Due to huge debts: Lucerne Yeshiva in Switzerland closes its doors

Shock in Europe's Torah world: the legendary yeshiva of Lucerne in Switzerland, the most important yeshiva in western Europe, closed its doors.

Mashgiach Rabbi Michael Mosbacher called the Yeshiva students tonight (Wednesday), announced the closure of the yeshiva because of huge debts which have accumulated up to over one million Swiss francs.

Beit Yitzhak Yeshiva in Krintz, in the nearby town of Lucerne, and known as the Lucerne yeshiva, has existed more than than sixty years, and has placed thousands of students all over the world.

The one who headed it during its inception was Rabbi Moshe Soloveitchik, in תשכ"ד he was replaced by Rabbi Yitzchak David Kopelman, of blessed memory, and the yeshiva under his leadership flourished.

Four years ago Rabbi Koppelman passed away, and was replaced by his son Rabbi Moshe Kopelman, the yeshiva continued to flourish, and about 90 students learned there, yet the Rosh Yeshiva had difficulty raising funds in recent years and the yeshiva found itself in financial obligations which caused the closure of the yeshiva.

Behadrey haredim learned that a year ago there was a plan to close the yeshiva, and tried to make an emergency campaign but to no avail. Zurich's great malady, tried to enlist help but to no avail.

One of the yeshiva students say: "It was expected, everyone knew it would come, because of economic difficulties, so the shock is not great."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!