optimusprime: It was repeated publicly and on numerous occasions in front of hundreds of people by both Rav Gorelick zt’l — who heard it directly from the Chofetz Chaim — and by Rav Berel zt’l. And this is widely known and can be testified and verified as such by simply getting in touch with many long-time talmidim of either Rav Gorelick or Rav Berel. It is hardly a secret.
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