17 May SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER

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.

 

ATTACKS

Dear Vues Master:

Last week a couple of bochrim were attacked on Ave M.

This past Monday someone was stabbed and killed on Ave

O & McDonald Avenue. This is getting very scary. Everyday

there seems to be some sort of antisemetic attack. I am

thankful for the Shomrim volunteers, but something needs

to be done on a higher level. Perpetrators are not afraid

of getting caught because they are back on the street in a

couple of hours. Where are our elected officials?

ST

Vues Master’s Note:The elected officials are busy renaming

streets to Palestine!

BAIL REFORM

Dear Vues Master:

Last week, I went upstate to a pharmacy in Liberty. As I

walked into the store there was glass everywhere. I asked

the owner what happened & She told me that someone

broke into her store early that morning. She said everything

was recorded & that the cops caught the guy before

he left the store. She told me that just two hours later after

being arrested, the guy that broke in was already back on

the street. What is this world coming to?

RT

Vues Master’s Note: The only rights today are for

criminals. Any law abiding citizen has no rights!

MERON VICTIMS

Dear Vues Master:

It’s very hard to believe that it’s been an entire year since

the 45 kedoshim from Meron left us. We should all take

a few moments this week & try to do a mitzvah lzecher

nishmas all of these sacred people. Their families have

to deal with the loss of a loved one every day & it is not

easy.

JH

Vues Master’s Note:May their memories be a zchus for

their families and Klal Yisroel!

DOG

Dear Vues Master:

When Barry Gutman’s beloved dog died, he went to the

Rav and told him how much the dog meant to him. “Rabbi,

I would like you to say a tefillah for his soul.” The Rav

expressed his regrets, but said he couldn’t say a tefillah in

memory of a dog. “There is a Reform temple nearby. I

suggest you have them do it,” the Rav said. “Okay, Rabbi,

I’ll have them do it,” Barry replied. “Do you think a

$10,000 donation to the temple will be sufficient?” The

Rav answered: “Why didn’t you tell me that the dog was

Orthodox?”

MB

Vues Master’s Note: This Rabbi was dogging it!

HATE

Dear Vues Master:

We have failed as a Nation is these so-called UNITED

STATES. We have failed as fellow human beings. We

have broken the promise of Hashem to commit ourselves

to HIS words of “Veahavta Lerocha – Kemocha

Ani Hashem.” Meaning, “Love Your Neighbor as You

Love Yourself as we are ALL made in the Image of G-d!

YES-ALL of us-EVERY HUMAN BEING has been created

in the “Image of G-d!” HE is not just my G-d (En

Sof-Unending ONE)but yours as well! Our mission as

Jews is to ignite that G-dly spark within ourselves and

within each and every one of us that still remains alive.

However, there is a deadly virus that continues to survive

these past 5782 years in 2022 which is not called Covid

but its name remains the same and continues to destroy,

kill everything and everyone that crosses its path. It is

sadly called, “HATE!” This “hate” harbors in many and

takes human lives once again. 18-year-olds that travel

over 200 miles to a supermarket called “Tops” because

this White Supremacist was out to kill African-Americans

bringing 10 down. Their people, our people, all people

continue to die with leaders declaring a new and false

myth called “Replacement Theory.” How long must we

as Jews prove ourselves that “we are not after anyone’s

job to “replace them” but rather do our best in our field as

we are commanded to do. These very hateful and insecure

individuals who lack self-respect and self-esteem and feel

unloved, continue taking innocent lives. No one is safe!

Not in the Shul or in our schools. Not in our homes, our

stores, our businesses, our home in Israel or our secondary

homes(for now)living here in America. The proliferation

of guns “legal or illegal” is a plague that never gets

solved. Some believe “we need to be all armed?” In 1880

during the “Wild West” in these United States, the average

age was 40. If illness and disease didn’t kill you,

guns sure did! There were “showdowns” before sunset,

duels, challenges, thievery, bank robberies, etc. Gun violence

fueled by pure “hatred” and gang violence unless

addressed with new laws, tough love and laws that need

to be enforced thru our Judicial system in 2022 and beyond

will only find us in continued danger. We cannot and

should not “live in fear?” I will not look for trouble but

I will not hesitate to “live my life!” Contact “The White 

House.” Contact “Mayor Eric Adam’s” Office in NYC. Communicate, have security updates for both your homes and our Shuls. Check your Mezuzah, pray daily to Hashem “to SAVE US ALL” but we must do our part too. The power of love will triumph over hate “if we don’t stay silent, speak-up, speak-out, and be that single person that indeed, can make a change for the better.” We cannot change everything and everyone but we can change ourselves and influence others to do the same to a better tomorrow!

E B

Vues Master’s Note: I hate to break it to you but there is hate on both sides! When you have a President who just recognizes minorities but does nothing for the regular folks, gives baby formula to people crossing the border illegally but not for citizens and then comes to the scene preaching about gun laws which restrict only law abiding citizens then we see why there is so much hate!!

HEAVEN

Dear Vues Master:

A hundred women went up to heaven. The angel in charge said: “All those who enjoyed outsmarting their husbands, step forward.” Ninety-nine women stepped forward. “Follow me,” the angel said, “and bring the deaf one with you.”

S&S

Vues Master’s Note: I thought I heard that joke about men listening to their wives! I guess that is not a joke but the facts whereas this is a joke?

HATZALAH

Dear Vues Master:

Eli Beer from United Hatzolah posted this story online last week & I thought your readers would appreciate it. Last Friday night was one of the most harrowing nights I have ever experienced. It began like any other regular Friday night, and I was with my family. We made Kiddush, ate our meal, and played backgammon. After losing a couple of rounds, my father mentioned that he wasn’t feeling so great and decided to head upstairs to rest. As soon as my mother called me into the room, I understood that my father was suffering either a cardiac incident or a stroke. At first, it seemed like he was being dramatic about losing a few games, but as his pain continued, it appeared more and more like something was seriously wrong. I called emergency services for help, and, within less than two minutes, not one but two EMTs from United Hatzalah were in the room assisting us. I later asked them how they arrived so quickly, and they told me that they had just responded to a different medical emergency on one of the streets nearby when they received the alert to this one. It is a miracle every time someone survives cardiac arrest via CPR. I learned that evening that the statistics are stacked against people and that only 3-4 percent of the people who receive CPR survive. For the next 40 minutes, my father’s heart stopped five times. Five times the volunteers from United Hatzalah and the ambulance team that arrived later performed CPR on him, and five times he survived. My father’s story would have ended very differently had those first responders not shown up as quickly as they did and been able to initiate the first round of CPR immediately. The volunteers who arrived were steadfast, extremely experienced, worked closely with the ambulance team, were sensitive, and did everything to save my father’s life. We arrived at Kaplan hospital. My father received immediate catheterization. The volunteers from United Hatzalah stayed with us for the entire procedure in the room, never giving up on my father, even though they had completed their job. Only after my father came out of the operation did the volunteers share what had happened inside with my family and me. It was a miracle that occurred before our eyes. My father had a 99 percent blockage of his heart. The catheterization succeeded in opening this blockage. The volunteers explained what took place in the operating room. They provided us with videos and explanations to better understand. It was only after they declared that my father would survive that the volunteers left. But their efforts didn’t end there. The volunteers stayed in touch with us and visited my father in the hospital to see how he was recuperating. Yesterday, when my father was released, they even came over to our house again, but this time to celebrate. My father is a straightforward man. He wants to bring awareness to the dangers of cardiac arrests so that people should take better care of themselves and to thank the volunteers from United Hatzalah who helped save his life. He doesn’t even have a Facebook account. However, he agreed to share this story widely and publicly, perhaps the most intimate story of his life. Thanks to these volunteers and all those who helped, I will be able to spend more Friday nights and Shabbatot with my father beating him at backgammon. I hope he will be less dramatic the next time he loses.

FS

Vues Master’s Note: Yes! There are a lot of fundraisers for Hatzalah please contribute!

LEADER

Dear Vues Master:

The art of survival politics is compromising for fear of losing popularity, while the art of leadership is taking bold stands without fear of popular approval. There are no Israeli leaders today, we’re governed by political survivalists. Menachem Begin bid his time as Irgun leader, second to the Hagganah. He wouldn’t compromise on his principles of fighting the British in order to gain popularity by being within the Hagganah circle of influence. He waited until the Hagganah recognized Begin was correct, and only then did he partner with the Ben Gurion led Hagganah. After Israel’s founding Begin ran for office, hoping to be Prime Minister. He spent thirty years as head of the opposition. It would’ve been so easy for him to compromise on his principles to gain popularity and rise up the ranks to succeed Ben Gurion and other Prime Ministers. Begin refused to compromise and lost eight straight elections. He waited until the Israeli people would recognize the virtue of his positions and then he led Israel based on his convictions. As Prime Minister, Begin took consistently unpopular positions because he felt they were correct. Knowing his base would be upset that he was pulling out of Yamit and other Sinai Desert settlements, Begin made the decision to do so because he felt they weren’t part of Eretz Yisrael and peace with Egypt was more important than keeping the new towns. He risked losing his base to make a decision he felt was correct. When Begin found out that Iraq was building a nuclear weapons program and that the only way he could stop it was by bombing the reactor, he made the decision to bomb it. He was risking failure, the death of Israel’s treasured pilots and the inevitable wrath of the international community, including Israel’s biggest supporter, America and its new President, Ronald Reagan. The bombing raid was successful, but Israel was condemned by the United Nations and President Reagan withheld American assistance to Israel. Prime Minister Begin maintained the Golan Heights was part of Eretz Yisrael and Israel should control it eternally. He led the passage of a law in the Knesset that extended Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Begin knew the international community would rise against him and Israel and never accept Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan. Begin also knew extending Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan was the correct decision for Israel, and he did it. The international community still refuses to recognize Begin’s decision and it was only President Trump, thirty years later, who was the first to recognize Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan. I look at Israel’s political representatives today and I can’t find anyone who has Begin’s courage and convictions. Prime Minister Bennet boasts of the “most diverse coalition” in Israel’s history. He seems to think a diverse coalition is something to be proud of – as if Israel is better off by a diverse coalition. Practically, it’s hamstrung the government into not being able to make any significant advances. A government that is diverse, but whose diversity prevents improvement, is a poor government and has lost its mandate to govern. As a former special forces soldier, a successful businessman, the head of Yesha (the Settlements Council), a former Likud operative, Prime Minister Bennet was a man of principles who would’ve been expected to stick to his values and not compromise for political expediency. Yet his entire coalition is one large compromise. Given the choice between taking the position of Prime Minister and standing up for what he claimed to believe in, he took the compromise. The results have been demolishing Jewish homes, a halt in settlement building and weak action in response to a wave of Palestinian terrorism. Israel needs a Menachem Begin style leader who will take bold stands even at risk of popularity. Israeli policy is mostly kicking the can down the road and driven by fear. Israeli politicians fear the Americans, the international community, their own base and their coalition partners. This is besides their fear of media mockery and criticism. It’s pathetic. Israel’s Eastern border is a confusing maze of contradicting policies. Israeli politicians declare their affinity and opposition to a two-state solution, sometimes choosing a position based on the crowd they’re addressing that day. Israel claims it will keep the Jordan Valley while also negotiating Palestinian control of border crossings. Settler elected heads will talk about the need to annex Judea and Samaria, but when President Trump offered support for annexation they turned it down. An Israeli leader must rise and declare the future of Judea and Samaria and our Eastern border. National confusion reigns over Israel’s relationship with the Palestinians. Israel refuses to define the Palestinians as an enemy or a law enforcement problem. Israel doesn’t know if it is supposed to defeat or police the Palestinians. The Palestinians act as enemies, and Israel treats them like bank robbers. There is no retribution for Israel’s enemies. Justice, deterrence and national security demands Israel does more than just arrest terrorists one by one as they hide behind a bush. I’m not suggesting anything illicit, but Palestinians must learn terrorism doesn’t pay. Palestinian terrorism isn’t a law enforcement issue that requires Israel to track individual attackers. Every former Prime Minister, including Netanyahu and now Bennet, have refused to set a clear policy, preferring to kick the can down the road. Israel needs a leader to decide Palestinians have chosen to be an enemy, and the only way we can keep Israelis safe is by treating them as enemies. I’m not privy to Shin-Bet confidential files on Iran (or any other topic) but it seems an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities in 2012 would’ve put an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Then Prime Minister Netanyahu hesitated and didn’t attack. He proved himself impotent in the face of international Chamberlain-like appeasement to the Iranians in 2015. Prime Minister Bennet doesn’t seem to be taking a much stronger stand himself. It’s time Israel stops waiting on President Biden and figures out a way to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions. What happened to the Israelis raised in a Begin led Israel? Where is the courage they saw as their political philosophies were being formed? In a now famous interchange, Menachem Begin told then-Senator Joe Biden he wouldn’t be intimidated by Biden’s threats and he was no “weak-kneed” Jew. Who among today’s Knesset members would have Begin’s courage to tell President Biden, or even a Senator off, today?

RUP

Vues Master’s Note: Israel is more liberal than the US. Don’t count on it!

FAMILY

Dear Vues Master:

In Yevamos 64b: Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov said: We were sixty elders present at the time, and they all became impotent from Rav Huna’s discourse, aside from me, as I fulfilled with regard to myself the verse: “Wisdom preserves the life of he who has it’’ (Ecclesiastes 7:12). Learn from here that Torah is not a protection in and of itself without wisdom. If someone as great as Rav Huna can unintentionally cause his students not to have children then what can happen with a teacher that is less pristine, gets paid to teach bachurim (young men) and intentionally keeps them away from their father’s wisdom? Ben Zoma says: Who is wise? He who learns from every man – Pirkei Avos 4:1. The words “every” comes to include the father. This plus the fact that a father can fulfill the mitzvah of pru urvu with grandchildren should make a student ask, “Who is going to give me the wisdom to start a family?”

DG

Vues Master’s Note: This letter has a familiar tune. Your letters are always centered on the same topic!

OLD AGE

Dear Vues Master:

The last piece of wisdom I gave my son was to learn daf yomi thirty minutes a day In order to prepare him for post Yeshiva and to learn yidos (concepts). For example, the following concept would be good for a bachelor to know: A woman came before Rabbi Ami and requested a divorce due to her husband’s inability to father children. She said to her husband: Give me the payment for my marriage contract. He said to her: No, as you are not commanded to be fruitful and multiply and have no right to demand a divorce. She said to him: if I have no children, who will take care of me when I grow old? The Gemara relates a similar incident: A woman came before Rav Naḥman and requested a divorce… She said I want children to take care of me in my old age and bury me when I die. Rav Naḥman said: in such a case we certainly force the husband to divorce her (paraphrased from Yevamos 65b).

DG

Vues Master’s Note:Yes! Treat your kids nicely as they will be the ones to choose your nursing home!

REWARD

Dear Vues Master:

A Jewish teen was attacked on Avenue M in Midwood last Tuesday afternoon and Senator Felder is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension, arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for the hate crime. If you have any information on this hate crime, please call the NYPD at 1-800-577-8477 (TIPS). “I am shocked and appalled at this violent act of anti-Semitism smack in middle of our neighborhood in broad daylight! I’m calling on anyone with information about this horrendous attack to let the NYPD know immediately,” said Senator Felder. “Criminals who terrorize communities with hate crimes must be prosecuted beyond the full extent of our current laws!” According to news reports, the victim and his friend, both 18, were at Avenue M and East 18th Street in Midwood at approximately 2p.m., when another group of individuals walked up to the two Jews and demanded that they say ‘Free Palestine.’ One of the assailants then punched the victim in the face. The assailants then fled towards Elm Avenue. The victim suffered a bloodied eye and was transported by Flatbush Hatzolah to Maimonides Medical Center.

GS

Vues Master’s Note: Maybe he will be like Frank James and give himself up for the reward money!

IN-LAW PROBLEMS

Dear Vues Master:

Ten days after his wedding, a Chosson was told by his father in law that he needed to find a job and earn a living. “What are you talking about?” the chosson said. “You promised me ten years of parnassah!” The father-in-law responded: “I promised ten years on condition that each day will be like a year.” “Amazing!” the chosson answered. “That’s exactly what I was thinking when I married your daughter. And since she still hasn’t given birth, the din is that I’ll have to divorce her.”

JM

Vues Master’s Note: Sounds like a marriage based on money which never lasts.

ANTI SEMITISM

Dear Vues Master:

A group consisting of about 150 Orthodox Jews were traveling to Hungary on the evening of May 4 for the yahrtzeit of Reb Shayala of Kerestir and refused boarding on their connecting Lufthansa flight in Frankfurt. The reason why? “It’s Jews from JFK.” According to Dan’s Deals, Lufthansa informed “the group from NYC” that they were not permitted to board “due to operational reasons, coming from the flight from New York, for all passengers here we have to cancel you on this flight. You know why it was.” Agents cited noncompliance with the mask mandate – however, only one or two of the Jewish passengers had not worn masks; several non-Jewish passengers also did not obey the mandate on the flight to Frankfurt. This is insane. It’s starting to feel like we are back in Germany before WWII. It’s a very scary world right now. Antisemitism is everywhere. We must be on guard constantly. Hashem please help us!!

BT

Vues Master’s Note: Maybe we should not travel to these countries and support all these Anti-Semites!

MR. BIDEN

Dear Vues Master:

President Joe Biden has been an absolute joke and one of the worst Presidents in modern history. Besides record high inflation, record high gas prices and countless failed policies, there’s another serious issue plaguing the country. There’s an unbelievably serious baby food shortage. How am I supposed to feed my infant?

IW

Vues Master’s Note: Just cross the border. Then come back illegally!

MUSIC

Dear Vues Master

Look, I don’t want to argue with the tannaim who say a violin is just a helper and not the main part of the music, but how can the instruments not be the main part of instrumental music?

CS

Vues Master’s Note: Depends what is the reason for the song. If it is to enhance prayer then the tefillah is the main and music accompanies it but if you are listening to music for music then you may be right? If you listen to music for the sake of music then you fall into the question if that is allowed since there was a churban.

REMEMBER

Dear Vues Master:

Two elderly ladies have been friends for many decades. Over the years they had shared all kinds of activities and adventures. Lately, their activities had been limited to meeting a few times a week to play cards. One day, they were playing cards when one looked at the other and said “Now don’t get mad at me. I know we’ve been friends for a long time but I just can’t think of your name. I thought and thought but I can’t remember it. Please tell me.” Her friend glared at her. For at least three minutes, she just stared and glared at her. Finally, she said “How soon do you need to know?”

IL

Vues Master’s Note: I can’t remember a better letter than this!

FAMILY COURT

Dear Vues Master:

The New York State Senate unanimously passed legislation (S3683-D) sponsored by Senator Simcha Felder (D-Brooklyn) requiring New York City Family Court to remain open until midnight at least one day a week. Establishing a nighttime Family Court program has been a priority for Senator Felder and is seen as a major step in helping address Family Court’s history of dysfunction and delays. Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal is the Assembly sponsor (A0739). “I am pleased to see this important legislation pass in the State Senate and I thank my colleagues for their support,” said Senator Felder. “For years, Family Court has been mired in a bureaucratic mess that prolongs a frightening and traumatic process for our city’s most vulnerable children and families. Offering Family Court night hours will finally help ease the significant burden they carry.” “The strain of navigating the complex bureaucracies of the New York Family Court system can be an overwhelming experience for adults, let alone powerless children,’’ said Assemblymember Rosenthal. “The Senate’s passage of this legislation to offer Family Court night hours is a crucial step forward in ensuring overburdened families and children can remedy their unique circumstances as quickly as possible.” Ron Richer, CEO of JCCA, said, “The over-burdened family court—despite the best efforts of all who participate—extends court involvement, delays resolution, and limits the time judges have to make well-informed decisions on each matter before them. Extending Family Court hours is a long-overdue, critically important step in stabilizing families, protecting children and fairly allocating resources to the most vulnerable, poorest New Yorkers, both in moments of crisis and when they are rebuilding their lives.” Family Court specializes in handling cases such as child custody, juvenile delinquency, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect. Sadly, despite handling some of the most vulnerable people who enter the justice system, Family Courts remain overburdened and under-resourced. While many courts in New York City remain open through the evenings, with some open until 1:00am, Family Courts regularly close at 5:00pm, adding an excessive challenge for working people, under-resourced families, and women and children at-risk. “It doesn’t make any sense that while other courts are open, children and families in desperate need aren’t shown the same concern in Family Court. The stakes could not be higher for parents and children appearing in Family Court and this important initiative would finally help address a great disparity for the many hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who pass through its doors every year,” concluded Senator Felder. ST

RW

Vues Master’s Note: Now if we can only settle everything in Bais Din we would not need Family Courts!!

BRAINS

Dear Vues Master:

A child asked his father, “Dad, where did my intelligence come from?” The father replied: “It must have come from your mother. I still have mine.”

BM

Vues Master’s Note: I am not sure why this child thinks he is smart?