Against the backdrop of mounting incitement directed at the Torah world and yeshivah students, Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein delivered guidance to kollel scholars on maintaining dignified conduct and restraint, particularly when facing hostility toward the chareidi community.
Speaking at Kollel Beis Dovid in Cholon, Rav Zilberstein, Rav of the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood of Bnei Brak, addressed dozens of avreichim learning there ahead of bein hazmanim. He emphasized practical aspects of conduct, focusing on how a ben Torah should respond to anti-chareidi hostility.
Rav Zilberstein described the foundational importance of character refinement. "A ben Torah who learns here is recognizable when he walks down the street. The first thing is his refinement of character," He said, referencing the Slabodka tradition of exceptional derech eretz. "We don't shout in the streets. It should never be seen or found that a ben yeshivah shouts like a donkey."
He outlined the proper response to insult or criticism, stating: "The second thing is that our tradition, as bnei yeshivah, is that when someone insults us, we forgive him immediately and say, 'Thank you very much for your comment. I'll take it to heart.' That is how they taught us in Slabodka. That is how a ben yeshivah behaves."
Rav Zilberstein emphasized that each ben Torah serves as a public representative of the Torah world, especially during bein hazmanim. He stressed the importance of public comportment, noting that avoidance of shouting, eating in the street, and other unseemly behavior reflects on the broader community.
He concluded by appealing for humble responses to provocation: "And above all, if someone insults us, we respond by saying, 'Please forgive me. Perhaps you're right. We'll try to do better next time.' That is what is called a Kiddush Hashem - a truly extraordinary Kiddush Hashem."