Last Sunday, hundreds of students from all sectors of the yeshiva world gathered at the Ramat Elchanan Auditorium in Bnei Brak after months of intensive study and rigorous testing on sefer Chofetz Chaim. A public exam was held for a select group of outstanding students who had reached the final round.

The driving force behind this initiative was the ambitious vision of the Chofetz Chaim, who devoted his life to instilling the understanding that refined speech is a central pillar of Torah and character development.

By embedding these halachos deeply into the awareness of the talmidim, the lifestyle of the yeshiva bachurim is transformed — with careful speech becoming a natural, vital part of their personality.

A Gathering of Torah Greats

The prestigious ceremony was attended by leading gedolim, including members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah — Harabbanim Hageonim Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, and Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein, as well as Hagaon Rav Avraham Salim, of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah.

Among the other prominent Torah figures attending were Harabbanim Hageonim Rav Mordechai Shmuel Edelstein, Rav Binyamin Finkel, Rav Dovid Batzri, Rav Shmuel Eliezer Stern, the Rebbe of Alexander, the Rebbe of Zutchka, the Vizhnitzer Dayan and the Sanzer Dayan, as well as the esteemed Rabbinical leadership of Mishmeres HaSholom: Rav Akiva Wosner, Rav Yaakov Shekhnazi, Rav Nachum Bergman, Rav Yisrael Weinman, Rav Moshe Yehuda Samet,Rav Moshe Levi, and Rav Yehuda Dov Rotner.

Words of Inspiration

Several of the gedolim present addressed the crowd, offering stirring words about the significance of the occasion and the importance of studying shemiras halashon. Below are a few excerpts:

• Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein: “At this moment, Hakadosh Baruch Hu is telling the malachim: ‘Look at My beloved children! This is what the world stands upon. Hashem delights in you, who thirst to know His Torah and live by its light.’”
• Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Edelstein: “If Simchas Torah is the day of Hashem’s wedding with the Jewish people, then this beautiful event is the Sheva Berachos. The bachurim who completed the Chofetz Chaim and were tested on it are the shushvinin (escorts) of the Torah, bringing great nachas to Hashem.”
• Rabbi Binyamin Finkel lauded Mishmeres HaSholom and the efforts of Rebbetzin Wertzberger, its founder. He spoke of the sanctity of the mouth as a kli kadosh for tefillah and personal growth.
• Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer Stern emphasized that shemiras halashon is a “life-giving elixir.” He stressed the need to daven for siyata d’Shmaya to avoid lashon hara and expressed the hope that in the zechus of shemiras halashon, our tefillos for the Geulah would be accepted.

The Chassanim of Peace

After the suspenseful public exam, conducted in front of hundreds of bachurim and guests, the winner of the “Chasan HaShalom” title was announced: Eliyahu Tzvi Dushinsky (Yeshivas Yeshuos Moshe – Vizhnitz, Bnei Brak). The runner-up honorees included Yitzchak Golkerov (Slabodka Yeshiva) and Yitzchak Gestetner (Damasek Eliezer – Vizhnitz, Har Nof)

A Night of Unity and Sanctification of Hashem’s Name

In addition to the marvelous accomplishment represented by the event, the gathering also radiated a beautiful unity, as chassidic and Litvish, Ashkenazi and Sephardi bachurim, from yeshivos gedolos and yeshivos gedolos — all stood together “as one man with one heart,” sanctifying Hashem’s name with their exemplary conduct throughout the evening.

Emotional Artistic Presentation

The artistic highlight of the event was a powerful presentation directed by the master of emotion, artist Rabbi Meir Adler, dramatizing the verse: “He who guards his mouth and tongue guards his soul from troubles,” which movingly illustrated the tremendous power of speech — to build or destroy, to give life or to cause irreparable harm.

Accompanying the evening were:

• Hershy Segal’s orchestra
• The Malchus Choir, conducted by Pinchas Bichler
• Renowned vocalists Motti Steinmetz and Uziel Deitsch, adding musical splendor in honor of the Torah.

The Legacy of Rebbetzin Wertzberger

Rabbi Yechiel Wertzberger, son of Rebbetzin Wertzberger, founder of Mishmeres HaSholom, conferred a special grant of 10,000 shekels upon the Chassan HaSholom, and awarded certificates of honor to the runners-up and the hundreds of examinees.

He summarized the historic gathering with deep emotion:

“Our goal is to raise a generation who live with the Chofetz Chaim’s awareness that shemiras halashon is not just another halachic topic, but is a foundational element of a Jew’s personality. When peace and unity become part of a ben Torah’s daily life, we build a different world — and in doing so, we bring the redemption closer.”

A Movement Fueled by Generosity

This historic event, marking a turning point in the yeshiva world’s embrace of shemiras halashon, was made possible only through the generosity of the tens of thousands of Mishmeres HaSholom supporters, who regularly give their support to help spread these teachings and who, in return, merit yeshuos beyond the realm of Nature. Thanks to them, the organization’s activities continue to grow and flourish.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)