Since October 7th, Arutz Sheva has promoted a wide array of unusual fundraising campaigns, each one more puzzling than the last. From glossy appeals to niche initiatives, these efforts have raised eyebrows about where the money is going and who truly benefits.
As part of a new investigative series, we will examine these campaigns one by one, tracing the flow of funds, uncovering the organizations involved, and asking the questions that others will not. Today, we begin with the latest example.
Arutz Sheva is promoting a campaign from an organization allegedly called Shomrei Yisroel, branded as “Keep Our Soldiers Cool.” The effort claims to respond to the extreme heat facing IDF soldiers stationed near Gaza and Syria, where tents reportedly reach 115 °F (46 °C). The fundraiser insists that portable air conditioning units are an urgent necessity, casting them as critical to preventing heat exhaustion and keeping soldiers combat-ready.
The pitch asks donors to contribute $375 per unit, with each device said to cool a tent for 8 to 12 soldiers. The group claims more than 100 requests have already come in from units in the field. Like so many campaigns Arutz Sheva has promoted since October 7, it raises uncomfortable questions about why such basic needs are being met through private fundraisers rather than through the official supply chains of the Israeli military.
When you click on the link to donate it leads to this page:
The campaign is hosted on OneHeart Funding, a platform featuring several associated organizations. Aside from Shomrei Yisroel, it includes Achisamach, Kupas Yerushalayim, ZAKA Rescue Unit 360, and Tzedaka V’Chesed—the latter also responsible for facilitating donations. This structure shows how multiple groups, some more public than others, are funneling efforts through a shared fundraising platform.
Update:
After my initial post, I was contacted by representatives of Tzedakah V’Chesed, who informed me that the name of their non-profit had been used in a context of which they are entirely unaware.
To clarify: the only non-profit registered in the State of New York under the name Tzedakah V’Chesed is Tzedakah V Chesed Inc. (EIN 82-1600882). According to the organization, it has no connection whatsoever to the campaign I originally highlighted.
While the campaign presents itself under the name “Tzedakah V’Chesed,” the official nonprofit entity behind it is in fact Friends of Keter Torah Inc (EIN 81-3211840). According to its IRS Form 990 filing for 2023, Friends of Keter Torah Inc reported $2,059,157 in contributions and distributed more than $1.8 million in grants and assistance, with its stated mission being to provide financial aid to the needy.
What remains unclear is why the organization chooses to market itself under the name “Tzedakah V’Chesed” rather than its true legal identity.
The public filings in New York reinforce this picture. In its state registration, Friends of Keter Torah Inc lists its mission as providing financial assistance to the needy, as well as to other charitable, religious, and educational organizations worldwide. The group was incorporated in July 2016 as a New York nonprofit corporation, with Chaim Avrohum Zelig Krohn, Moshe Chaim Weinberg, and Kalman Yurman named as directors. This documentation further confirms that Friends of Keter Torah Inc is the legally recognized entity responsible for charitable solicitations—making it even more unclear why the organization continues to publicly market itself under the unrelated name “Tzedakah V’Chesed.”
Story is developing…
