Amid growing concern over the arrest of yeshiva bochurim and the possibility that they could be transferred to the military police, Rav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, has taken the unusual step of giving his personal cellphone number to his talmidim, instructing them to contact him immediately if they are detained by police.

Rav Sorotzkin told talmidim in the yeshiva gedolah that if they are ever stopped or arrested by police under circumstances that could lead to their being handed over to the military authorities, they should call him directly so he can become personally involved.

The new policy was recently put to the test when one of the bochurim was detained in a chareidi city following a traffic violation. During the incident, the student contacted Rav Sorotzkin to inform him that he was being held by police.

Upon receiving the call, Rav Sorotzkin personally contacted the Tzeva Shachor emergency response network, identified himself, and requested that bochurim immediately come to the scene out of concern that the talmid could be transferred to the military police.

Within minutes, the situation was resolved. The talmid was issued a traffic citation and released by police without being handed over to the military authorities.