PHOTO LINK BELOW: Decades of history can sometimes be experienced in a single evening.  This past Motzaei Shabbos was such an evening.  And there are those rare circumstances when a single evening becomes history.  This past Motzaei Shabbos was such an evening as well.  The place was the Toras Emes hall in Flatbush, and the occasion was a reunion of four decades’ worth of Talmidei Horav Dovid Trenk Shlit”a, the Rosh Hayeshiva of Yeshivas Moreshes Yehoshua, at a dinner to benefit his Yeshiva.

The wide range of honorees included Mr. Larry Spiewak, Rabbi Aaron Kotler, and Mr. Hillel Jaffa, all talmidim of Rabbi Trenk, who reflect the impact that he has had on young men of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s respectively.  As they shared their memories, each in their inimitable way, all those present began to realize that although the hurdles that teen-agers face have constantly changed over the course of forty years, the methods that Rebbe uses to help his talmidim overcome them have remained the same.  The fatherly love that Rav Dovid has for each of his “sons”, caring about what is important to them and sharing in their pains and joys, invariably wins them over.  His greatness of vision that sees only the good in each Yid and is able to identify the strong points in a bochur’s personality, coupled with the ability to get each talmid to realize to what level of greatness he can grow, has had the identical effect on generations of fortunate boys.  They gained a love to Torah and Yiddishkeit as well as a certain confidence and energy that remain with them for all of their lives.

Rabbi Dave Silverman, who spends his summers in Camp Munk, where he observes Rabbi Trenk energizing campers and infusing them with a Yiddishe bren, and Dr. Chuna Chaim Lebowitz, who, as a member of the Kollel division of Moreshes Yehosua, finds himself within the daled amos of Rebbe’s classroom on a daily basis, spoke impassionedly about what they witness of his devotion to each bochur’s individual needs, carrying them figuratively (and at times even physically) through the difficulties that come their way.

The unique “Trenk” style was indelibly imprinted on the proceedings of the Melave Malka, and the speeches were anything but conventional.  Rabbi Silverman got up on a chair and shouted out, “Who’s it gonna be?”  The spontaneous response “Eliyahu Hanavi!” came swiftly from the Camp Munk crowd.  He concluded with a brocho that just as Rebbe, (who taught us this chant) does not tire from standing year after year at the top of the mountain spreading his contagious excitement and display of Kovod Hatorah for visiting Gedolim, so should he be the one to prepare us for the imminent arrival of Eliyahu Hanavi.

Rabbi Kotler did not begin his remarks until his son, a twelfth-grader at Moreshes Yehoshua, gathered his friends, who then stood together to provide a human backdrop for the message that he had prepared to deliver.  He introduced the group as “The greatest chevrah that any Yeshiva ever had,” and they were welcomed with thunderous applause.  As R’ Aaron described his own fond recollections of the unparalleled way that Rabbi Trenk was able to combine his love as a Rebbe with his discipline as a Menahel, the audience had the opportunity to watch the expressions on the faces of the class of 2009 and see how even a generation later, some things never change.  He brought home a strong point when he described a mountain climbing trip that the Yeshiva took this year.  One of the most difficult obstacles on the climb is known as “The Lemon Squeeze.”  R’ Aaron who took part in the venture and was amazed by Rabbi Trenk’s youthful agility, offered him a hand to assist him in this final phase of the hike.  Rebbe turned down the gesture, insisting, “I can do it!”  As the boys watched him do what did not seem possible, the lesson was not lost on them.

Perhaps the high point of the evening came during R’ Dovid’s own presentation.  He reminisced of the early years in the Mir and told of how a student of the Yeshiva had behaved improperly, and was told to leave.  A friend approached the “Rov,” Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz, to plead on his behalf.  The Rosh Hayeshiva, who was then in the last year of his life and was not running the daily affairs of the Yeshiva rose to his full height.  Trembling, his voice rang out loud and clear.  “In just a few days it will be Rosh Hashonoh, and we will ask Hashem for forgiveness.  How can we not forgive another Yid?!  DER BOCHUR BLEIBT!”  The bochur stayed on in Yeshiva.  He shteiged and produced a family of ehrliche Yidden and Marbitzei Torah.

As Rav Dovid finished his story, the guests’ attention was suddenly drawn to another Trenk voice.  From another corner of the hall Rav Zevi Trenk’s voice could be heard.  “Who was the bochur that interceded for forgiveness?  IT WAS YOU!!!”  Of course it was!  Who then could it have been, if not for Rav Dovid, who does not allow himself to see any sort of negativity in any Yid?

The electricity in the air was tangible.  Although the hour was late and the hall was packed, people did not move from their place.  What was it that kept them there?  Was it being in the presence of Chashuvim such as Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Shimon Alster, Rav Shlomo Gissinger and Rav Eli Brudny?  Was it the warm words of Rav Malkiel Kotler, the great Rosh Hayeshiva, who spoke candidly about what Moreshes Yehoshua has done for his nephew, what Rabbi Trenk does for Kllal Yisroel and how his brother R’ Aaron bears the burden of Bais Medrash Govoha with humility and equanimity?  Was it the fact that Mr. Ruby Schron, who stands behind the Yeshiva’s building campaign, graced the Melave Malka with his attendance?
Perhaps, more than anything else, it was the thrilling feeling that history was in the making.  The yeshiva is at a crucial juncture, and the First Gala Dinner was here to celebrate it.  As much as the Rosh Hayeshiva and his expert staff are able to do in their current structure, it does not satisfy the needs of the many bochurim who wish to join but cannot.  A nine acre property has already been purchased as the site of the future Moreshes Yehoshua campus.  Plans are already in the works for the initial phase of construction which is to be an expanded Bais Medrash and classroom facility along with dormitory rooms to accommodate bochurim from outside of the Lakewood community.  ALL THIS IS TO BE READY FOR THE COMING ELUL ZMAN!  That is what made this year’s dinner a truly momentous and memorable occasion.

As the world watches Rebbe continue to take ambitious strides to make his trademark Ahavas Yisroel and bren for Torah and Yiddishkeit available for an ever broader base of talmidim, let us get caught up in the momentum as we jump in with him and share his commitment to connect every willing young man with his rightful heritage.

PHOTO LINK: Click HERE for photos.

(Written by a Talmid for YWN)