The Ezras Torah[1] Fund was founded at a meeting of the Agudas HaRabbanim (Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada) on August 25, 1915 (15 Elul, 5675)[2]. It was an outgrowth of the Central Relief Committee (also founded by the Agudas HaRabbanim) that was created to assist Orthodox Jews in Europe during World War I. Ezras Torah’s role was to specifically assist town rabbis, roshei yeshiva, and yeshivas during the upheaval years of World War I. They eventually broadened their scope to a worldwide level after the war.
The founding leadership of Ezras Torah was composed of Rabbi Israel Rosenberg, Rabbi Dr. Philip Klein (aka Hillel HaKohen) and Rabbi Yaakov Eskolsky. Rabbi Rosenberg was president until 1955. Rabbi Klein was treasurer until his passing in 1926. Rabbi Eskolsky was secretary until about 1925. Rabbi Moshe Margolin was executive director until his passing in 2006.
The personality who would be most prominently associated with Ezras Torah was Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Henkin. He served as the director of Ezras Torah from around 1925 until his passing in 1973.