14 Nov SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER

ON US NOW
Dear Vues Master
The generational trauma we Jews obviously feel,
growing up as children and grandchildren of Holocaust
survivors, is unspoken and maybe even undiagnosed
or unknown. But it is absolutely there. And October
7th for me and my family and I suspect for you and
yours has put this all front and center. It is crushing and
suffocating us even now, four weeks later. The sheer
gravity and depravity of Hamas’s barbarity coupled
with the remorseless celebratory glee and threats
against all Jews by the global anti-Israel movement is
not something we can simply ignore. Throughout the
generations, every terror attack, stabbing, shooting, and
antisemitic incident was met by Jews with a worried
near fatalistic eye towards our tortured past. It’s been
80 years, and nobody would be surprised if another
Kristallnacht would happen tonight. Who would hide
us has become a new refrain. Read this again. Who
would hide us? This isn’t hyperbole, gaslighting, or fear
mongering, it is here now. We have to ask ourselves,
is it possible that we were delusional to think it wasn’t
always here and now? But one thing is for sure, the
climate is terrifying, and the threats are real. I have
no grandiose plans or brilliant ideas to counter it. But
I do know we have to strengthen our resolve, fortify
our Emunah in G-d and fight to defend ourselves and
our people with everything we have available. And our
enemies need to see it. There’s just no other choice and
nobody else to do it for us. It’s on you and me, and like
it or not, it is here and it is now.
Chaskel Bennett
Vues Master’s Note: We are living in scary times. We
must continue to have emunah and bitachon & daven
to Hakadosh Baruch Hu so that history does not repeat
itself.

MI KAMCHA YISRAEL
Dear Vues Master
Sometimes a Rabbi is presented with an impossible
halachic problem. Sometimes the answer to an
impossible halachic question is a human solution. Let me
explain. First, the background – Soldiers who have been
in Gaza for some time are being given a 24 hour break.
They come out of Gaza to an army center in Ashkelon.

There, they get a chance to shower, wash their clothes,
see family, and then, the next day, go back to their posts
in Gaza. Last Thursday night, Rav Rimon received a
halachic question from the logistics coordinator of an
IDF unit. Soldiers will be coming out of Gaza on Friday
at 12 noon, and returning to Gaza on Shabbos morning.
Their wives and children and parents want to see them,
but if they drive to see them, they won’t make it back
home in time for Shabbos! May they drive on Shabbos?
Rav Rimon said that in this situation, a family member
could not break Shabbos. But – the questioner continued
– these are soldiers who haven’t seen their loved ones
for weeks, and we don’t know how long they will
continue to be in Gaza. If they come out and cannot
see their families, then the break will be frustrating and
depressing, not refreshing. And their mood and morale
is a serious factor in their confidence and safety behind
enemy lines. Is there no way that the families can drive
home on Shabbos according to Halacha? Rav Rimon
asked: “Is there a possibility that the families can stay in
a hotel for Shabbos?” The IDF coordinator responded:
“But we just don’t have money for that!” As Rav Rimon
was on the phone, he was sitting next to a Rabbi who
was visiting, on a solidarity mission, from Teaneck NJ.
The visiting Rabbi interjected – If that is the solution,
then we would be happy to help fund the hotel. So Rav
Rimon and his team started looking for a hotel to host
a group of families in under 24 hours notice! But since
Ashkelon has been under rocket attack, all the hotels in
Ashkelon were closed! He found a “guest-house” whose
owner had evacuated the city, who came back, especially,
to reopen the guest-house. Rav Rimon found volunteers
to purchase and transport food, toiletries, toys and
books for the children, and everything that the families
would need for Shabbat. And forty families were able
to celebrate Shabbat together and give their loved ones
some love, care and attention before they returned to fight
in Gaza. Sometimes the best answer to an impossible
Halakhic problem is a human solution, an act of support
and kindness. In this case it was a true expression of a
deep caring and a huge investment of time, energy,
money and logistics. I know because Rav Rimon told
this story in shul this past Friday night. I know because
my son is one of those soldiers. Thank you to סולמות and

רימון צבי יוסף הרב, to Rav Rimon’s tireless
team of volunteers who have brought
equipment, a smile and a pick-me-up
to many thousands of soldiers over the
past month with their endless efforts and
contributions. And thanks of course to the
community of Congregation Bnai Yeshurun
in Teaneck for your kindness and support.
AI
Vues Master’s Note: What a great story.
Rav Rimon is a very special Rav & person.
Thanks for sharing!

THANK YOU!
To our brothers and sisters in the United
States. Thank you for taking the day off,
travelling back and forth to Washington,
and standing on your feet for many hours.
We greatly appreciate it! You are not only
expressing and solidifying support of all
Jews, but also showing that you care for
us and about one another. This means a
lot to those on the frontlines, those on the
homefront, and to all Jews in Israel and
around the world. Achdut is about standing
for and with all Jews — even those different
from you. Thank you for realizing that this
is what is called for at this time.
RRT
Vues Master’s Note: Am Yisrael Chai!

HYPOCRISY
Dear Vues Master
I know I don’t have to point out the
hypocrisy and double standard of this war,
because those who already know and those
who don’t know, don’t want to face reality,
but still, entertain me for a second. What
would happen if hundreds of thousands
of Jews would protest around the world,
calling for the annihilation and genocide of
Muslims worldwide? What would happen
if Jews worldwide would rip down posters
of innocent Muslim babies and children
who were abducted by Jews? What
would happen if Jewish men attacked and
murdered Muslim men in broad daylight
across multiple western cities? Forget all
that, what would happen if 3,000 Jews
proudly marched into a Muslim country,
and proceeded to murder, mutilate, rape,
and abduct thousands of innocent Muslims?
I know it’s hard to imagine because Jews
don’t behave that way, but just imagine
what would have happened. Try to be
honest with yourself and really picture that
scenario. What would happen the day after
such an attack?
Hillel Fuld
Vues Master’s Note: Hillel you are so right.
Unfortunately, nothing makes sense these
days.

THE HUG THAT MOVED THE
WORLD!
Dear Vues Master
Since the unspeakable horrors of October
7th, my family and I have been searching
for sparks of light, rays of hope, and the
possibility of promise – knowing full well
that despite the crucible that our nation
currently finds itself in, Hashem loves
and cares for us in unimaginable ways,
some transparent and some less so. The
front cover of last week’s Jewish Vues
was fantastic. It depicted what I feel is the
paradigm of achdus (brotherly love) and
ahavat chinam (unconditional love): one
Jew simply hugging another. We see that
one man is a soldier, the other perhaps a
learner; one man with a kippah and tzitzit,
the other without; one man providing, the
other receiving; one man preparing for
battle, the other preparing him for battle.
At this moment, though, none of those
differences matter. _One child of Hashem
is hugging another. A hug that may be the
soldier’s last. Those with children can attest
that when our children embrace one another
like this, it provides the greatest nachat,
particularly in view of the differences they
may have. I can only imagine – and pray –
that a hug like this also provided Hashem
with nachas and that gestures like this
shake the heavens in profound ways.
PK
Vues Master’s Note:Thanks for the
compliment. It’s amazing how many people
mentioned to us that they liked last week’s
front cover picture.

WWI
Dear Vues Master:
Most people who study history believe that
the first World War was fought from 1914-
1918. However, if we learn Parshas Lech
Lecha, we see that it was actually fought
during the time of Avrum. The war pitted
the armies of 4 kings vs those of 5 kings
and involved other countries as well. One
of them was Berah the King of Sedom.
He is mentioned in our daily tefilos in
the description of the Ketores which are
important to say. There is says “v’melach
Sedomis Rova Ha’kuv maaleh Ushun Kol
Shahuh. Rova is an anagram of Berah. So
it can be translated as Berah the King of
Sedom, the cursed one (he was a very bad
guy) went up in smoke (when Sedom was
destroyed later) and nothing was left of
him.
Another interesting misconception is when
Hasidism began. It is commonly believed
that it began in the 1700’s. However, we
find that there was an enclave of Hasidim

during the time of Avrum. As it says in the
same parsha, the Great War was fought in
the Emek Hasidim.
We say “Maaseh Avos Siman le’bonim”. In
that Great War of the Four Kings who were
initially victorious, they took hostages.
Loit and fellow inhabitants of Sedom were
captured and held hostage. Many years
later, Chamas followed their example and
took over 200 Israeli hostages to be used as
bargaining chips. Also, Avrum took sand
and threw it up in the air and it became
airborne bombs and missiles. Another
interesting example is the rescue of Loit
by Avrum. Loit was Avrum’s nephew
and initially was one of his followers.
He became rich because of Avrum. Then
he had a dispute over financial reasons
and separated himself from Avrum. He
went to Sedom and became corrupted by
them. However, when war came, Avrum
didn’t care about this. He risked his life
and immediately went to save him. Now,
even though there were sometimes nasty
disputes between the different factions in
Israel, once the war started all the people
came together to fight the deadly enemy.
Mi Ka’amcha Goi Achud ba’eretz. When
we are united, we will be iy”h victorious.
DF
Vues Master’s Note: Yes! We need to realize
that our wars are won only via Hashem.
Enough of the Kochi Veotzem – Yadi!

UNIVERSITY AND TERROR
Dear Vues Master:
Why are prominent Western universities
“twinning” with a Palestinian Arab
institution that permits glorification of the
October 7 pogrom? Fatah Shabiba, the
second-largest student group at An-Najah
University, has been tweeting non-stop
praise of the pogromists. Yet so far, the
numerous Western universities and student
unions that have relationships with the
university have said nothing. An-Najah
is the largest university in the Palestinian
Authority-governed territories. Hamas
has 40 seats on its student council, Fatah
Shabiba has 38. Fatah Shabiba is the
student wing of Fatah, the ruling faction
of the PA. On the day of the massacres,
Fatah Shabiba posted a photo of terrorists
from Hamas and Fatah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’
Brigades together in the back of a pickup
truck, apparently taking part in the invasion
of Israel. The accompanying text declared:
“On the ground we stand as one, each one is
defending from their stronghold, and there
is no difference between two people who
are defending the same homeland. May the
men’s forearms be blessed, and may the

result be blessed.” The next day, October
8, Fatah Shabiba posted a photo of masked
terrorists with Fatah headbands, above this
caption: “We are the proud ones, when
disasters come, we stand against them like
a volcano—the Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades

– #The_Al-Aqsa_Flood.” The term “Al-
Aqsa Flood” is the name by which Hamas

calls its pogrom. On October 10, Fatah
Shabiba’s Twitter (X) account featured
another photo of Fatah terrorists, with
automatic rifles. The text called them “Men
who loved the Al-Aqsa Mosque [and] the

[Al-Aqsa Martyrs] Brigade and [the Al-
Aqsa] Flood.” Two days later, a message

from Fatah Shabiba called on Arabs
throughout the PA territories to “go to
the points of friction with the occupation,
to avenge the blood our heroic Martyrs,
and to support the resistance in the proud
Gaza Strip.” In recent years, a number of
Western universities and student unions
have “twinned” with An-Najah, sponsoring
joint programs and visits by faculty
and students. The list includes McGill
University, in Canada; the University of
Applied Sciences in Darmstadt, Germany;
the University of Abertay in Dundee,
England; the University of Naples Federico,
in Italy; Norway’s Stavanger University;
and student unions at three British
universities—the University of Essex, the
University of Manchester, and the London
School of Economics. What motivates
Western universities to seek relationships
with an institution that tolerates support
for terrorism? Why haven’t any of them
threatened to sever ties with An-Najah
unless it shuts down Fatah Shabiba?
Perhaps the answer may be found in the
history of American universities twinning
with schools in Nazi Germany in the 1930s.
Just as An-Najah craves international ties
in order to soften its pro-terrorist image,
the Nazis regarded relationships with U.S.
universities as opportunities to improve
their image abroad. The New York Times
reported that one Nazi official described
German exchange students as “political
soldiers of the Reich.” Many American
students and faculty who visited Germany
returned with friendly assessments,
according to Stephen Norwood’s landmark
study, The Third Reich in the Ivory
Tower. Columbia University dean Thomas
Alexander came back convinced that
Hitler’s forced sterilization policy was a
good way of “throwing out the criminals and
other undesirables.” American University
chancellor Joseph Gray reported that
German cities were “amazingly clean” and
that “everybody was working in Germany.”

The most active participants in the student
exchanges with Nazi Germany were the
“Seven Sisters” colleges—Barnard, Bryn
Mawr, Mount Holyoke, Radcliffe, Smith,
Vassar, and Wellesley. Their enthusiasm
was not dampened by the Nazi regime’s
oppressive policies toward German
women. After visiting Germany in 1935,
Barnard dean Virginia Gildersleeve
called Hitler’s territorial expansion plans
“legitimate” and said Nazi limits on the
enrollment of women in universities
were justified because some professions
in Germany were overcrowded. Vassar
student Mary Ridder, who spent her
junior year at the University of Munich,
told her campus newspaper in 1934 that
she used to think the Nazis were as bad
as the Ku Klux Klan. “But while I was
in Germany, I met Hitler and had a long
conversation with him,” she reported.
“Now I see him as a truly national person
who beyond a doubt feels he is looking out
for the best interests of his country.” As
for Germany’s Jews, “None of the Jews
who fought at the front [in World War I]
have been molested,” she erroneously
asserted. Harvard accepted an invitation
to take part in anniversary celebrations
at the Nazi-controlled University of
Heidelberg in 1936. Its president, James
Conant, said “political conditions” should
not be allowed to interfere in friendly
relations between the two institutions.
Columbia also accepted the invitation.
Its representative, Prof. Arthur Remy,
declared upon his return that the event
was “impressive and dignified.” He found
the reception for the American delegates,
hosted by Nazi propaganda minister Josef
Goebbels, to be “very enjoyable.” A
number of American universities took
part in the bicentennial celebration
at the Nazi-controlled University of
Goettingen in 1937. That event took
place in “a thoroughly National Socialist
atmosphere,” according to the New York
Times. Among the U.S. delegates was the
chairman of Cornell University’s German
Department, Prof. A. B. Faust, who
accepted an honorary degree and gave the
Nazi salute during the ceremony. What
motivated those who befriended Nazi
universities in the 1930s? Some wanted
to demonstrate open-mindedness and a
spirit of academic camaraderie. Some
naively believed they were taking part
in legitimate scholarly endeavors. And
none of them showed any concern for the
suffering of the Jews in Nazi Germany. If
An-Najah takes no action against Fatah
Shabiba, and Western universities and

student unions continue to partner with
An-Najah, one may justifiably wonder
whether the mindset among many in the
academic world today has changed very
much since the Nazi era.
Rafael Medoff
Vues Master’s Note: Yimach Shemam
Vezichram!

ADVICE
Dear Vues Master:
A beggar went to the home of a wealthy
financier seeking tzedakah. But every
time he tried to get in, the servants would
not let him get past the door. The beggar
would not give up. He patiently waited
outside until the financier came out. Then,
he created a wild commotion, screaming
at the top of his lungs how he and his
family have nothing to eat. “All right,
you win,“ the financier shrugged wearily.
“Here is $20. But let me give you a piece
of good advice. If you hadn’t made such a
nuisance of yourself, I’d have given you
twice as much.“ The schnorrer replied:
“You are a financier. But do I give you
financial advice? Well, I am a professional
schnorrer, so please don’t give me
schnorring advice!”
LM
Vues Master’s Note: More like a Shnorrers
convention!

WIFE
Dear Vues Master:
Avraham Avinu had a unique
דאורייתא עשה מצוות of listening to his
wife and whatever she told him to do he
had to listen to her. Imagine, Had this
mitzvah continued on and become one of
the מצוות ג“תרי then every time your wife
would ask you to take out the garbage you
would have to put on your hat, jacket,&
Gartel and say the יחוד לשם. and then take
out the garbage.
LH
Vues Master’s Note: My wife would tell me
to put on my fancy loafers not a gartel!

DEATH DO US PART
Dear Vues Master:
writes ספר *צרור המור פרשת חיי שרה The
that it is a great honor for the wife to die
before her husband. Rebbetzin Batsheva
Kanievski ה“ע asked her husband R.
Chaim Zt”l, If there is any significance or
advantage of both spouses dying within
a short period of each other. R’ Chaim
took out the Sefer “מתורגמן “from the
bookshelf, and showed his Rebbetzin the
beautiful poetic tefillah Eliyahu Bachur
wrote, where he asks Hashem that his

wife should not become an אלמנה, and he
should not become an אלמן.
GP
Vues Master’s Note: Sounds depressing!

SHIDDUCH
Dear Vues Master:
The סופר כתב in Parshas Chayei Sarah
writes, that in a letter he wrote to his son,
the Rambam blames his daughter for his
white hair. It came about from the worries
he had, finding a Shidduch for her, with
someone befitting his family. The Ramban
writes, had Avraham had a daughter he
would have had worries about whom to
give her away to. The סופר כתב explains,
even with all of Avraham’s riches etc. it
was a blessing not having a daughter so
there won’t be any worries of finding her
.שידוך הגון a
JH
Vues Master’s Note: There is a boy for
every girl!

LASHON HORA
Dear Vues Master:
A Rav who was very careful in הלשון
שמירת was once asked about a man
whom he knew to be a liar. Not wanting
to directly speak badly about the man, the
Rav said: “He has an incredible memory!
There are people who remember things
that happened 30 years ago. There are
those who remember things that happened
50 years ago. This man remembers things
that never happened.”
PO
Vues Master’s Note: I think the guy was
oveir on Lashon Hora anyways!

CENSURE
Dear Vues Master:
In a rare move, the US House of
Representatives has censured Michigan
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the Palestinian
American Democrat, for her rhetoric in
the wake of Hamas’s Oct. 7 invasion of
Israel, including using the term “from the
river to the sea.” The 234-188 vote saw
22 Democrats vote to censure Tlaib. Some
Democrats vehemently defended Tlaib’s
right to free speech, while others said
that the term “From the river to the sea”
signifies the elimination of Israel. This is
part of the age-old question in the West
regarding what kind of “Hate” speech is
protected by “Free” speech. Apparently,
openly calling for the death of the Jewish
people is not protected under the freedom
of expression… Moral clarity for the win!
RSR
Vues Master’s Note: Still not enough. We

have to figure out how to get rid of the
squad from Congress!

ISRAELI SOLDIERS DON’T DIE
IN WAR
Dear Vues Master
This is the first time Israel has been
at war in over 50 years. It isn’t an
experience anyone under 55 years old
in Israel remembers. Israel has had
operations, terror attacks, and raids
before in the years past. We’ve lost
soldiers to the scourge of terrorism and
to our enemies. Our military cemeteries
are full of heroes who are buried too early
because of the refusal of our enemies to
live peacefully with the Jewish people.
Like all people, Jews are used to death
as part of the human lifecycle. We have
different stages of the death experience.
We go from Aninus, the period between
death to burial, to Shiva, to Shloshim,
to the year of mourning. Each year we
commemorate our lost loved ones with
a yahrzeit, on the annual day of their
passing. Death is a familiar experience
in Judaism, and it takes up a great deal
of our time and thought. We are used to
saying someone died. When a soldier
is lost to enemy fire we commonly use
the vernacular, the soldier died. But
the designation “died” isn’t exact and I
think the distinction is important. When
a Jewish soldier’s life is taken on the
battlefield he was killed. The difference
between died and killed is that died
signifies an expected and timely passing.
When someone is killed it connotes an
untimely death, usually at the hands of
another human being. Soldiers in the IDF
are fighting for a righteous cause. There
is no right for anyone to take their life.
An IDF soldier will never kill anyone
who willingly surrenders. The same is
not true of our enemies – because our
cause is just, and their cause is evil. An
Israeli soldier whose life ended on the
battlefield hasn’t died, they have been
taken prematurely and without just
cause; they were killed.
RUP
Vues Master’s Note: Yehi Zichro Baruch.