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NOVEMBER 18, 2021 | The Jewish Home OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
Just Love Them By Shmuel Blitz
The Youngest Teacher
about the alef-beis. Both Dovid and Gerard were only 5 years old.
E
veryone knows that Rabbi Dovid Trenk was an
Dovid explained to his friend, “I know there are
amazing rebbi. But very few people know that
many things they do not teach you in public school.
he started teaching long before he was a grown man. It began when he was just 5 years old. A man named Gerard Wortkin was the head of a
Please let me teach you about being Jewish.” Every day, both of them would sit together. Dovid taught Gerard the alef-beis and a little bit about the holidays and some Chu-
famous museum in New York City. One day, while reading a newspaper, he saw an advertisement for the Adelphia Yeshivah. It mentioned its menahel,
“I know there are many things they do
mash. Then something ter-
not teach you in public school. Please
rible happened. Gerard’s
let me teach you about being Jewish.”
Gerard was only 9 years
father passed away when
its principal, Rabbi Dovid
old.
Trenk.
apartment every day to
“Oh my,’’ he thought. “Dovid Trenk? I have not seen him for almost 60 years. I must call him today.’’ But how did Mr. Wortkin know Rabbi Trenk? As a young boy, Dovid Trenk grew up in Boro Park, in
Dovid
visited
his
comfort both his friend and the family. Now, almost 60 years later, Gerard met Rabbi Trenk again. At their meeting Gerard told him, “You taught me the alefbeis. You taught me
Brooklyn. He lived in an
a little bit about
older building on 12th
being Jewish. So,
Avenue
my old friend, you
with
many
families.
His
are my rebbi. You
parents sent him to
were the only one
other
yeshivah. But many
who came to visit
of the other Jew-
my family after my
ish boys were not as
father passed away. I
lucky. They went to
want to thank you so
public school, and
much for that!’’
often they knew very little about being Jewish. Gerard was one of those
Even as a 5-yearold, Dovid’s greatest joy was mak-
boys. He lived in the same building as
ing sure people
Dovid, and they played together every
learned what it
day after school. Once, Dovid brought
meant to be a Jew.
a gift to his friend Gerard. It was a book
