שומרי החומות

What if I told you that supporting Hungarian Jews in the Holy Land began over 150 years ago? Let’s explore the story of Kollel Shomrei HaChomos. It is a financial charity established in 1858. Its purpose was to support Hungarian Jews who had emigrated to the Holy Land. Many know it as the Hungarian Kollel.

Hungarian Jews decided to separate. They broke away from Kolel Chibas Yerushalayim. That institute once included all Jewish communities of the Austrian Hungarian Kingdom. Kolel Chibas Yerushalayim itself was a breakaway. It split from the original Kolel Perushim. The students of the Vilna Gaon established that earlier kollel.

Two leading Hungarian rabbis were appointed. They were named the Nesyim or Presidents of the Kollel. Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, author of Ketav Sofer, was one. Meir Eisenstein was the other. The Hungarian Kolel was also called House of Sofer and Meir to honor them.

By 1881, Kollel Shomrei HaChomos had grown. It had built many apartment buildings. These provided housing for its members. Rabbi Yitzchok Zvi Ratzersdorfer helped greatly with donations. He was a Hungarian Jew who later moved to Antwerp. He helped build the Jewish community in Belgium. These houses became known as Batei Ungarin. In Yiddish, that’s Ungarishe Hoiser or the Hungarian Houses.

Aaron Hershler’s story is also connected to Kollel Shomrei HaChomos. In 1873, Hershler was a yeshiva student at the Kollel. He stood guard at the Montefiore Windmill. This windmill was a Jerusalem landmark. Arab Muslims from Silwan tried to rob his family’s home. The home was in Mishkenot Sha’ananim. This was the first Jewish neighborhood outside the Old City walls. Hershler chased after them. He was shot 12 times. He died in the hospital on January 5. He was buried in the Mount of Olives Jewish Cemetery.

Seventy-five years later, Hershler was recognized. The Israel Defense Forces called him the first national martyr in the Jewish-Arab conflict. He is one of about three dozen Jews. They were killed during Ottoman-ruled Palestine. They are remembered on Israel’s annual Yom Hazikaron memorial day.

The Jewish community had to flee the Old City. This occurred during the 1938 riots. Kollel Shomrei HaChomos moved its operations. They relocated to other neighborhoods. These included Mea Shearim, Givat Shaul, and Ramat Shlomo.

Today, Kollel Shomrei HaChomos is still active. It gathers Pushka and Halukka money. This happens in America and Europe. The money benefits Jerusalem. It manages many Torah institutes of the Yishuv haYashan of Jerusalem. It usually follows the rulings of the Edah HaChareidis. Both Grand Rabbis of Satmar are on the presidency board. They are Rabbi Aron and Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum, among others.

Kollel Shomrei HaChomos continues its mission. It supports and preserves Jewish life in Jerusalem. Its long history reflects dedication and resilience.