A Lesson from Bubby Tress | Rabbi Elazar Meisels

I remember a discussion that I was part of with my grandmother ע”ה, legendary אלמנה of the famous R’ Elimelech Mike Tress זצ”ל. This conversation took place in the ‘80s. It was a long time ago. We were all sitting around a table and some of the people there were sharing the story that was depicted at the time in a movie that made waves. And the name of the movie was, It took the world by storm, this film. It claimed to illustrate how easily even decent people can be manipulated into doing unspeakable, unspeakable evil because of social pressure. And everybody was talking about this film and they were analyzing the message, and is it really this way? And is it not? And would I withstand it? And would I not? Suddenly my grandmother turns to everybody at the table and she asks the most obvious question, Is it made by Jews or is it made by Non-Jews? And everybody looked at her. What does Bubbeh want? I mean, obviously, this is from Hollywood. This wasn't made by Beryl and Shmeryl. This is a Hollywood film. I mean, what do you think, Bubbeh? And they said: Bubbeh, it’s not Frum Yidden, but it was a good message. It was a very, very positive message. It's recommended. People should watch it. I'll never forget the look on her face. She was baffled. She was stunned. And somebody said: But, Bubbeh, it was clean. There was nothing in the movie that was פריצות. She said, Now, my grandmother, Bubbeh Tress, she wasn't some European Bubby who came out of the Shtetl and didn't know what was flying. She was born in America. She was American-born, Yankee Doodle Dandy. She knew the world. But she also knew what a Jew is. And she understood better than all of us what a Jewish eye sets itself on and what it doesn't look to, if it has no reason to do so. And I think to myself, How did she have such a role? She and her husband played such a critical role in building Torah in America. You don't get to do that if you don't understand the power of a Jew. And if you understand the power of a Jew, you understand what a Jewish eye looks at, and what it never looks at.