24 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.
APOLOGY
Dear Vues Master:
Please print this letter since I will probably not
see this man again. He most likely will not return
to the store where the incident took place.
Open letter to the man in the wine store: I
apologize for the way I handled our disagreement.
Please read the following so you will
at least understand my point of view. Though
it was wrong of me to shout, I do stand be
my words. I believe in dina d’malchusa dina.
We have great freedoms in this country and
I appreciate that, and I try to honor its laws
when there is no halachic conflict. Also since
it would be my criminal record and my reputation
on the line, I don’t feel it is for you to
decide how much risk is okay for me to take.
Worse than that is the possibility of causing
a c Chilul Hashem and that is certainly not a
chance worth taking. I find it troublesome
that you “condemned” the whole Litvishe
community. (My grandmother, by the way,
was from the very chassidishe Nadvorna.
Her father was a melamed there.) Jews from
all groups have their pluses and minuses and
we should be careful about pointing fingers.
In the end, however, I handled the situation
poorly. I should have remained calmer. That
is a middah I need to work on. I am asking
for mechilah. I understand why you were annoyed
even though I don’t agree with you.
Please let us both reset and bring more shalom
to Klal Yisroel as we head toward a new year.
Again, my apologies. sincerely,
D.N.
Vues Master’s Note: Now, I hope your friend
reads this letter. Let us be marbeh Shalom
Baolam!
UNITY
Dear Vues Master:
A תלמיד†חכם†, speaking of the importance of
unity, observed that it is exemplified by the
ארבע†מינים†. When the ארבע†מינים†are united
during סוכות†, we hug them and bless them.
But on הושענה†רבה†¨†when the ערבות†are in
effect פורש†מן†הציבור†and stand alone, they are
beaten on the ground.
MB
Vues Master’s Note: Oh boy sounds like you
are threatening. Either do it our way or we
beat you!
COMPARING DIFFERENT JEWS
Dear Vues Master:
The ד׳†מינין†are מעכבין†זה†את†זה†, yet it is the
אתרוג†and the לולב†that are especially cherished,
while the ערבה†is generally considered
secondary, even though on הושענה†רבה
the מצוה†is performed with the ערבה†exclusively.
Indeed, when it’s all over, the ערבות
are knocked to the ground, stepped on, and
thrown away. ר׳†יחזקאל†בנעטה†explained
that the אתרוג†and לולב†are cherished because
they come from far away, while the ערבות†are
found locally and this is the way of the world,
the guest from afar is honored and the one who
comes from nearby is considered less .חשוב
BM
Vues Master’s Note: OK so I will relinquish
my citizenship maybe I will be treated nicely.
SOCIALIST
Dear Vues Master:
In these tough and dangerous times, I have
decided that I am now a socialist. After all,
those of us who have the means are morally
obligated to help those who don’t. It’s a scary
world, and many people are being forced to
hire private security. As a socialist, I believe
in establishing a Security For All program.
This would entail having a team of security
professionals, much like private security, but
for the public instead of to serve one individual.
This program should be run by the city,
with the head of the department reporting to
the mayor. Public security agents should wear
uniforms and carry badges so the public can
easily recognize them and be able to approach
them with a security concern, unless there is a
need to blend in with the public, such as when
investigating a crime. They should have the
legal right and obligation to bring dangerous
criminals to some kind of holding system that
keeps them from hurting the public. I know
that non-socialists don’t believe it is the government’s
job to provide, but not everyone can
afford private security. So you should open
your mind to a little bit of socialism considering
it can keep you safe.
JK
Master’s Note: I think I will just cut straight to the
Chase. Let us defund the Congress and all of Government
since they are the opposite of progress!
COMPARING DIFFERENT JEWS
Dear Vues Master:
My wife and I married before our older siblings in 1972. My father A”H said he would give a brocha to our wedding if we would individually go to our sibling and get their consent and Broca. My (me male) bother consented and my wife’s sister consented. I am sure in their hearts there was some hurt but for the greater good they stepped to the plate. Did here parents go through the Ceremony of consent. If not there can be left out feelings. Long story short within 18 months both of our siblings married two wonderful people. To JJ Hashem doesn’t leave anybody behind. Stay focused and you’ll find your bashert.
M and D in Monticello
Vues Master’s Note: Make sure to write in when they get engaged we love such feel good stories. All’s well that ends well especially when it is not the end but rather the beginning of a new marriage!
DUNCE
Dear Vues Master:
Don’t be a Golem Most if not all scholars, consider the famous story of the Golem of Prague as fictitious. There is no evidence of the Maharal ever creating a Golem. The Golem of Prague legend was started indirectly by a ליכשמ†named Berthold Auerbach. He wrote a novel on Spinoza. In the book he describes how Spinoza was put into םרח†because he didn’t believe in the Golem of Prague. Auerbach was trying to ridicule the Frum Yidden by portraying them putting into םרח†anyone who does not believe in their fairy tales. These few lines in the novel are the first mention of a fictonal Golem of Prague and so the Golem legend. was created. R. Yidel Rosenberg z”l who was a Rav in Lodz & Warsaw immigrated to Canada. He became a Rav in Toronto and later in Montreal. RYR was a Talmid Chacham who wrote many Sefarim. He was also a novelist* who wrote Yiddish novels.
(דועו†עדייז†רעלאפש†רעד) He claimed to have acquired the manuscripts of R. Yitzchok Katz zt”l,son in law of the ל”רהמ, from The Great Library in Metz. (This library was nonexistent.) One of these manuscripts described in detail the creation of the Golem. In the year 1908/9, R. Yidel Rosenberg printed this manuscript and called it “ל”רהמ†תואלפנ”. It was R.Y.Rosenberg’s
“ ל”רהמ†תואלפנ†רפס” which popularized the Golem story amongst the Yidden and eventually even amongst the Non-Jews. Within the first year of the ל”רהמ†תואלפנ†רפס†being published, R, Mendel Eckstein z”l, published a Sefer called הריצי†רפס. He refuted the ל”רהמ†תואלפנ†רפס†and claimed it to be a fraud. He also claimed that some parts of the story would even be Halachically incorrect. *His grandson, Mordechai Richler was one of the most famous Canadian novelists. ** The Rebbe Rayatz Zt”l (Frierdiker Lubavitcher Rebbe) climbed up the attic. He never claimed to have seen the decommissioned Golem there but many Chasidim claim that he did see the Golem there.
MF
Vues Master’s Note: Oh boy! You mean the Jewish Press published a lie for years!
MATZA
Dear Vues Master:
םימכח†ירבדל≠≠ינש†רשעמ†לש†הצמ
ט”ויב†תבוח†ידי†וב†אצוי†םדא
ארמוח†for Pesach Don’t be הנקמ†to your guest Matzohs on Pesach Harav Hagaon R. Shlomo Miller Shlita said,* “Food that the owner has a right to eat, even if there are some restrictions on them is considered belonging to him. Therefore. one is
אצמי†לבו†הארי†לב†לע†רבוע†on הדות†ימחל†being it’s considered enough of םכל†just by having the right to eat them (הליכא†תושר) Similarly one is
הצמ†תליכא†אצוי†with ינש†רשעמ†and it is considered his just because he has הליכא†תושר†even though there are other restrictions on ינש†רשעמ. Accordingly, if one is invited for the Seder, there is no need for the host to be הנקמ†the Matzos to the guest. There is no need for the Matzos to belong to the guest. By having a
הליכא†תושר†is enough ownership to be אצוי.” Since it is not necessary to be הנקמ, R.S.M suggested that perhaps it is better not to be הנקמ†the Matzos on Yom Tov. Doing a ןינק†on Yom Tov is only allowed when it is a Mitzvah. If there is no need to do it then there is no Mitzvah and one may not do a ןינק.
FM
Vues Master’s Note: Too late I already ate the Matza do I need to eat it again? I already got my afikomen. Well I will try to remember for next year!
WEIGHT LOSS
Dear Vues Master:
We need to put a community ban on weight loss competitions. They are extremely unhealthy. People who need to lose weight should take the necessary steps and aim for losing slowly and steadily. Contests encourage rapid weight loss and yo-yo dieting. They are also based an an attitude of “thinner is better,” when in reality, a healthy weight is ideal, and thinner than that is bad.
AF
Vues Master’s Note: I believe every ban just works to the contrary if you ban it they will dio it even more! Ban healthy living maybe people will eat more healthy!
ANTI SEMITISM
Dear Vues Master:
An agent came to see the entertainment manager of a Las Vegas casino. “I have the most amazing act for you. People will come from all over the country to see it. Let me show you.” With that, he opened his suitcase and out popped fifty mice, each dressed in a tuxedo and carrying a musical instrument. They jumped up onto the suitcase where they set up their tiny music stands and sheet music. They tuned up their violins, set up the percussion section, and blew notes on the various trumpets, saxophones, clarinets, trombones and other instruments. The agent lifted his baton and the mice began to play heavenly, as though it were a performance by the New York Philharmonic. When the concert was over, the mice marched back into the suitcase and the agent said: “We’ll, what did I tell you? Isn’t this a terrific act?” “Well yes, frankly it is,” admitted the manager, “but with my clientele, I’m afraid I can’t use them.” “Why not?” “It’s that drummer. Sorry, but he looks too Jewish!”
NB
Vues Master’s Note:Every joke has the truth! How sad!
SHARING
Dear Vues Master:
I got this in my Email so I thought I would share
The Short Vort
Good Morning!
Tefillin for Eddy
Eddy Fieldstone (name changed) moved into the neighborhood less than a year ago. Eddy was a widower with no children. He quickly became a regular Shul-goer and was present at many of my Shiurim. Soon Eddy became Ephraim, and every day like clockwork, he would daven at the 7 AM Shacharis. One day after davening, Ephraim came up to me and showed me his Tefillin. I am not a Sofer. However, I knew that his Tefillin were questionable at best. We went to the local Sofer, who also davens at the Minyan. As soon as the Sofer took one look at the Tefillin, he shot me a look indicating that Ephraim’s tefillin were never kosher. The Sofer attempted to explain to Ephraim that his Tefillin were
not kosher and he must acquire a new pair as soon as possible. Ephraim was stunned by the news. “Do you mean to tell me that I have never properly fulfilled the mitzvah?” The Sofer spoke to Ephraim in the softest terms possible as he informed him that his Tefillin were completely non-kosher and he must purchase a new pair of Tefillin. Ephraim responded, “I understand, that’s fine. How much do new Tefillin cost?” The Sofer said, “I can get you a new pair for about $1200”. Ephraim smiled and said, “That’s very funny. Would you please tell me the truth? How much do they really cost?” The Sofer took a deep breath and said, “I wasn’t kidding. New kosher Tefilin are made by hand and by an expert. The work is extremely exacting and requires years of training and practice. $1200 is actually on the low end of Kosher Tefillin.” Suddenly Ephraim’s face went from white to red. Tears began to run down his cheeks. “I moved from my apartment in Jersey City to Passaic. I am paying five hundred dollars more in rent per month. I live off my Social Security benefits. There is no way I can afford $1200!” Ephraim was now sobbing, and he turned away. He looked toward the Aron Kodesh and said, “Hashem, how will I ever perform the Mitzvah of Tefillin? Please help me!” Ephraim ran to the lobby to calm down and collect himself. The Sofer and I were looking at each other, neither of us knowing what to do or say. Moshe T. was wrapping up his Tefillin and had heard and seen the entire event. Quietly and without fanfare, Moshe T. said, “I heard what just happened. I want to pay the $1200 for Ephraim’s tefillin. I am also adding on another $300 for him to get a matching velvet bag for his new Tallis, which I see he needs, and for his new Tefillin.” Both the Sofer and I were stunned. I asked Moshe, “Do you know this man?” Moshe said, “I never saw him before. I never daven at this Minyan, just today I had to pick up my daughter from the airport, so I davened early.” If you don’t know him, why are you paying for his Tefillin? “I’ll tell you why. Hashem blessed me with five wonderful daughters. Years ago, I put away $1500 for my “future” son’s tefillin. As the years went by and I continued to have only daughters, the $1500 remained untouched. Last week I recalled the money and wondered what I should do with the $1500? I knew in Hashem’s master plan there was a reason for everything, and nothing is random. Today, when I heard Ephraim’s plight, Hashem’s master plan became crystal-clear. The $1500 I set aside years ago was indeed being set aside to purchase Tefillin for a relative. However, today I realized that it was ear-marked all along for my long-lost brother Ephraim. “If Not Now, Then When?”- Hillel
Ron Yitzchok Eisenman
Rabbi Congregation Ahavas Israel Passaic, NJ
Vues Master’s Note:Great story! True Ahavas Yisroel! Love these
stories can never get enough of them!
SECLUSION
Dear Vues Master:
Shortly before תוכוס, while still in Europe, the יבר†ראמטאס†heard that the םיללפתמ†in the main זנכשא†חסונ†shul, were surprised that he prayed with them only one תבש†each month. When he spoke on תוכוס, he said: “The שרדמ†tells us with respect to the םינימ†העברא†that the גורתא†has חירו†םעט, the בלול†has םעט†but not חיר, the סדה†has חיר†but doesn’t have םעט, and the הברע†has neither םעט†nor חיר. The גורתא†has
חירו†םעט†even though it’s רבחמ†with the other three םינימ†for a short time. Most of the time, however, it is alone.” The רוביצ†understood that that the יבר†had good reason not to spend too much time with the םע†יטושפ.
BNK
Vues Master’s Note: On a Rebbe we don’t ask questions!
PARNASSA
Dear Vues Master:
רשא¨†עטנ†רשא†¨הנב†רשא†ר”ת
הנביש†א”ד†הרות†הדמיל¨†שרא
כ”חאו†םרכ†עטיו†תיב†םדא
השא†אשי
(Sotah 44a) When going to war the above questions were asked in this order, to teach us priorities in life Build a house first, plant a vineyard and then get married. The Satmar Rebbe, Reb Yoilish zt”l
(ב†ק”הל†¨השמ†לאויו‘) writes, that this Chazal refers to a second marriage. For the first marriage, marriage comes first, even before Parnasah and housing. His proof is, The minimum age to serve in the army was 20 years. A person who at age 20, isn’t married is a אטוח†(sinner) and wasn’t eligible to go to war. For a 20-year-old, who never got married, these questions would not be applicable, The Pasuk must refer to someone who was married once before at age 18 and is on to his second marriage. Therefore, the Rebbe concludes that this order in Chazal is not applicable only for a second marriage. A Bachur getting married for the first time need not worry about housing or Parnassah before getting married.
DM
Vues Master’s Note: I am trying to get parnassa it is not so easy I
am thinking of going back to Kollel!
SHOUTING
Dear Vues Master:
When an ךרבא†came to ללוכ†one morning sounding very hoarse, his אתורבח†asked him what happened. “Don’t ask,” he responded. “My wife was shouting at me.” “If your wife was shouting at you, she should be the one who is hoarse,” the אתורבח†replied. “Are you suggesting that this is a case of ופוגכ†ותשא?” “No,” the ךרבא†answered, “Its הנועכ†עמוש.”
GH
Vues Master’s Note: This couple is an example of Shalom Bayis. Time to say Shalom to this Bayis and leave!
VISITING
Dear Vues Master:
Molly’s grandson was coming to visit her in her new condo in Florida. She gave him the address and directions to her unit. “When you get to the front door of the building, you will see a panel of buttons,” she said. “With your elbow, push 1912. I will buzz you in. The elevator is on the right. With your elbow, press 19. When you get out, my unit is on the left. With your, elbow, press my doorbell.” Her grandson responded: “I wrote it all down, grandma. But why do I need to hit all the buttons with my elbow?” “You’re not coming empty-handed?” she said.
TM
Vues Master’s Note: That is funny! In our family it works the other way Bubby always brings us stuff she never comes empty handed!
WOMEN OFF THE WALL
Dear Vues Master:
The לאיזוע†ןב†ןתנויל†סחוימה†םוגרת†writes,
ןיליפתו†תיציצד†ןיילוג†היהי†אל
אתיא†לע†רבג†ינוקת†ןוניהד
(Women shall not wear menswear ie: תיציצ†& ןיליפת) The ©ג”עק†ד”וי®†קיש†ם”רהמ†explains why the two women
לואש†תב†לכימ†& הנוי†לש†ותשא†mentioned in the ארמג†as having worn ןיליפת†weren’t רבוע†on רבג†ילכ†היהי†אל. The ארמג†actually never mentions
הנוי†לש†ותשא†having worn ןיליפת. On הנוי†לש†ותשא†the ארמג†says she was לגר†הלוע†& the םימכח†weren’t החומ
HM
Vues Master’s Note: Yes we know that these women are attention seekers! Sad that they can’t act like they are supposed to!