UK Friends of Yeshivat Hesder Akko
Former London trust set up to support the hesder yeshiva in Akko (Acre); removed from the register in 2014
| UK Friends of Yeshivat Hesder Akko
| |
|---|---|
| Logo |  The hesder yeshiva in Akko, 2010 |
| Type | Charitable trust |
| Founded | 8 August 2007 (trust deed); 16 August 2007 (registered) |
| Dissolved | 18 July 2014 (removed from register) |
| Registration ID | 1120593 (Charity Commission) |
| Status | Removed from register |
| Headquarters | Brentmead House, Britannia Road, London, N12 9RU (register contact address, 2011) |
| Area served | Israel |
| Services | Support for the hesder yeshiva in Akko |
| Registration | England and Wales |
| Key people | Michael Storfer; David Toledano; Dr Philip Stemmer |
UK Friends of Yeshivat Hesder Akko was a charitable trust established by a deed of 8 August 2007 and registered with the Charity Commission on 16 August 2007. It was removed from the register on 18 July 2014.[1] Its objects were the advancement of the Orthodox Jewish faith and of Orthodox Jewish religious education "in particular but not exclusively by supporting the charitable activities of the college"; the register describes its activities as "Advancement of the Jewish faith" and "Advancement of orthodox Jewish education in particular the educational college Yeshival Hesder Akko".[1][2]
The hesder yeshiva in Akko (Ruach Tzfonit), in Acre inside Israel's 1949 armistice lines, is on the Igud Yeshivot HaHesder's 2026 list.[3] The yeshiva says its head, Rabbi Yossi Stern, who grew up in the Shavei Shomron settlement, was called to found it in 5762 (2001/02) as part of the movement of "settlement in the hearts", and that its location in Akko "strengthens the Jewish settlement in the Galilee in general and in Akko in particular".[4]
People
| Trustee | Other trusteeships shown |
|---|---|
| Michael Storfer FCA | Friends of Ayelet Hashachar (1101245); UK Friends of Eretz Hemdah (1084816) |
| David Toledano | – |
| Dr Philip Stemmer | – |
Source: archived register page.[5] The register contact was Mr Michael Storfer at the address given in the infobox.[5] No trustees are listed in the 2026 extract, as the charity has been removed.[1]
Finances
| Financial year end | Income | Expenditure |
|---|---|---|
| 31 March 2008 | £9,387 | £8,969 |
| 31 March 2009 | £16 | £108 |
| 31 March 2010 | £0 | £120 |
| 31 March 2011 | £0 | £120 |
| 31 March 2012 | £0 | £85 |
Sources: archived register summary (2008–2010) and the register extract (2011–2012); returns for 2013–2015 were listed as due but not received. Later returns were not filed before removal.[2][1]
Support for the Israeli military
A hesder yeshiva combines advanced Torah study with service in the Israel Defense Forces. According to the Israeli Ministry of Defence, there are 77 hesder yeshivot; in the classic 44-month track, students spend up to 12 months studying before enlistment, 17 months in active service and a final 15 months studying.[6] Rabbi Stern says he served in the Paratroopers and later in the 98th Division alongside the Maglan commando unit, and taught for five years at the yeshiva in the Elon Moreh settlement, where he was a member of the local secretariat and commander of the settlement's security squad (kitat konenut).[4] He says a study centre was founded in memory of a yeshiva student, Amichai Merhavia, who fell in battle at Bint Jbeil.[4] (Partner finding; no UK funds traced.)
Activity beyond the Green Line
Findings are graded by confidence.
| Finding | Confidence |
|---|---|
| The yeshiva is at 1 Arye Dushnitzky Street, Akko, inside the 1949 armistice lines.[3][4] | High |
Controversies and regulatory action
- No Charity Commission inquiry naming this charity and no prior scrutiny of it were found. It was removed from the register on 18 July 2014.[1]
Other registers and records
- No US friends-of charity for the Akko yeshiva was found in ProPublica.
- No entries were found in OSCR, CCNI or 360Giving data.
See also
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Charity Commission for England and Wales, Register of Charities public extract (tables charity, charity_trustee, charity_annual_return_history, charity_annual_return_parta, charity_area_of_operation, charity_classification, charity_governing_document), extract dated 14 October 2026. The live register was unavailable for maintenance on 21 October 2026, so accounts filed there could not be read.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 UK Government Web Archive, UK Friends of Yeshivat Hesder Akko – register summary (29 January 2012), archived Charity Commission register page, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Igud Yeshivot HaHesder, ישיבות 2026 (spreadsheet) hesder.org.il, August 2026, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Yeshivat HaHesder Akko, ראש הישיבה (Head of the yeshiva) yakko.co.il, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 UK Government Web Archive, UK Friends of Yeshivat Hesder Akko – contact and trustees (17 September 2011), archived Charity Commission register page, accessed 21 October 2026.
- ↑ Israel Ministry of Defence, מסלול ישיבות ההסדר (The hesder yeshivot track) noar.mod.gov.il, accessed 21 October 2026.