"We find ourselves in a trying time where many rise up against us, attempting to strike out at Torah scholars and diminish Torah in the midst of Klal Yisroel. We must remember primarily that when we hear their arguments against us, aside from affirming that they have no basis, we must also hold them in contempt," said HaRav Nissim Karelitz in a special address preceding his regular shiur delivered to a group of Torah disseminators in Bnei Brak.
He also stated that "when a person hears arguments of this nature and does not dismiss them out of hand, they can possibly filter into his soul and pollute it or water down to a degree his regard for Torah study and his utter faith that `Torah is our life,' a value which he imbibed from early on. One must therefore scorn in his heart and reject in every way possible the claims of those who wish to `cool us off' from our traditional path.
"So long as we are lax in fulfilling any mitzvah whatsoever, we must refortify ourselves through studying Mussar in order to correct that particular trait. At this time, when we see forces trying to weaken us from Torah study, it is a sign that we must strengthen ourselves in that specific area and intensify our study of Mussar relating to it besides increasing Torah study itself through toil and perseverance, for in this way we can hope to rescind the decree."
