Head of Atarat Shlomo Yeshiva Gives Students His Personal Number Amid Arrest Fears

In response to growing concerns about yeshiva students being arrested and handed over to the military police, Rabbi Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, head of the large Atarat Shlomo Yeshiva in Rishon Lezion, took the unusual step of giving his personal phone number to his students. He instructed them to contact him directly if they were detained or encountered police issues, particularly due to fears of military police involvement.

Recently, one student was arrested in a Haredi city for a traffic violation and found himself held by the police. The student contacted Rabbi Sorotzkin, who immediately called the "Black Flag" organization, identifying himself and requesting assistance to prevent the student from being transferred to the military police. Within minutes, the student was released after receiving a traffic ticket and was not handed over to military authorities.

This incident highlights the heightened preparedness within the yeshiva community amid a wave of arrests and the fear of military police detaining yeshiva students. Rabbi Sorotzkin’s direct involvement in real time and his swift action to mobilize support underscore the seriousness with which the yeshiva world is responding to these developments.