09 Mar Speak Your Vues
SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER
Please note that the author of Speak Your Vues is in no way affiliated with the publisher of this paper. The author of this column is an independent third party contributor. The views and opinions expressed by this author may not reflect the views and opinions of the publishers. If one has any issues with any of the views, please write a letter to the Vues Master.
UBER
Dear Vues Master:
Uber delivered to our Yeshiva a lost pair of Tefillin and an expensive laptop computer left in the car by a talmid. The Tefillin had only first names and no last names. We weren’t sure if it was one of our talmidim until a bright talmid opened up the lap top to discover a picture of the owner. The security guard immediately recognized the owner, since he’s always reminding him to put on a mask, so he right away was able to identify the face of the student. UBER EATS & HASHAVAS AVEIDA!
Postscript-The security guard told me that the boy was so happy to retrieve his lost Tefillin and laptop, that he called the Uber driver and gave him a very nice tip! Kiddush Hashem.
RMS
Vues Master’s Note: What a nice story! We are so happy to hear a story like this.
REMEMBERING RAV SHLOMO ZALMAN AUERBACH ZT’L ON HIS 26TH YAHRTZEIT
Dear Vues Master:
Twenty-six years ago, on the 20th of Adar 5755 (corresponding to the 20th 1995) Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ZT”L was niftar, and as I was studying in Yeshiva at the time I attended his levaya – whose broad mix of religious and secular attendees demonstrated the esteem with which he was held by so many different types of Jews. Some months later, Rabbi Hanoch Teller published a book of stories about R’ Shlomo Zalman titled ‘And from Jerusalem his word’, and among the many stories found in this book, one particularly stood out which highlights the efforts that he went to in order to make another feel important – notwithstanding how truly humble he was. Here is the story: ‘The concerned parents of a developmentally challenged child once came to Reb Shlomo Zalman to consult him on the choice of an institution for their son. They were considering two alternative facilities, each one having certain advantages over the other. Reb Shlomo Zalman listened carefully to their description and then asked: “Where is this boy? What does he say about all this?” The parents looked at one another in astonishment. They conceded that it had never occurred to them to discuss the matter with their son. “And frankly,” the father added, “I don’t see much point in discussing it. This is not something he can grasp.” Reb Shlomo Zalman was irate. “Atem chotim b’nefesh hayeled”- “You are committing a sin against the soul of this child!” he cried. “You intend to evict him from his home and consign him to a strange place with a regimented atmosphere. He must be encouraged and not allowed to feel that he is being betrayed.” The parents were speechless. “Where is the boy?” Reb Shlomo Zalman demanded. “I would like to see him and discuss the matter with him personally.” The couple hurriedly honored Reb Shlomo Zalman’s request and brought their son before the sage. “What is your name, my boy?” the Gaon asked. “Akiva,” the child replied. “How do you do, Akiva. My name is Shlomo Zalman. I am the Gadol Ha-dor, the greatest Torah authority of this generation, and everyone listens to me. You are going to enter a special school now, and I would like you to represent me and look after all of the religious matters in your new home.” The boy’s eyes were riveted to the Gaon’s face, and the awestruck parents sat with their mouths agape as the Rav continued. “I shall now give you semichah, which makes you a rabbi, and I want you to use this honor wisely.” Reb Shlomo Zalman gently stroked the child’s cheek and saw that he was as eager as could be to fulfill his part of the agreement. Over the years, on numerous occasions when this youngster was to spend a Shabbos at home, he refused to leave the institution, insisting that as the local rabbi he had a responsibility to his constituents. After all, he had been charged with this responsibility by none other than the Gadol Ha-dor!’
RJS
Vues Master’s Note: What a great story about the posek hador!
CUOMO
Dear Vues Master: Baruch shehechiyanu v’kiyimunu v’higiyanu lazman hazeh. Legislators from NY’s Assembly and NYS Senate struck a deal to strip Gov. Cuomo of his emergency powers and return matters like lockdowns to local control. V’hasheiv lo gemuloh b’rosho. King Cuomo’s tyrannical dictatorship is finally coming to an end. If the blood of our elders on his hands wasn’t enough to take him down, personal allegations are the final nails in his coffin. Bye bye murderer and creep. New York has had enough of you.
HN
Vues Master’s Note: Problem is that it is too little and too late. All his prior edicts are staying in effect and he can do whatever he wants with them!
TAX RELIEF
Dear Vues Master:
Felder Demands Tax Relief, Again Sponsors Legislation to Remove NYS Income Tax on Unemployment After calling out the City’s property tax hike during the COVID-19 pandemic economic crisis as a chutzpah to struggling homeowners, Senator Simcha Felder (D- Midwood, Madison, Boro Park) has now introduced legislation that would provide tax relief for millions of New Yorkers who received unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Felder’s COVID-19 Unemployment Benefits Tax Relief would waive New York State income taxes on the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits received in 2020. The tax relief would extend to all workers who received benefits, both through Federal unemployment programs like Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) and those who received traditional unemployment benefits through NYS unemployment insurance (UI). Assemblyman Peter J. Abbatte (D- Bensonhurst, Dyker Heights) is expected to introduce the bill in the Assembly. “During this exceptionally difficult time, New Yorkers deserve help with no strings attached. When the government extends help with its right hand, the left hand has no business taking it back,” said Senator Felder. “Unemployment benefits are a lifeline to families struggling to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, and to pay for necessities. The bill I introduced today provides vital tax relief that would allow unemployed New Yorkers to fully utilize their unemployment benefits supporting their families and communities.” Amongst states that tax income, five — California, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Virginia — already fully exempt UI benefits. Delaware just recently exempted UI benefits from state taxes and Arkansas is weighing a similar proposal. The CARES Act, passed by Congress in March 2020, provided an additional $600 in unemployment benefits through the end of July. The $10,200 of tax relief provided in this bill would cover 17 weeks of that $600 per week benefit. This calculation is based on similar tax relief provided in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) during the last recession. Similar legislation was recently proposed at the Federal level. “As people everywhere continue to feel the pain of COVID-19’s resulting economic crisis, this legislation will protect New Yorkers who received unemployment benefits from being hit with an extortionate tax bill,” said Senator Felder.
ST
Vues Master’s Note: The problem os that Taxes don’t go down they only go up!!
NOSY NEIGHBOR
Dear Vues Master:
I have new neighbors who are anti ALL vaccines and don’t think COVID is real. They yelled at my daughter for getting vaccinated. How do I react?
SD
Vues Master’s Note: Ignore them. Who cares what they think!
WASTEFUL SPENDING
Dear Vues Master:
Democrats in the House recently passed the latest Covid Relief bill. It is difficult to call it a Covid relief bill, when approximately only 1% of the bill is funding vaccine distribution. Furthermore, the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Budget estimates that only 5% of the bill is related to public health needs. But at the end of the day, who cares? It is called a “relief bill”. Any questions about the details show that you lack compassion for your fellow humans. A trillion dollars from the previous relief bill still unused or the fact that in the latest bill, 45% of funding to schools will be distributed between 2022-2028, who cares? It has the word relief in it. This is not a relief bill though, it is a puppet show! The Democrats are labeling this bill “relief” for political purposes while hiding their pet projects in it. For example, $1.5 million to a bridge that Senator Schumer wants reaching New York to Canada, or $140 million for a subway station in San Fransico that Speaker Pelosi wants, or $200 million to The Institute of Museum and Library Services! These are just a few examples, can you imagine how many there are?! Funding to bridges, Planned Parenthood, art museums, etc. has nothing to do with relief. Millions of Americans are still unemployed because of the draconian, pointless lockdowns. It is no coincidence that South Dakota, a state which never closed a business, has the lowest unemployment currently, while those with unemployment rates over 8% are all lockdown states! There is only one relief that would help all Americans. It’s called reopening our economy. Florida and South Dakota have all done it, and even so, have learned to live with the virus temporarily, without infections going up out of control like New York and California. Many approaches were applied, but it is now clear that following the Florida/South Dakota model were the most successful models, while the death rates for California and New York were higher even on a per capita basis than these two states. It is time to take our country back! Sincerely, D S G Vues Master’s Note: This is the way they roll! Always spending money we don’t have. Imagine if I did that in my house I would go bankrupt right away!
MARRIAGE JOKES
Dear Vues Master: I heard this joke from Rabbi Fischel Schachter. There was once a bachur who went over to his rebbe and asked him what he can do to help him live longer. The rebbe responded that there is something he can do! He advised him to go and get married. The bachur then asked how getting married would help him have a longer life. The rebbe replied that after he has a wife he won’t have this desire to live especially long. I’m thinking that maybe this is not such a joke! Maybe this is the reason for the so-called “Shidduch Crisis”! Teenagers today are so thought-out that they are scared to get married. They fear that if they don’t get married to the person who is exactly, as they say, “my type” they will lose their will to live! In truth, the opposite is true. Only when a person doesn’t get married does he make his life not worth living! The velt has to figure out how to use their intelligence the right way!
S K
Vues Master’s Note: At least it is not a shvigger Joke!
SYSTEMIC ANTI SEMITISM
Dear Vues Master:
Statement from Senator Simcha Felder: “The video of a Jewish family being kicked off the Plane is extremely upsetting and its proximity to recent similar incidents signals an alarming and disturbing trend. I am asking @ senatorschumer to conduct a full investigation to ensure the rights and safety of ALL passengers.”
ST
Vues Master’s Note: Sorry Anti Semitism I not included with Cancel Culture we will need to endure it until the Republicans re-take the House and Senate and presidency. The people in office now are the biggest anti- Semites!!
VACCINE
Dear Vues Master:
The vaccine has not been proven to help stop the spread, only to help protect the individual. However, a lot of things have not been proven. It has not been proven that plants do not feel pain. Just like we continue to use plants, we should be aware that the vaccine most likely does help stop the spread.
FG
Vues Master’s Note: Sounds like the vaccine affecyed you or me as I don’t het your point!
SYSTEMIC RACISM
Dear Vues Master: Systemic racism is real, but not in the way the woke crowd says. There is no distinction between the “system” and the people. Therefore, if racism exists in the population, it is also “systemic”.
SE
Vues Master’s Note: I believe the cancel culture are the biggest racists. If you are a Jew you need to remember the holocaust to make sure it will never happen again. If you are a Black person you need to make sure you know and protect yourself from racism. If you do cancel culture you basically render these people defenseless. Remember burying you head in the sand will not make the problem go away.
THANK YOU HASHEM
Dear Vues Master: Thanks for all you do to provide kosher entertainment and news to the greater chareidy public. Recently a popular weekly publication included a feature on the work of a grassroots team devoted to bringing hakaras hatov for the ribono shel olam back in style. I don’t take issue with the idea of thanking the almighty, obviously this is a noble proposition. Rather, I fail to understand what value there is to a mass campaign of this kind. Serving Hashem is a private, personal undertaking. When in our history did a movement surrounding so sensitive and important an endeavor, begin with a few businesspeople? Additionally, much ink has been spilled in Jewish literature defining what is the proper way of ‘thanking Hashem’. For a small group of relatively unlearned laymen to consider themselves worthy of passing judgement on that perfect method is embarrassing and absurd. With appreciation for your dedication to the dissemination of varied insights and opinions.
Gratefully yours, L G
Vues Master’s Note: First and foremost I want to thank Hashem for giving me the opportunity to respond to your letter. Now I want to thank those that remind us to Thank Hashem daily! Last but not least Thank you Hashem! Your letter sounds like a little sour grapes!
SCIENCE?
Dear Vues Master:
WH Press Sec. Jen Psaki responds to governors of Texas and Mississippi ending mask mandates and rolling back COVID restrictions, being the first to follow Lakewood and Williamsburg’s lead, telling reporters “This entire country has paid the price for political leaders who ignored the science when it comes to the pandemic”. As if there is anyone who still believes that we are being governed by science.
DB
Vues Master’s Note: More like Political Science!!!
MEDICINE
Dear Vues Master: A World Health Organization panel officially advised not to use hydroxychloroquine to prevent COVID. Political, as usual.
HJ
Vues Master’s Note: No they are flattening the curve of our wallets! All they want is our money!