The organization was introduced at a meeting of rabbis in
Grodno that had been organized by Rabbi
Chaim Ozer Grodzinski in 1924. Rabbi Grodzinski was appointed head of the organization, which was based in
Vilna, and remained active at this post for the rest of his life. Its goal was to help finance the yeshivos in
Lithuania and
Poland (most of which would currently be in
Belarus), as well as provide for needy students and represent the interests of the yeshivos. During World War II, a major issue arose. Escaping the Communist Soviets that had taken over eastern Poland, many yeshivos traveled to
Vilna, which would come under the
Republic of Lithuania's government. However, in the center of World War II, the Vaad HaYeshivos understood that the war would soon reach Lithuania and the yeshiva students had to escape Europe. They, therefore, arranged Polish passports and visas to the West Indies and Japan for all the students, planning for the students to leave Europe via the
Trans-Siberian Railway. For many, these efforts were for naught, as train tickets cost an exorbitant amount of money. While many refugees, including the
Mir Yeshiva, got the money for tickets and were saved from the
Holocaust, most of the students were forced to remain in Lithuania. == See also ==