03 Aug 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.
FELDER STATEMENT
Dear Vues Master:
Senator Simcha Felder released the
following statement in response to
the 68-count indictment brought
against three perpetrators of hate
crimes outside synagogues in Boro
Park and Kensington: “I commend
our NYPD members for the diligent
investigative work that led to the
arrest and subsequent indictments
against these miscreants. We must
deliver a strong, clear message that
hate crimes are inexcusable and reprehensible,
and will be prosecuted
accordingly. I hope this prosecution
will act as a deterrent to all hateful
individuals with the will to victimize,
intimidate, harass and abuse innocent
people.”
ST
Vues Master’s Note: Not really since
this criminal did not even spend the
night in jail. Thanks to the bail reform
law he won’t even come to his
court date since he was promised
Met tickets and that is not enough to
get him to come back. What a shame
our Justice system has become!
AM HAARETZ
Dear Vues Master:
When a certain דיין†saw an עם†הארץ
joyously celebrating שמחת†תורה†, he
asked him “Why are you celebrating?
You don’t learn תורה†.” The
עם†הארץ†answered: “Why do I beat
my chest on יום†כיפור†and say
?על†חטא†שחטאנו†לפניך†בכפת†שוחד
I’ve never been a דיין†or בן†דיין†. You
take שוחד†and yet it’s me who is
making confession. In the same way,
I’m שמח†that you learn ”.תורה
MB
Vues Master’s Note: I guess everyone
beats to their own drum!
INSURE EVERY VEHICLE
Dear Vues Master:
Senator Simcha Felder has proposed
new legislation (S7294) that would
require bicycles, bicycles with electric
assist, and electric scooters that
operate on New York City streets to
have the same minimum liability insurance
as motor vehicles do under
New York State Law. The legislation
would protect a rapidly rising number
of New Yorkers who are injured
in accidents with these vehicles by
ensuring the coverage necessary for
medical bills and related costs. “It
is abundantly clear that we must
protect people. Putting all the sensational
headlines aside, I have received
far too many alarming calls
from people sharing personal stories
of children, seniors, and adults in
their prime, who sustained serious,
life-threatening injuries from these
vehicles,” cautions Senator Felder.
“The City has no idea how many
people are already zipping around
on these electric-powered vehicles.
But, with chaos on the streets already,
they are adding thousands of
e-scooter ride-shares this summer.
When somebody gets hurt, sorry
doesn’t cover it.” The purpose of
New York’s No-Fault Insurance Law
is to restore health and productivity
as quickly as possible to individuals
who are hurt in auto accidents. However,
people currently injured by a
bicycle, e-bike or e-scooter have no protection at all. To conform to the new normal on our streets, it is time we require that bicycles, electric bicycles and electric scooters operating in NYC have the same insurance requirements that motor vehicles do. As e-bikes allow riders to move at higher speeds, especially in congested cities such as New York, even a minor event can be enough to create a dangerous accident. An analysis published in BMJ Journals found a greater probability of e-bike injuries requiring hospitalization than traditional bicycles. Emergency department data (2000 – 2017) showed 17 percent of e-bike accident victims suffer internal injuries. Even at low speeds, an e-bike accident is likely to cause critical head and neck injuries, cerebral concussions, internal injuries, nerve damage, broken bones, facial trauma, and back injuries. According to NYC.gov, there have been 588 electric scooter accidents in the City with 538 people injured and 3 pedestrian deaths since 2020. Electric scooters reaching speeds up to 25 miles per hour or above are a growing trend in personal transportation. Their compact size allows the rider to switch between roads and sidewalks and maneuver through pedestrian traffic, leaving everyone on the roads and sidewalks, including cyclists and pedestrians, vulnerable to traumatic injuries in the case of a collision. The bill joins a package of road safety legislation, dubbed VISION 2.ZERO addressing all vehicles operating legally on NYC streets:
1. (S7294) Requires liability insurance for bicycles/e-vehicles.
2. (S7203) Requires a helmet when operating a bicycle, e-bike or e- scooter.
3. (S7204) Establishes a DMV Bicycle and E-vehicle Education Course and license.
4. (S7205) Creates a double licensure path; be both a safe driver and cyclist/e-vehicle rider.
5. (S7206) Requires registration and license plates for bicycles/e- vehicles.
ST
Vues Master’s Note: Sounds like a money grab to me we pay enough in taxes and Alternate side tickets and Camera tickets enough with legislation!
PLEDGES
Dear Vues Master:
When the ם״יבלמ†observed that people in Shul were kissing the הרות†רפס†with their hands and making unfulfilled pledges to the Shul, he told them: “Give money with your hands and kiss the הרות†with your mouths.”
BM
Master’s Note: I would say put your money where your mouth is!
READ IT ACCURATELY
Dear Vues Master:
The city of Brody had a blind ןזח. One day, רקוצ†שריה†׳ר†asked him: “I pray from a large רוזחמ†and still mispronounce words at times, but you pray without even a small רוזחמ†and never make a mistake. How come?” The blind ןזח†answered: “Its שוריפב†written: ויאריל†רוזחמ†ןיאו.”
NB
Vues Master’s Note: I bet you most people don’t know that he should have read it Machsor not Machzor!
VESSEL
Dear Vues Master:
On the first night of Sukkos, the יבר†was headed to the Sukkah with his םידיסח†in tow. As he arrived at the entrance to the Sukkah, he suddenly stopped, refused to enter and stood there apparently disturbed. The םידיסח†were starting to get concerned when all of a sudden the Rebbe’s countenance cleared and he proceeded to enter the Sukkah. The mystified םידיסח†asked the Rebbe what was going on. What was his
אנימא†אוה†and what was his אנקסמ? The Rebbe answered, “As I was about to enter the Sukkah, I became upset and concerned because who am I, just an empty ילכ, to enter a holy Sukkah?! As I was struggling with this existential crisis, it suddenly dawned upon me, I am a
המלכו†השוב†אלמ†ילכ! With that, knowing that I’m not a mere empty ילכ, I readily entered the Sukkah!”
BN
Vues Master’s Note: I guess it is all in your perspective. If you are something you are not a nothing!
GET USED TO IT
Dear Vues Master:
If you grew up in a Zionist home from 1970-2000 in America you never had Pepsi on your home. Pepsi participated in the Arab boycott of Israel, and no one would serve antisemitic Pepsi at their table. I’m not sure of the psychological phenomenon but everyone who would only drink Jew friendly Coca-Cola developed an aversion to Pepsi, and until today we are convinced Coca-Cola tastes better than Pepsi and won’t drink Pepsi. The next generation of American Jewish Zionists will grow up with same aversion to Ben and Jerry’s ice cream.
RUP
Vues Master’s Note: I happen to like Pepsi better!
SLEEP PEACEFULLY
Dear Vues Master:
Sam Roth complained to his Doctor that he was having trouble sleeping. “I’m up all night,” he said. “I can’t get any shut eye and I’m exhausted all day.” After examining him, the Doctor said: “If you want to sleep well, don’t bring your תורצ†to your bedroom.” Sam replied: “But Doctor, my wife insists that we sleep in the same room.”
KJ
Vues Master’s Note: I sleep like a log! My wife sleeps like a baby she wakes up crying on the hour!
TEFILLIN
Dear Vues Master:
When did they start wearing ןיליפת? The ט”יבמ†writes* “Even though it seems that the Yidden were commanded in םירצמ†to wear ןיליפת, they could not have done so until after they arrived in באומ†תוברעwhen they received the two תוישרפ†of עומש†םא†היהו†≠עמש.” The א”בשר†writes** that since they were commanded in םירצמ†to wear ןיליפת†we must assume that the תוישרפ†of עומש†םא†היהו†≠עמש†were handed over to them in םירצמ†but only appeared in the Torah in הרות†הנשמ
MF
Vues Master’s Note: I thought they start wearing Tefillin in the morning. Just kidding. It is an interesting question!
PROTEST
Dear Vues Master:
ל”צז†ןהכה†קודצ†’ר†the לודג†ןהכ, who was one of the greatest Chassidic Masters &
הבשחמ†לעב†writes in his קידצה†תקדצ†רפס, When
וניבר†השמ†warned the םיליפעמ†not to attempt to forcefully enter לארשי†ץרא†before the right time he said to them
חלצת†אל†איהו†The word “איהו” implies that this time it won’t be successful but there will come a time in the future when they will be successful even though they will enter forcefully and before the right time. While others predicted negative predictions which never materialized, קודצ†’ר†predicted the positive which came true just 50 years later. איבנ†ותוא†אבינ†לודג†רבד
ס”תח†ןושל†Never would anyone think of protesting in תולג†and not allow a light railway to pass through their Jewish neighborhood nor would anyone think the Government is obligated to subsidize your children’s daycare so you can sit in Kollel & learn Torah. Entitlement of rights and to be treated equally comes only after shaking off the תולג†mentality.
FM
Vues Master’s Note: I protest this letter. It is much deeper than this! Time will tell! Let us hope to see the light at the end of the galus!
NAZI
Dear Vues Master:
In the early 1930s, Hans Pfeiffer went to his barn one morning and saw that his prize ox was very sick, unable to rise from its bed of straw. He immediately called an Aryan veterinarian, who informed him that he saw no hope for the ox. Although Pfeiffer was a Nazi sympathizer, he couldn’t afford to lose his prize ox and so, in desperation, he secretly called Fleishman, the Jewish veterinarian. Fleishman examined the animal, gave it medication and whispered in its ear. The ox immediately jumped to its feet. The Nazi farmer was utterly astonished. “What did you whisper to the ox?” he asked. “What did you say to make it leap like that?” The vet responded: “I whispered the name Hitler in its ear, knowing that there wasn’t an ox in all of Germany that wouldn’t leap to its feet at its mere mention.”
HY
Vues Master’s Note: Ah Just a Beheima!!
COMPARING CREEDS
Dear Vues Master:
There is something called the “even the goyim/only the goyim” phenomenon. When a Jew’s personal opinion happens to align with something the goyim think or do, he will say “see, even the goyim know this.” But when it doesn’t, he will say “see, only the goyim think this.”
JL
Vues Master’s Note: I always say that the guy who is lucky that he has a mazel like a Goy!
SAME AS EVER
Dear Vues Master:
Yeshivos, starting their winter ןמז†on ןושח†ח”ר, the summer ןמז†on רייא†ח”ר†and opening-up the freezer on Tu B’Shvat & Tu B’Av (Shiduchim) goes back to at least 400 years ago. R. Nosson Nota M’Hanover zt”l wrote a Sefer “הלוצמ†ןוי” describing the Chmielnicki YM”S period. (ט”תו†ח”ת†תריזג) At the end of the Sefer, he describes the Yeshiva world of that period. Among the interesting things he writes is that the RoshYeshiva had a שמש†( Mashgiach) who made sure the םירוחב†are learning and not loitering the streets. Every Thursday they had a הניחב†(test). םירוחב†who couldn’t answer correctly were hit by the שמש†with a big stick and shamed in public so they will remember to learn properly the following week. (As absurd as it sounds, my generation grew up when this system was not yet considered abnormal) םינמזה†ןיב†started on Tu B’Shvat & Tu B’Av. The Roshei Yeshiva & the םירוחב†traveled to the winter & summer fairs. At the fair, the learning was more relaxed. Being all the Roshei Yeshiva and all their Talmidim were at the fair, it turned into a Shiduchim market. Any parent who had a son or daughter of marriageable age made sure to attend the fair. Hundreds & even thousands of Shiduchim were negotiated and arranged there.
FM
Vues Master’s Note: They say as mmuch as things change they stay the same. Let us hope that all singles find their bashert!
WILL
Dear Vues Master:
Why should a person be allowed to write a will?
JK
Vues Master’s Note: Because they say where there is a will there are relatives.
ANONYMOUS
Dear Vues Master:
A lot of people are against anonymity because they say that if you really believe something, you should stand up for it and not be afraid to give your name. That’s actually ridiculous. Concern about discrimination and retaliation is reason to be anonymous, and it has nothing to do with cowardice or shyness. A message should be heard for what it is, not who it comes from. When people use their real identities, their words are judged by the public perception of the persona. This includes several irrelevant factors. For example, a taller person is more respected than a shorter person, and a person with symmetrical facial features is listened to more than a person with asymmetrical features. In addition, anonymity helps evade the mob mentality. When people know they can be canceled for their views, they should still be able to express those views. The crowd is not always right. I would also like to point out that in my experience, it is not true that anonymous people are meaner. In our society, niceness is not valued. Many people are embarrassed to be publicly nice under their real names and express their kindness anonymously.
AN
Vues Master’s Note: I would love to respond anonymously. But then no one would get to ead my response. Sometimes I write nice responses sometimes I write even nicer responses!
KASHRUS
Dear Vues Master:
A few weeks ago in the kashruth column rabbi elefant wrote that he does not recommend using toothpaste without a hechsher. Should the heimish stores therefore stop selling toothpaste w/o a hechsher? Thank you.
DY
Vues Master’s Note: If the heimishe store has Rabbi Elefant as their Rov. There are many varying opinions regarding toothpaste. The bottom line is keep your teeth clean and kosher.
KASHRUS
Dear Vues Master:
Why couldn’t Moshe Rabbaynu get an “ishur” to enter Eretz Yisrael this week? Because he had tremendous “Covid-rosh”
DK
Vues Master’s Note: Ha Ha!
MILK
Dear Vues Master:
A man once came to the Beis HaLevi to ask a halachic question. “Is one permitted to use milk for the arba kosos (four cups) on Pesach instead of wine?” R’ Soloveitchik asked if there was some medical reason the man could not drink wine. As he questioned the man, it came out that he could not afford wine. The Rov told him, “No, one may not use milk instead of wine,” and gave him a “loan” of twenty rubles for wine. The Beis HaLevi’s family questioned him after the fellow left. “Wine doesn’t cost so much money. Why did you give him twenty rubles?! “Didn’t you hear what he said?” asked the Rav. “He asked if he could use milk. Since we don’t mix meat and milk, that means he couldn’t afford meat for the Seder either! I merely gave him enough money for his true needs.”
BH
Vues Master’s Note: It is a good thing the guy did not want to use Ben and Jerry’s Ice cream for the Seder as he would have to boycott it!!