Weekly Story: Promise me Part 6 of 6

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

Recap: Moshe was suspended and was furious, in his opinion the principal didn’t treat him fairly. His attitude became confrontational and filled with frustration, and for the next year he was enrolled in the same public school as the boys he played with.

With the conclusion of the story, I would like your feedback, both positive and critical. Thank you.

Chapter 26 Troublesome Indications

After the second suspension, Rabbi Schmid asked Mrs. Levy to come in with Moshe. He explained that even if Moshe is upset at him or other faculty members, that doesn’t give him permission to disturb the class or be disrespectful to a teacher. “Moshe, your classmates want to learn, and you are aggravating them. They are your friends.

The school year still has many months and if you apply yourself, it can be a successful year.” Smiling he added, “We are not asking you to receive 100, a 90, or even an 85 on your tests. All we are asking is that you try your best. If there is something that would help you, please let me know and I will see if the school can do it for you. We care for you and your brothers.”

Moshe felt very uncomfortable. He knew there was truth in what Rabbi Schmid had said, and he had thought about it himself, but every time he tried, his sense of injustice prevented him from changing his mindset. 

Looking at his mother, he noticed that tears were coming down her cheeks and felt terrible. “I am making Mommy cry;” that was the last thing he wanted to do.

Controlling himself he said, “I will try.”

Indeed, he tried to concentrate, but since he hadn’t paid attention for over a month, it was very difficult to catch up. So while he wasn’t passing, the teachers were satisfied, or better said relieved, that at least he was trying and hadn’t caused any disturbances either.

But Moshe felt himself exploding. He was trying but was still failing, so what was the purpose of working so hard and failing anyway? To just sit for hours and do nothing was impossible. He felt that he had to talk to another boy, but he had promised his mother that he wouldn’t be disrespectful or interrupt the class and it wasn’t so easy. The only time he felt good was during recess when he was playing sports. However, this led him to coming a few minutes late to class one day. 

His teacher was afraid to create a scene and allowed him to sit without saying anything. Two days later he once again came late, and this time the teacher looked at him disappointingly, but once again was afraid to trigger an outburst. 

However, the next time he came late was with another boy who noticed that up to three minutes late is excused, and this time the teacher became upset. 

He asked the other boy, “Why are you late?”

“We were playing,” was his response.

“Moshe, when you came late the first time, I was quiet, but now that you caused someone else to be late, I can’t let it go. Both of you get a late note from the office.”

“I didn’t tell him to come late, I wasn’t even playing with him. Why are you punishing me because he was late? That isn’t my issue.”

Even though the secretary gave both boys a note to allow them into class without saying any reprimand, nevertheless Moshe was upset and continued grumbling until the teacher sent him out.

This time he had to speak with Rabbi Schmid, and Rabbi Schmid began praising him. “Moshe, you kept your word for over a month! You tried to pay attention and didn’t disturb. What happened today?”

Moshe told him, “I and another boy came late and the teacher blames me, even though we weren’t playing together.  He picked on me.”

“I hear what you say,” replied Rabbi Schmid calmy, “but Moshe you know that I don’t know exactly what happened, and I would have to ask your teacher what he says. But tell me, how is the learning going? Are you able to follow the class?”

“Not really,” Moshe replied, “It is quite difficult.”

“Moshe, let me ask you, what would you prefer? Should you go into the 11th grade and continue to feel frustrated, or perhaps you should repeat the 10th grade and it will be much easier the second time. As you know, you are younger than some boys in the 9th grade.”

“No, I won’t repeat this class. It is embarrassing and I don’t like the teachers.”

“So then maybe you can study with someone a few evenings a week, and I will arrange it,” said Rabbi Schmid.

“No, the yeshiva day is long enough, I can’t stay another hour.”

“Moshe, you don’t have to, I was just trying to help you.”

While he wasn’t punished, he felt stung. “Rabbi Schmid wants to fail me and make me retake the 10th grade. That is so embarrassing, and I will never do it.”

Coming home, he complained to his mother and said, “I will not go back if they try to flunk me. I know of two boys that dropped out last year.”

“You must go to school,” Mrs. Levy said firmly. “We have to find a way that  would work. Is there anyone in your class that you feel comfortable doing homework with like you did with Gavriel?”

“No!” Moshe exclaimed, “and anyway, the school day is too long as it is. Am I going to be a doctor that I need to know biology? And why do I have to learn about the wars that took place in Europe during the medieval centuries? It is just a waste of time. 

‘Yankel’s parents want to make sure that he gets into a good college, since he wants to be either a doctor or a lawyer, so he is going to public school next year and will learn Torah with someone for an hour and a half four days a week. I am positive that in those six hours, he would learn more than what he would have learned had he sat in a class for four hours a day. Maybe I should do that.”

“Rabbi Schmid offered to find someone you can learn with in the evening, but you said no,” replied Mrs. Levy, trying to remain calm.

“That is because I get out of school at 6 in the evening,” replied Moshe. “But public school is over by 3:00, so then I can learn with someone.”

Chapter 27 I Don’t Care

Mrs. Levy realized that the situation was much more serious than she had feared. Not only was Moshe frustrated, but he was angry at the school, the teachers, and everything it represented. No wonder he wasn’t trying. But the question was, who can help her?

Normally, she would ask Rabbi Schmid, but Moshe doesn’t care to speak with him and no longer respects him. His friends Gavriel and Yosef are not around, and they were the only ones that he would listen to. It was a nightmare that became reality, and she was afraid of what was going to happen from now on.

The report card came in the mail and as she feared, not only was Moshe doing poorly, but he failed a few subjects. But worst of all, was that he didn’t care and enjoyed annoying the school. He would sometimes come late intentionally, or would hand in a blank test sheet, without even answering the questions that he knew. The school tried to help him by talking with him and making some leniencies for him, but to no avail. But when he began questioning why we have to do mitzvos, and that it is enough if I say borei nefoshos after eating a pastry or cookie, the teacher became concerned that his negative attitude is going to affect other boys. He then thought that perhaps it was a mistake to be lenient with him, as he continued sliding downwards. So when Moshe failed the fifth test in a row, he said, “Mr. Levy, tomorrow when you come to class you will retake this test. If you pass wonderful, if not we will call and inform your home that you are coming home and you will stay home until you pass the test.’

“Only me,” Moshe muttered angrily. But inwardly he was smiling; he was getting a day or two off. However, the teacher understood that Moshe needed help, so he requested Yerachmiel, one of the boys who was excelling, to call Moshe in the evening and offer to learn with him. Taking a blank test, Yerachmiel told Moshe the answers and after writing the first five, he asked Moshe to review them and answer orally, and then they did the same with the second five.

Moshe received a 90, and the teacher quietly said to him, “Moshe you see with a little studying you can do it,” but by now Moshe was too cynical and didn’t care. 

Of course I can do it, but why should I? I want a shorter day.

After Pesach Rabbi Schmid called Mrs. Levy and said, “The situation is that not only is Moshe failing most of his tests and therefore will not be promoted, but his behavior is getting out of hand and if he doesn’t improve, we regretfully will not be able to accept him next year. I tried to be soft with him, the teachers offered him incentives to do well, monetary and otherwise, but to no avail. This is not the conversation I was hoping to have, but hopefully when Moshe sees the seriousness of the situation, he will improve.”

“I understand,” was all Mrs. Levy could answer. After putting down the telephone, she broke out in a cry. She realized that this is what Moshe was planning all along. He was serious when he said he was planning on going to public school, and she had to do her best in the situation. Before discussing it with him, she decided to do her own homework. 

Speaking with the public school, she found out the schedule of summer school classes that Moshe would have to make up. She also searched to find someone who Moshe can learn with a few times a week. It is going to be a tough time. Hopefully he will remain strong in his Yiddishkeit and not be a negative influence on his brothers who look up to him. 

Those questions and relevant research took her a few weeks, and then she was prepared to discuss with Moshele his plans for the future. 

When she mentioned that she doesn’t know what the school is going to do for next year because he didn’t pass a lot of subjects, he replied, “Ma, I told you I don’t want to go there next year.”

“Yes, Moshele, you told me. But the public school is going to ask for your record card and when they see that you failed, they also will say you must repeat the grade. Unless you spend the summer in summer school instead of playing every day in the park.”

This caught Moshe off guard, and he said, “Ma can you please find out the schedule?”

Mrs. Levy didn’t want him to know that she already had all the information, so she said, “We will continue this conversation in a few days.”

A few days later, she showed him the schedule and while he wasn’t happy about losing or as he said wasting his summer in a classroom, he said, “That is better than wasting a complete year in that yeshiva. But I will try in English.” 

Moshe began doing his English homework and studied so at the end of the year, he only needed to take two summer courses and had some time to play as well. 

The problem was now he wanted to fit in with the boys from public school, so no longer did he outwardly express his disapproval when they shoplifted. Furthermore, he agreed to be their decoy. He would go into the store to buy something and distract the salesperson while the other boys took whatever they wanted. No longer did he have a problem with entering a bus from the back door without paying. Not that he wanted to do these things, but he will need friends to help and maybe protect him.

Chapter 28 Public School

Although he was going to public school, he took the role as the oldest brother with tremendous responsibility. On Shabbos, he would go to shul with his brothers and daven. By the table, he would ask them to say something on the parsha and he would repeat something he remembered. He would help them with their homework as much as possible. 

To satisfy his mother, or better said to cool his conscience, he agreed to learn with an older boy two evenings a week, and unless there was an emergency, he kept to it. Before going to school, he would daven in the dining room., so that his mother sees that he is davening and putting on his tefillin.

Mrs. Levy tried to console herself, “Although Moshele won’t be the talmid chocham we were hoping for, he will remain an ehrliche Jew.”

He went to public school with a cap, but none of the other students in his class were wearing a cap. His friends told him that he should remove it, while he was in school, and he noticed that a few of his former classmates from elementary were not wearing a yarmulkah. He didn’t know what to do.

Thinking fast he thought, “My doctor is a religious Jew, but he doesn’t wear a yarmulkah in the office, and he said that the Rabbi told him he doesn’t have to. So probably the same halachah applies to me, and I will take it off, just for when I am in school.”

Since all the students brought their own lunch to school, (that was before the free lunch program), it didn’t stand out that he was eating kosher. The first few days he said the brocha out loud and noticed everyone next to him began to stare at him, so then he began saying it very quietly.

From saying it quietly, he began saying it in his mind, until sometimes he forgot to say it at all. But once he stopped saying brochos in school, he sometimes forgot to say brochos at home also. Slowly but surely, his new environment was shaping him into a different person. 

But one thing remained the same. In the morning when he would say the brocha on the tztzis, he would say with tremendous concentration, and would then whisper “Tatty, I am keeping my promise.”

His classmates thought it was comical. Here is a boy who was religious, but no longer wears his head cover or says his blessings, but he walks around with the Jewish strings hanging out on both sides of his trousers. 

One day a few of them asked him why he doesn’t at least tuck them in, so that no one would see them. Becoming emotional, Moshe said, “Five years ago, right before my wonderful father passed away, he requested that I promise him that I proudly wear my tzitzis, that is what it is called. I gave him my promise and I will keep it, he said firmly.”

“If that was your father’s last request, we applaud you,” they said. Quickly the word spread around, and no one asked him about it. Moshe realized that his friends were protecting him, and he was thankful.

The winter went, and in the spring, they had a lot of time to be outside. One day, while they were talking in the park, a few boys came over and showed off their new watches. “Fancy, fancy” the other boys said, “How much do they cost?”

“Around five dollars, but we got it for free,” and they began patting each other on the back and laughing. 

“For free?” the other boys exclaimed, “Is there some promotion or contest?”

“No, we just took them and ran off, ha ha. It was so easy.”

Moshe was upset that a few boys asked them how they too could pick them up, but he didn’t say a word. I need them to help me.”

There was a thrill to this and some more of the boys joined in this excitement, until Moshe was the only one who didn’t participate. Sensing that their friendship and bond was weakening, Moshe reluctantly joined the gang. 

One day a week, the boys would ride their bicycles to different neighborhoods to look for easy targets. Then they would strategize and plan which store to rob. Sometimes it was just shoplifting, or as they called it, grab and run. Other times they would enter a candy store or another store and make believe that they were interested in buying something. When the salesperson opened the register, one of the stronger boys would suddenly rush over and push him down, grab some money out of the register, and then they all scattered.

Even on the days that they didn’t pick up a sizeable amount, the thrill of it was exhilarating and they were enjoying it.

Shortly before Pesach, he overheard his broth Dovid saying, “Even though Feivel Stein picks on me, I feel bad for him. I heard him telling his friends that for Pesach he would be going home. His father was in a horrific accident a few years ago and had numerous operations. So his uncle, Mr. Stein took care of him. But now, his father will be home for Pesach, so he will be going home for the Yom Tov, to finally be with his father and mother.”

Hearing this, Moshe’s heart skipped a beat. “Is that why the school was extra cautious not to punish Feivel? Why, I still think it is not fear, but if I was making the decision, I might also have some pity for him. I probably wouldn’t have arranged for him to get a nice scare from my friends. He obviously is having a really hard time. But it still didn’t give him the right to bully Dovid.”

Chapter 29 The Gang.

After Pesach, the weather was beautiful and the boys from public school would play around twice a week in the park. On the other days, they would do their new sport, shoplifting and stealing from stores.

Since Moshe didn’t join them at all on Shabbos, his participation was relegated to small details. Most often, he remained the decoy. This suited Moshe, as in truth he thought that what they were doing was wrong. While he no longer lost sleep over it, nevertheless he never really felt comfortable with his participation, even when the only thing he did was to go into the store to ask the salesperson about the price and quality of the various similar items. 

His friends would wait until they saw that the salesperson was no longer looking at them, and then they would grab whatever they could and run out. Sometimes, if it was small enough, they quickly slipped it in one of their backpacks or bags, and then a few minutes later politely walked out of the store. 

This went on for a little bit over two months, and by then school was over and they had more time to do their mischief, while the news began to spread that there was a group of teenagers who were vandalizing and terrifying small storekeepers. According to the news, the police considered it a priority, but they acknowledge that it is a difficult case. Every time it is a different neighborhood and often different types of stores, so there was no pattern. The biggest problem is that it is normally three or four boys, and not a large group of ten. You can’t stop and question every small group of teenagers. Most of them are law-abiding citizens.

Once it was on the news and discussed in the papers, the boys decided that they have to be quiet, for the time being. But their minds were racing, thinking that we must come up with a plan that will be well worth it.

They split up into six groups and canvassed various neighborhoods. This time they acted properly. When one or two of them entered a store, the others looked around to see how often a police car drove by and from what direction it came. They also went to the counter and paid for the item, so they weren’t questioned.

But the information they were gathering was valuable, certain areas had heavier police presence and those areas were to be avoided. There were a few areas that had hired their own patrols, they too had to be avoided.

Meanwhile, in one of their games, Moshe got into a fight with big Phil.

No longer was Moshe careful to wear a yarmulkah or even a cap when he played. Nor did he say a brocha, every time before eating, even to himself. When his friends stole soda or other items that were kosher, he gladly partook by enjoying it. The only way he stood out was with his tzitzis hanging out.

One day Phil said to him, “Your tztzis are a dangerous thing for us. It stands out too much and it is a sign the police can use. I don’t care if you wear them in the hot summer, that is your problem if you enjoy sweating, but you must tuck them in your pants.”

“I won’t,” was all Moshe replied.

“And I am telling you, you will. I will force you,” replied Phil.

“Yeah, let’s see,’ and to everyone’s astonishment, Moshe punched Phil in the face causing his nose to bleed. Phil wanted to retaliate, but a bunch of boys stood between them.

“Phil, you can’t demand that he breaks the vow he gave his father on his deathbed. You have a point, but we have to figure out a different solution.” Phil was furious, but he couldn’t take revenge then, so he would find a way to get back at Moshe.

Chapter 30 The Plan

On Sunday after the game, the group sat together to figure out what they would do. Phil stood up and said, “I was canvassing the area and noticed that on Maple Street, there are only a few stores, so there aren’t a lot of foot traffic or police there. One of the stores there is Bernie’s Jewelry, and it is busy from twelve fifteen until close to two in the afternoon, and then from after five until seven when they close. Their slowest days are Tuesday and Wednesday. So I was thinking that the best time for us to visit the store for just a few minutes is at two fifteen on Tuesday. At that time there were only the two elderly owners, as the worker goes out to lunch at two for a half hour.

“However, for it to be successful we have to do everything swiftly. I have a car and one of my friends is also available.  We can get another five people in each car and there is one person who has to get there on his own. But that person won’t be a suspect as he would not even enter the store. His job is to move a few heavy cinder blocks and block the back door and then he can leave, so he can keep on walking as if nothing happened. Now who lives closest to Maple Street?”

After everyone discussed it, they saw that Moshe lives only four blocks away from the store, while most of them lived much further. Phil said, “That is perfect, Moshe would block the back door and this way, no one will see those strings , which can be a tremendous clue for the police. While Phil was thinking he was getting even with Moshe, Moshe was happy that he won’t have to actually participate in this robbery, and he won’t have to lose this important friendship.

“Now,” Phil continued, “we have to practice and make sure that everyone arrives at the same time, withing thirty seconds. My car is on the side of the park, let us see how long it takes for me and five others to get in and drive off.”

Standing fifty feet away from the car, Phil chose five boys and asked the other boys to time them. It took them a bit over two minutes, as they all came to the door at the same time and each one was trying to get in first. Realizing this mistake they tried again, this time each person knowing when to enter, and it cut down the time by thirty seconds.

“That is much better, but a getaway has to be much faster. We can’t allow it to take more than forty seconds. We have a lot of practice.

“We also have to figure how everyone is getting there on time. Who lives close to a bus that travels on Maple or next to it?” Seven boys raised their hands, and it was on four different busses. “That is perfect,” Phil declared. “You two are coming from one direction on Maple and you two are coming from the other direction. You get on the bus so that you are there by at least fifteen minutes before two. You get off a block or two before the store and you see how long it takes to walk to the store. After you know exactly how long it will take you, both groups will see if you can arrive at the same time. The same thing is with you three. Three of you will come with me and my friend and Moshe will walk.”

The practice was extensive and at the end of two weeks they were ready. They were going to do one robbery, which would benefit them more than all of their previous excursions together. 

On Sunday they all met in Phil’s backyard, and there were six tables set up, each table with only one item on it. Phil explained, “There are six tables because the store has six showcases, and these tables are set up exactly as it is in the store.

The last two people entering each car, would go to the back two showcases, while the first ones would go to the closest ones to the door, and the other boys would go to the middle ones. Now let us practice.”

After a few tries they got it properly and quickly. Then Phil chose the strongest boys and gave them a hammer instructing them to break the window of their showcase.

The final run was done on Monday, and everything was set.

Monday night, Mrs. Levy noticed that Moshe was very subdued and asked him about it. He tried to dismiss it, but she saw that something serious was on his mind. But as much as she tried, he wouldn’t say anything.

Chapter 31 The Big Day

On Monday morning Moshe woke up nervous and had a little headache. On the one hand, he wanted to back out, but he was afraid of losing the support of these friends. He consoled himself that he was not actually doing the robbery since he was not entering the store.

At fifteen minutes before two, he left his house and walked two blocks until he came to the alley that he was supposed to walk through. Looking at his watch, he saw that he was there three minutes early, so he crossed the street and walked around to pass the time. 

At three minutes past two, he began walking down the first alley. At eight minutes past two he began walking down the second alley. When he was two thirds down the alley, a moving truck suddenly turned in and parked by the second house. Somebody was moving in to that home.

It was too late to go back and walk around the block, so Moshe decided to squeeze by the truck on the other side.

He was almost by the front tires, when he felt a yank. Somehow, he was stuck. Looking down, he noticed that his tzitzis got tangled in a thorn bush and he couldn’t move forward.

He tried pulling the tzitzis, thinking that he would be able to pull it with part of the thornbush branch, but to no avail. Feeling frustrated, he tried to untangle himself, but it was a difficult thing to do. He didn’t really have room to turn himself around and his hands were being pricked by the thorns on the thornbush, which was quite painful.

Each moment felt like an eternity and he was becoming exasperated. Finally, he gave a big yank and he pulled off the branch. Rushing to the next street he looked at his watch and he saw that it was eighteen minutes past two.

Meanwhile, all the other boys had arrived at the store on time, and it took them less than fifteen seconds to enter the store and announce a robbery. Phil, who had a BB gun, as a sham for a pistol, ordered the storekeeper to open the register and not go close to the phone.

Doing what he was instructed to do, he walked very slowly to the register with his hands high, and no one noticed that he had stepped on a silent alarm that rang in the police station.

Since it wasn’t a busy street and there was almost no traffic, the police were there in less than two minutes and by the time Moshe reached the final street, he saw the flashing lights of the police cars. 

Instead of continuing down the final alley, he turned at the corner and stood there with the other pedestrians watching, as the police brought out the twelve boys with their hands high. 

Walking home, those four blocks felt as if they were the longest four blocks in the world. He kept on thinking on how lucky he was that his tzitzis were caught in the thorns of the rosebush. He remembered his father’s final words, “Moshele, I know you will be going through a difficult time, but the tzitzis will save you.” Yes, they saved me indeed.

Coming home, he had no appetite to eat, and he went straight to his room. Four hours later, when he didn’t come out for supper, his mother entered to ask him if he was ok. She was startled to see that his face was flushed and he had fever. Bringing him a drink and aspirin, she coaxed him to take it and he fell asleep.

The following morning, he wasn’t feeling well, and his mother went to work. Opposite the bus stop was a news stand and she saw the headlines, “Teenage Gang Apprehended.” Looking at the picture, she noticed that she recognized some of Moshe’s friends. Boruch Hashem was not arrested with them as the article stated they were facing a few years in Juvenile detention.

After his mother left, Moshe got out of bed. When he made the brocha on his tztzis, his emotions that he held back broke through, and he began crying profusely. “Tatty, I love you and miss you so much. You saved me! Give me the strength.” He then took out his tefillin and took his time while davening, instead of rushing through or cutting it short, as was usually done. After breakfast he was drained and laid down to rest.

Coming home, Mrs. Levy saw Moshe sitting on the stoop in front of the house, deep in thought. She happily said, “Moshele I am happy to see that you are feeling a bit better than this morning,” and patting him on the head she entered the house. “I will wait until he is ready to speak about his friends. Now I think I understand his mood changes of the last few days.”

After sitting there for a while, he decided to walk around. If the police hadn’t come by now, that probably means he is safe. 

He told his brothers to inform their mother that he was going for a walk and began walking aimlessly. 

Suddenly, he heard a familiar voice calling him. Turning around, he was shocked to see it was Gavriel on his way home. Gavriel warmly embraced him and said how happy he was to see him. Gavriel continued that he just came home last evening and will be in town for three weeks. After talking a little bit about himself, he asked Moshe how he was doing. Taking a deep breath, Moshe knew that if there was anyone he could open up to, it was Gavriel. So he said, “If you don’t mind, let us speak in the park at a picnic table.”

Gavriel allowed Moshe to speak and express his anger and frustration at how his family was treated. “Although I found out some details about my brother’s tormentor, they should have realized that I too was going through difficult times.” He then explained how he was thrown out and slowly began behaving contrary to his principles. 

“But I needed that friendship and protection,” he explained. “And now, after I saw how the tzitzis protected me, I want to return to Yeshiva, but I missed two years of learning, and I can’t blame them for not wanting me to return. I did make their life challenging.”

Gavriel was silent for a few moments and then said, “Moshe, I think you are being too hard on yourself. I know how capable you are, and I believe the school administration also does. Let’s learn together tomorrow at around two in the afternoon when the shul is empty, and then we will know where you are and take it from there.”

Moshe thanked him and they both went home. His mother was relieved when she saw him and asked, “Where were you for almost two hours?”

“I met Gavriel and we spoke, catching up on each other’s life.”

The next day after eating lunch, Moshe went to the shul, and as Gavriel noted, they were the only ones there. Moshe was skeptical of his ability, but after learning for an hour, he saw that he was able to follow what they were learning and repeat it himself.

Gavriel then said, “I believe that you also see that you can catch up on what you missed. So here is the plan: for the next three weeks, we will learn every day. If the school accepts you, excellent. If not, I will ask my school to accept you, as you will be my study partner and I am positive that it will be good.

The next few days everything went as scheduled. But one day while they were learning, unbeknown to them, someone sat behind them and listened in as they were learning together. Only when they concluded, did the person address them, “Moshe, Boruch Hashem, I knew this day will come. Welcome back!”

Looking up, he saw that it was none other than Rabbi Schmid.

At that moment, Moshe smiled. He had a decision to make and went home to discuss it with his mother.