assistance, but to create opportunities that allow people to support themselves and their families with dignity.
HaTzibbur HaCharedi, or the Haredi Public Party, is a newly formed political movement seeking to provide an alternative voice for Haredi voters. The party says it aims to protect the Torah world while promoting practical solutions to economic and social challenges facing the Haredi community.
חילק מעטפות לאלפים – וחטף נזיפה מאברך: לאחר חלוקת מעטפות הכסף של יואלי לנדו לאלפים בירושלים, ניגש אליו אברך העוסק בצורכי ציבור ונזף בו על אופן החלוקה. לנדו הופתע מהפנייה ומיהר להסביר את עצמו | ערוץ 1 pic.twitter.com/2cB3JfsRv7
— ערוץ 1 (@channel1_arutz) September 25, 2026
The party has highlighted issues including employment, education, housing and economic opportunity, while supporting the continued protection of Torah study.
The contrasting reactions to Landau’s distribution reflect a broader debate over poverty, charitable assistance and economic independence within the Haredi community.
For the students who received the money, the 1,200-shekel envelopes provided direct financial assistance before the holiday. For Leitner, however, the sight of thousands waiting for cash represented a much larger problem — one he said should prompt action rather than celebration.
Yes, if they were allowed – like in the rest of the world – to work at age 18 without needing to first enlist, then that would alleviate much of the poverty there.
The generosity is astounding. But I agree with Leitner. Its very humiliating to stand in line for hours to get a handout.
Ashrei chelko someone who has the means to help Torah families like that I wish I could do the same for even one family there’s no more genuine cause than that
Moti Leitner wants votes.
We understand the deep desire to help families in need. Direct cash aid can certainly offer immediate relief. Our focus at Pantry Packers is on hands-on giving, where families visiting Jerusalem pack food staples for those living below the poverty line. This allows visitors of all ages to directly engage in supporting others. It turns a donation into a physical act of giving, connecting families with a 238-year chain of communal giving started by the Alter Rebbe in 1788. It also ensures practical support reaches families who need it most.
Why give publicity to Leitner who is clearly working for Eisenkot, he is zero chance of passing the threshold and is just wasting right wing votes. People are only so dumb, and unless they’re blinded by hatred for Chareidim will not full for this crap.
This is nothing more than shameless grandstanding by a party hoping to siphon off votes from the right, so the left wins. They have no chance of crossing the electoral threshhold, but they want the entire right to suffer.
The Rambam would be turning over in his grave
Another disgrace. Just a few days ago teenage seminary girls were abused and forced to call strangers and beg for money
KeepUp your good dead