Magic at the Movies - Monthly Gedolim Story

 As I write this, it is Tu B'shvatt, the fifteenth day of Shvat, which is Rosh Hashana for the trees. I wanted to set aside today to share my monthly Gadol Story for this month and as I was going over in my mind of what story of which Gadol I could share, it occurred to me that I should share a beautiful anecdote involving the great principal, mechanech and Rebbi, Reb Dovid Trenk zt'l, whose love and care for his students was legendary. He was a master at noticing the good in not only his students, but other people as well, always giving them encouragement and helping them to blossom.

I first heard this story from Rabbi Paysach Krohn, who heard it first from Rabbi Gedaliah Zlotowitz, general editor at Artscroll, as well as from the young man to whom this story happened to. It is a hundred per cent true and so beautiful

I hope you enjoy it.

Yitzy Schweitzer

Magic at the Movies - Monthly Gedolim Stories
As mentioned in the introduction, Rabbi Trenk was a master at noticing the good in others. He also excelled at dealing with children, teenagers especially who were on the periphery, if no one would encourage or validate them they would go off the derech. Rabbi Trenks yeshivah was also highly capable to help these boys.

Our story takes place on a Friday night, when one of these young teenagers, who although he had no drivers license at the time, he still stole Rabbi Trenks' car and went to the movie theater. As he was getting ready to pull out, his friend come over to him and asks him where he is going. When he hears that our main character is going to the movies he asks, "Well, hey, could ya take me?" to which the other guy responds "Are you out of your mind? I'm doing something wrong, you think I'm going to take you?" His friend warns him "Hey, if you don't take me, I'm gonna get you in trouble. The other guy, who just wants to get on with getting to the movies replies coldly, "Do whatever you want, I am not taking you."

Well after he drove away, his friend went to Rav Trenk and said to him "Rebbi, you know, that so-and-so stole your car and went to the movie theater?" Rabbi Trenk couldn't believe it, but after going out to the parking lot, he saw his car was gone. So he decides to walk to the movie theater, which is a mile and a half from the yeshiva.

Now, our young fellow, is sitting by the movies, his eyes glued to the screen when all of a sudden, he notices someone sitting down next to him. He turns around and sees, of all people, it's his Rebbi. He could not believe it. "Rebbi what are ya doing here?" he whispers. "I had to tell you something important, so I came here," was Rabbi Trenks reply. "Well how'd you get here?" asks the still-stunned boy, "I walked" Rabbi Trenk reply softly.

"Rebbi" the boy whispered back, shocked "I feel so terrible you had to walk this long distance," Rabbi Trenk said back to him "Well, you know, I had to tell something important". Now the boy is pretty curious and asks, "Well what is it?"

Rabbi Trenk said back "I want to tell you, that the popcorn they serve in this movie theater is not Kosher, so please tonight, don't eat that popcorn, because if someone eats something treif, it could damage there neshama". The boy turns to his Rebbi and asks "That's it? That's all you came to tell me?" Rabbi Trenk stands up and says "Yeah, that's all, I'll see you back in yeshiva".

Well, the young man was so deeply overwhelmed, that as Rabbi Trenk was leaving the theater, he tapped him on the shoulder and with tears in his eyes he whispered "Rebbi, don't go, alone. I am coming with you.

The two of them left the movie theater and as they walked back for more than an hour, they spoke about everything, but not once, did Rabbi Trenk mention the movies and not once did he mention that the boy took his car.

When they got back to the yeshiva, the boy turned to Rabbi Trenk and he said, "Rabbi, I promise, I will never be Machalel Shabbos again."

And he wasn't. 

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