30 Jan SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER
REMEMBERING THE HOLOCAUST
Dear Vues Master
This past Monday, we remembered the worst genocide
the world has ever known; The Holocaust. We
remember how a maniacal lunatic and his political
party, the Nazis, indoctrinated a nation to behave
like subhuman creatures and exterminate a people.
Today, we see how a group of maniacal lunatics
and their political party, Hamas, are indoctrinating a
nation to behave like subhuman creatures and attempt
to exterminate a people. We remember how horrible
rhetoric scapegoating the Jews led to violence and
eventual genocide. Today, we see how horrible rhetoric
scapegoating the Jews is leading to violence around
the world and the attempted genocide of October 7th.
We remember how despite the atrocities committed at
scale, the world did not step up for the Jews. Instead
they turned on the Jews. Today, we see how despite
the atrocities committed by Hamas, the world is not
stepping up for the Jews. Instead they are turning on
the Jews. We remember how actual human beings
committed atrocities so horrible, the brain cannot
even digest them. Today, we see actual human beings
committing atrocities so horrible; the brain cannot
even digest them. For 80 years, Jews around the world
carried the generational trauma of their parents and
grandparents being systematically massacred. Today,
Jews are facing the trauma of the events of October
7th, a day on which Jews were systematically murdered
and raped. We remember how a man that personified
pure evil masked his deep hatred of the Jews with some
fabricated social and economical agenda of protecting
the weak. Today, we see how organizations worldwide
including the UN and the Red Cross mask their deep
hatred of the Jews with some fabricated social agenda
of protecting the Palestinians. The bottom line is this. I
grew up with grandparents who survived the worst of
humanity, they survived Auschwitz. I heard the stories.
They are still hard for me to believe. Or at least they
were until October 7th. I grew up saying Never Again
and I believed it. I meant it. I was wrong. It could
happen again. And the world would sit by again. I
know that now. There is, however, one difference. The
IDF. Today, the Jews can protect themselves. The Jews
WILL protect themselves. This is an inconvenient
truth the world simply can’t handle, but guess what?
They have no choice. Holocaust Remembrance Day is
today. We won’t forget. And we won’t forget October
7th. Ever. We will, however, dance again. That, I can
guarantee. If you want to support the Jews, we would
appreciate it. If you don’t, that’s fine, but step aside
and get the hell out of our way because you made it
abundantly clear what you want for the Jews. But
this time, we won’t let you have it. Never again. Not
because the world won’t let it happen again. They
would. They have. Never again because this time,
the Jews will stand up for themselves, fight back, and
fight hard. Don’t like it? Get over it! We’re not going
anywhere. And we WILL dance again! Am Yisrael
Chai!
Hillel Fuld
Vues Master’s Note: We will never forget! Am Yisrael
Chai!
TORAH VODAAS STORY
Dear Vues Master
A great Torah Vodaas story (that is unknown to most
people) (One of the many amazing stories of how camp
and its wonderful staff members can really build up
kids!) I was 13 years old (7th grade) and in sleep away
camp for the first time. My parents couldn’t come for
visiting day and I was feeling bad. I was in the dining
room on Shabbos and randomly made up a song,
singing it all through shalosh seudos (actually walked
out into the legendary CTV baseball field) and kept
on humming it to myself so I wouldn’t forget it. On
Motzei Shabbos I was walking by the shul and heard
music. There were counselors playing instruments
(Shua Fogel Crumar keyboard….Yitzy Erps Drums….
Sholom Francis Elec. guitar…..Moish Shonek Sax…..
Nosson Neuman Singing…..they were rehearsing for a
concert they were giving on visiting day for the entire
camp and it’s parents. “What are you doing here, kid?”
one asked me. “I just made up a song of my own!”
I said. I noticed the disbelieving expression on their
faces like…..”yeah…..(another one of those thousand
kids that thinks he can make up songs )… Really……
you made up a song?….It seemed like they were going
to ask me to leave and stop bothering their
important “adult” rehearsal…. Just then,
I will never forget…. Sholom Francis
said to the counselors….“Let’s give him
a chance….Come here kid. What’s your
name? I shyly said Yitzy Bald. Let’s
hear it,” he said. I sang my song and
Sholom started strumming his geshmake
electric guitar along. Yitzy Erps started
drumming the beat. Shua started adding
the keyboard. And Moish started
adding sax lines while Nosson started
harmonizing. This went on for ten whole
minutes. I could tell they were loving
it. They asked me to perform it the next
day in front of the entire camp during the
performance they had been rehearsing for.
That was my first real major composition
that made it public and it made my day.
(Actually it made my life) Suddenly
visiting day wasn’t so sad for me! Stories
like this make us realize the impact that
we can have on people, especially young
impressionable kids. This one incident
changed the trajectory of my life to one
of self confidence. And it led me to a life
where I try to build up kids through the
position of Rebbe and Choir leader. BTW
That song was eventually released only 6
years later on an album called Shevach
II (produced by Avi Fishoff) amongst
my other 9 compositions on that album,
including my famous Yerav Na. (Which
Shloime Dachs sang on that album!!!)
The name of the song was Ki Mitzion…
Rabbi Yitzy Bald
Vues Master’s Note: What a great story
from the great Rabbi Yitzy Bald! Thanks
for sharing.
COMPROMISE
Dear Vues Master
Maybe in a perfect world, a perfect
compromise would be two states – a
Jewish state with a protected minority
Palestinian population, and a Palestinian
state with a protected minority Jewish
population. But the unfortunate reality is
that we live in a world in which Hamas
raped and butchered and massacred 1200
people. including children and women
and the elderly – and the majority of
Palestinians in the West Bank support
Hamas. We live in a world in which the
majority of Palestinians want Palestine
from the river to the sea – they want to
see Israel cease to exist, a massive influx
of Palestinians, resulting in the Jews
being either crowded out or driven out or
massacred. (Whether they have legitimate
reasons for wanting this is a different
matter – the fact is that this is what the
majority wants.) We live in a world in
which the majority of Palestinians deny
the ancient and long-standing connection
of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel,
and reject the UN-granted legitimacy for
the existence of the world’s only Jewish
State – the only place in the world that
Jews can commit to their own safety. So
it’s not a matter of Israel not wanting two
states. It’s a matter of acknowledging
that the majority of Palestinians have
made it clear that they want to destroy the
world’s only Jewish state. Giving them a
Palestinian state will not dissuade them
from that goal; it will merely embolden
and enable those among them who wish
to pursue it. Eventually, it would almost
certainly result in catastrophic bloodshed
and destruction on both sides. And it
would be foolish and futile to rely on
“international guarantees” to prevent
that. This is the tragic reality, and no
amount of wishful thinking will change
it. The only thing that could change it is
a radical overhaul in Palestinian society,
but that would take many years and
intense international effort, and shows no
sign of happening. It would be expedient
for Israel to make very clear that it is not
against a Palestinian state in principle (and
has agreed to one on several occasions),
only in practice, due to the problems
listed above. This is as opposed to the
Palestinians, who are against a Jewish
state in principle as well as in practice.
And so the Palestinians must join the
long list of peoples in the world who,
for one reason or another, do not have a
state. They can continue to live in their
homes, where, absent terrorist attacks
being launched from their communities,
they will lead better lives than many
people in Arab countries. Additionally,
if the many other Arab nations really did
care about them, they could offer them
citizenship, as Israel did for hundreds of
thousands of Jews fleeing persecution in
Arab countries. That is the most peaceful
solution currently possible. Anything
else is almost certain to result in massive
loss of life on both sides, just as happened
with Gaza.
NS
Vues Master’s Note: We don’t need a two
state solution ever. We needMoshiach
now!
THE GRANDMASTER
By Country Yossi Toiv
Many years ago I attended a chess match
at a local chess club. We were watching
two grandmasters play for a big money
prize. I, along with all the other observers,
were mere chess buffs and were nowhere
near the level of the players we were
observing. Suddenly, In the middle of
the match, one of the players made a
surprising move that elicited groans and
looks of bewilderment from the crowd.
Even the analyst who was explaining
the moves seemed to be at a loss. It was
incomprehensible and seemed to be an
egregious error that could cost him the
match. However, to our surprise, a mere
three moves later his opponent abruptly
stood up, shook his hand and left! We
were all dumbfounded! After studying
the board for a few minutes our analyst
suddenly nodded knowingly and broke
into a broad smile. He then explained the
logic of the perplexing move which caused
his opponent to suddenly resign. As he
played out the rest of the game for us we
suddenly realized that what had seemed
to be a foolish and incomprehensible
move suddenly became a stroke of
genius. In the aftermath of the horrific
and unforgivable Hamas massacre,
inexplicable intelligence failures and
ongoing hostage crisis we are a nation
reeling and struggling to find meaning
and answers to our existential questions.
The divine chessboard grows more
complex and dangerous daily, with many
new pieces in play creating unforeseen,
new scenarios and moral dilemmas!
Every move must be carefully weighed,
considered, and calculated. One misstep
can be catastrophic! Hamas, Hezbollah,
Iran, Houthis, Syria not to mention the hate
indoctrinated local terrorists all joining
forces to exterminate us while we attempt
to rid ourselves of our mortal enemies
under the intense scrutiny and pressure
of the United States, the biased UN and
the antisemitic international community!
Combined with a crucial, controversial,
upcoming American presidential election,
exploding worldwide antisemitism,
crime, campus violence, insane Woke
liberalism, moral turpitude, the total
collapse of traditional American values
and the complete absence of common
sense the future seems bleak indeed! But
wait! The good news is that we are not
alone! Our moves are not guided by our
puny, human intellect alone! They are
preordained, divinely inscribed in our
national destiny and predicted by our
prophets from time immemorial! What
we are witnessing and living through
are nothing less than the birth pangs of
the coming of Moshiach! All the almost
surreal, irrational, nightmarish events
are the long prophesied precursors to the
long awaited End of Days! “Can’t you
hear the sound of silent footsteps in the
night – he’s coming closer And can’t
you hear the blare of distant trumpets
in the air – he’s coming closer! And
can’t you see society is crumbling they
don’t know – he’s coming closer! And
praised is he who righteously is waiting
for that day – he’s coming closer!“ All
of our Torah learning, Maasim Tovim,
Tefillos,Tzedaka and Mesiras Nefesh
have finally broken down the doors of
Heaven! For those still perplexed and
troubled by the surprising, seeming
illogical and counterintuitive direction
of current events… Let me explain: “MY
WAYS ARE NOT YOUR WAYS” saith
the Lord! Hashem’s plans and methods
are inscrutable. The road to Moshiach
has from antiquity been cloaked and
hidden in mystery and intrigue. From Lot
and his daughters to Yehudah and Tamar
and on to Rus and Boaz the royal lineage
of Malchus Bais Dovid has defied easy
comprehension. We cannot fathom all
the unknowable twists and turns still to
come in the incredible journey of the
royal soul of King David as it wends its
way through history to the End of Days
scenario. As we have seen, no one can
predict what the next moment holds let
alone the coming weeks and months.
Trump or Biden, it doesn’t matter!
Hashem is the ultimate grandmaster
and as we watch his dramatic moves
on the global chessboard we can only
gaze in shock and awe as we struggle
to comprehend the Master plan. But
rest assured. Like our ancestors as they
stood trapped with the mighty sea before
them and the fearsome Egyptian army
behind them, they were suddenly saved
by miraculous, divine intervention as
the sea split. So too today, as we stand
surrounded by enemies, threatened by
a raging, rising, virulent anti-Semitism,
rioting, lawlessness, immorality and the
imminent collapse of society we stand
poised and ready for Hashem’s master
stroke. It’ll be a move so dramatic and
unforgettable that on that day the entire
world will shout in unison… “HASHEM
HU HUH-ELOKIM!” So while the
match is still being played it is futile
to try to understand every move. His
ways are not our ways! None of us are
grandmasters of the divine plan. Only
when the game is finally over will we be
able to look back over our entire history
and see the genius in every move. So
continue your learning, Davening, giving
Tzedaka, saying Tehillim etc but all the
while keeping one eye on the match. We
may not understand the significance of
every move but we already know the
pre-ordained outcome. We know who’s
going to win! May we soon hear these
words once more:
אל תיראו התעצבו וראו את ישועת הי….
הי ילחם לכם ואתם תחרשון
Chazak Chazak v’nisChazeik
Vues Master’s Note: Another great
Country Yossi story! Thanks for sharing!
EMPLOYMENT WITH
DIGNITY
Dear Vues Master
I’d like to introduce the community
to an organization whose mission is
unique. Its uniqueness lies in the fact
that it is our only and singular focus.
The organization I lead, Aim-Hire:
Employment with Dignity, assists and
finds employment for men and women
who have a hard time locking in a job
for any number of reasons. We focus on
assisting people who are over age 40
and who have been looking for work
for 12 weeks or more. While we offer
incentives to employers who hire our
candidates; most of all we guarantee
them this amazing opportunity to do
good and feel good while outsourcing
their HR to us and hiring our vetted
and supported candidates! For the
job seeker, we offer a helping hand, a
caring partner as well as introductions
to our friendly recruiters, a consistent
list of carefully curated real jobs to
apply to as well as access to fully funded
courses to enhance your skills. If you or
anyone you know fits our requirements
and would benefit from our assistance,
please refer them to info@aim-hire.org
or emiller@aim-hire.org Thanks!
Esther Miller
Vues Master’s Note: What a great
organization. I’m sure many of our
readers would appreciate this.
TRAVELING SALESMAN
A traveling salesman came to town
With pots and pans of tin
And he knocked on the Chofetz Chaim’s
door
Who kindly let him in
He looked around in wonder
No furniture was there
No couch no rugs no curtains
No crystal chandelier
He turned to the Chofetz Chaim
With wonder in his eyes
How come you have no furniture
He asked with some surprise
The Chofetz Chaim smiled at him
With sparkling eyes of blue
“Tell me how come you don’t have
Any furniture with you ?”
“Me?” The salesman asked surprised
Why, I’m just passing through
“Ahhh,” the Chofetz Chaim smiled
“ Me too, my friend, me too!”
We’re only passing through, my friends
We’re only passing through
This world is just a corridor
That leads to someplace new
Power, fame and fortune
Will try to capture you
But just cling to the Torah
‘Cause we’re only passing through
Country Yossi Toiv
Vues Master’s Note: Another great
lesson from the Chofetz Chaim told by
the great story teller Country Yossi.