Rav Ben Tzion went to great lengths to honor his parents. During the War of Independence he lived in the Katamon neighborhood. Yet every Friday afternoon he would visit his parents in order to kiss their hands. His parents lived on the other side of town, near the Jordanian border. Later on in the evening, he would walk home in the dark, when it was extremely dangerous to be outside.
This practice was in line with the Arizal’s teaching in Shaar HaKavonos (71b) that a person should kiss his parents’ hands every Shabbos.
In addition, on Shabbos mornings, he would walk back to his parents’ neighborhood and pray in the Ohel Rochel shul founded by his father.
The honor he showed his wife, Rebbetzin Hadassa, was also legendary.
He would tell his students, “If a man and woman deserve it, the Shechina rests between them. When the Shechina rests in your home, the Soton can’t enter it, nor can poverty or illness. Honor your wife with your deeds, your thoughts and your speech. Buy her jewelry and items she likes, speak pleasantly and don’t upset her, think well of her and judge her favorably.”
Rav Ben Tzion practiced what he preached.
