31 Dec SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER
FYI MESSAGE FROM R EFREM GOLDBERG
Dear Vues Master:
If you wouldn’t buy something at Trader Joe’s or anywhere
without confirming the hechsher is recommended, don’t sign
up for a Pesach program without knowing the supervision is
acceptable. Just because an ad or program has hebrew or rab-
bis names, doesn’t mean it is acceptable supervision. Before
signing up, spending huge amounts of money and trusting a
program with your neshama, ask your rabbi or someone you
trust if it meets the recommended standards.
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg
Vues Master’s Note: Stay home!
CARTER
Dear Vues Master:
Jimmy Carter has finally shuffled off this mortal coil, and now
the world is about to be subjected to the nauseating spectacle
of his canonization. Let’s not forget, this man, who paraded
around with a veneer of holiness, had a troubling inability to
tell right from wrong. Carter, the so-called “man of peace,”
thought Yasser Arafat was a model leader, even advising him
behind the scenes on how to polish his image. His disdain
for Israel was palpable; he smeared the nation with baseless
accusations of apartheid in his book’s title and beyond, and
didn’t shy away from slandering Judaism itself. And let’s not
overlook his bizarre admiration for the Ayatollah Khomeini,
whom he had the gall to call a “saint” and liken to Gandhi.
His judgment was so clouded that he saw divinity in a man
whose regime would plunge Iran into decades of darkness and
oppression. Carter’s legacy? A trail of diplomatic disasters and
moral confusions.
But the worst part? Barack Obama picked up where Carter left
off, continuing to bolster the evil Iranian regime. Obama, with
his deceitful charm, funneled billions back into Iran’s coffers
through the nuclear deal, essentially funding terrorism and
the spread of Islamic extremism. His administration’s policy
was a disgrace, sacrificing American and Israeli security for a
false peace with a regime that chants “Death to America.” Yes.
Carter was responsible for October 7th. Elections have conse-
quences. Both Carter and Obama should be remembered not
for their sanctimonious posturing but for their role in enabling
some of the darkest forces in the modern world. Carter and
Obama started the EVIL Leftist marriage of Marxist and Is-
lamist ideology. Trump will end this. 2024 ends evil. 2025 Be-
gins Light. During Chanukah. Another miracle on G-d’s Plan.
AE MD
Vues Master’s Note: What an anti-semite. Good riddance!!
PEANUT FARMER
Dear Vues Master:
Throughout our history, the Jewish people have always shown
respect and engaged in diplomacy with the leader of whichever
country in exile we resided in. Former President Jimmy Carter,
who passed away last Sunday at the age of 100, wasn’t our
friend. But he brokered a peace treaty between Israeli Prime
Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar El-
Sadat which holds to this day, albeit shakily. Bogged down by
high inflation, the Iranian hostage crisis, and an energy crisis
(sweaters, anyone?), Carter sought to save his legacy. Who
have world leaders historically turned to as a scapegoat for
their own troubles? The Jews. Farmer Jimmy spent the last
decades of his life trying to solve the Middle East crises by
painting Israel as an apartheid state which must cede land to
the “Palestinians” for the sake of peace. How careful we have
to be then to be diplomatic but not delude ourselves into think-
ing that any one ruler is our savior or downfall! As it says in
Melachim II, do not fear the blasphemy of the foreign king.
We don’t know what Trump will do to close the deal or save
his legacy. The lessons we learned from Chanukah must carry
us through the year, the next election cycle and beyond: live
peacefully amongst the nations when you can, but don’t get
too close to the foreign flame. May the menorah shine bright
always. CYM
Vues Master’s Note: History repeats itself!
A TRUE CHESED
Dear Vues Master
I am so thankful to the store owners that lost money this Cha-
nukah and sold donuts for $10 a piece at a loss. Your chesed
was truly felt.
AH
Vues Master’s Note: Now that is funny!
TRUE BITACHON
Dear Vues Master
“And it happened at the end of two years and Pharaoh was
dreaming.” Reb Pinchas Koritzer zt”l related the following sto-
ry: The holy Baal Shem Tov zt”l once traveled with his talmid
(student) Reb Menachem Mendel from Bar zt”l. Reb Mendel
became thirsty during the journey, but there was no water in
sight, so they had to ensure thirst for a couple of days. On the
third day, the Baal Shem Tov told his disciple: “If you have
true Bitachon – faith in Hashem, then He will send you water
from heaven. That is what Reb Mendel did, and suddenly, a
non-Jew approached, asking them if they had perhaps noticed
a horse that had vanished from his master three days before.
They asked the non-Jew if they could have some water, and he
gave them water to drink. Reb Men-
del asked his Rebbe, the Baal Shem
Tov: “If the non-Jew’s incident
happened because he was thirsty
and needed water to drink, why did
Hashem make the non-Jew wander
for three days?”. The Baal Shem
Tov replied: “You should know that
help is prepared in heaven before it
is needed. When you have the right
bitachon – faith, then from heaven,
they ensure your need is fulfilled.
Everything is prepared for a person
in advance, but if he doesn’t have
faith, he forsakes the opportunity to receive it.”
Reb Pinchas Koritzer explained how the Ohr Ha-
Chaim Hakadosh zt”l translates the passuk ויהי
two these During :מקץ שנתים ימים ופרעה חלם
years, Pharaoh dreamed the same dream every
night and forgot about it when he woke up in the
morning. After two years, he suddenly remem-
bered his dream. Why did he need to dream the
same dream for two years? The answer can be
explained according to the story above.
At the beginning of the two years, Yosef’s salva-
tion was already prepared in heaven, and he
could have been saved from the dungeon after
the first dream. Since Yosef relied on the Sar
Hamashkim for his salvation and didn’t have
complete faith in Hashem, Pharaoh forgot his
dreams for two years straight. When Yosef truly
believed in Hashem, Pharaoh remembered the
dream he had dreamt for two years in a row,
which brought about Yosef being released from
prison. May we soon see all prisoners who lan-
guish in the dungeons of Gaza released speedily
in our days. KY
Vues Master’s Note: – Amen!
SMALL DEEDS
Dear Vues Master
Rabbi Elimelech Biderman Shlit”a recently told
this story. A bachur, who was studying in Lithu-
ania, was returning to his home in Switzerland.
He planned his route to pass through Radin, so
he could be by the Chofetz Chaim zt’l. He ar-
rived in Radin at 2:00 a.m. It was snowing. An
elderly person met him at the train station and
asked him where he wanted to go. “And who are
you?” the bachur asked, somewhat impudently.
“I’m Zvi Levinson,” the Chofetz Chaim’s son-
in-law. “I want to go to your shver.” “Where are
you planning to sleep tonight?” “I don’t know. I
don’t have a place.”
Reb Levinson zt’l took him to his house and of-
fered him supper. “I don’t want to eat. All I want
is sleep.” He covered himself with the warm
blankets, and that is when he remembered that he
hadn’t yet davened Maariv. The bachur planned
to get out of bed to daven, but he allowed him-
self just one more moment of comfort under the
blankets. That’s when he fell asleep. In the morn-
ing, he davened Shacharis and went home with
Reb Levinson for breakfast. Then Reb Levinson
brought him to the Chofetz Chaim.
The bachur took a piece of paper from his pock-
et, where he wrote all the questions he wanted
to ask the Chofetz Chaim, but before he could
begin, the Chofetz Chaim was already speak-
ing to him: “Bachur’l, I remember the era of the
Czars. At that time, there was so much money,
even if money fell to the ground, people didn’t
bother bending down to pick it up. But today,
when a copper coin falls to the ground, people
rush to pick it up…” The bachur wondered why
the Chofetz Chaim, the leader of the nation, was
reminiscing about these matters. But he soon
found out. The Chofetz Chaim told him, “There
was a time when
the Ribono Shel
Olam had tana’im,
amora’im, and other
great giants. If a
regular bachur for-
got to daven Maariv
in those days, it
wasn’t so noticeable,
because there was
so much spiritual-
ity in the world. But
in our generation,
every small deed is
precious. When a ba-
chur forgets to daven
Maariv, the void is
noticeable in heav-
en…” The bachur
was astounded by the
Chofetz Chaim’s ruach hakodesh,
that he perceived that he hadn’t dav-
ened Maariv at night. The bachur
had entirely forgotten what hap-
pened, and that he should have said
two Shemonah Esreis that morn-
ing, to make up for the one missed.
This story reminds us of the value
of small deeds. They seem small to
us, but they are very significant in
Heaven. TOT
Vues Master’s Note: Another great
Chofetz Chaim story.
PARSHA
Dear Vues Master:
The End of the Beginning In last week’s parsha,
parshas Mikeitz, right at the beginning it uses the
word Miketz. Rashi tells us that it means the end
and Sifsei Chachamim adds that Rashi is say-
ing that it doesn’t mean miktzas – a part – but
it means the end. The end justifies the means.
This could have been the end. Yosef was in a
dark dungeon; you could also think of him be-
ing a hostage in a dark Hamas tunnel. He has
been there another two years, forgotten by the
Sar Hamashkim that he helped. But he never
gave up hope; his emuna in Hashem kept him
going. Then the common instrument, the dream,
came again and he was saved k’heref ayin. So
it was really the beginning and not the end. We
are observing the holy Yomtov of Chanuka. In
this parsha, there are remozim to Chanukah.
First, the famous one where it say Vutevoiach
Tevach Va’huchein. Va’huchein is the allusion to
Chanuka. It also says Vayishtu V’yishkeru. That
could be why we have Chanuka parties even
though there is no specific mitzva to have one
on Chanuka.
In addition, we are familiar with the Beis Yo-
sef’s kasha of why do we light the menorah eight
nights when there was enough oil for one night.
So the nes was really for seven nights? There are
many answers. One is that they divided up the
pach into eight portions for each night. So nor-
mally it wouldn’t burn the whole day. But the
nes happened that it burned the whole day. The
question is why did they do that if they knew if
wasn’t enough for the whole day? Some say they
did their hishtadlus. But it could be that they had
ruach hakodesh and knew that in the future, it
would be enough to burn the Chanukah licht for
a half an hour. Well, in this parsha, we see sever-
al kashes by the original Beis Yosef. Yosef asked
them questions in his house about their family.
Later, he asked them about the purloined becher
which precipitated the final confrontation with
the brothers. At the end of the Parsha, we see
that it really was all about the Benjamins. But as
it was mentioned before, it’s not really the end.
The story of Chanukah continued for many year
afterwards with the Chashmanoim fighting many
battles. The Chasmanoim became the Kings.
Why did they think they should be the kings in-
stead of from shevet Yehuda? Because it said in
V’al Kein Nekava, “ve’kablu culom es Oil Mal-
chusacha”. It was only the end of the beginning
of the story. It was Oils well that ends well. We,
in turn, have to keep the flame of emuna burning
within us and hope that the war with Hamas will
soon come to a successful conclusion and the
hostages released bezras Hashem. DF
Vues Master’s Note:You should write a book on
these!
BOOKS
Dear Vues Master:
Many books about Israel were published in
2024. These are the standouts. One need not
agree with everything that the authors say (I cer-
tainly don’t) to acknowledge that these books are
worth reading as they help a reader to explore
ideas they may not read elsewhere. As Israel
continues to fight an increasingly unprecedented
war against Islamic terrorism the Jewish State
at the same time must fight on the battlefield of
ideas. That Israel’s right to defend its civilians is
being questioned everyday all around the world
demonstrates how important books that rise be-
yond rhetoric are and these books do.
One Jewish State: The Last, Best Hope to Re-
solve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is by for-
mer United States Ambassador to Israel (2017
– 2021) David Friedman. With over 23 chapters,
plus supporting documents included as appen-
dices, Freidman makes the argument that Israel
must not allow the creation of a Palestinian Arab
state in any of the areas it liberated in 1967 and
now controls. He writes “Palestine was never a
country and never governed itself.” Friedman
places the blame for Israel’s current situation on
its politicians and writes “Every Israeli govern-
ment speaks about the importance of Israel re-
taining at least parts of Judea and Samaria. But
none has presented a vision of how that will be
achieved.”
The Battle for the Jewish State: How Israel—
and America—Can Win is by Victoria Coates
who is a former staffer with the National Secu-
rity Council. From the first chapter of the book
Coates exposes Mahmoud Abbas and his Pales-
tinian Authority as the extremists they are and
defends the first Trump administration’s record
in the Middle East. Her perspective as a Chris-
tian and a national security expert make this a
unique read. The Iron Dome, Coates explains
“in some ways, have made Israel the victim of
its own success. When Hamas fired more than
two thousand rockets at Israel during the eleven-
day Gaza war in 2021, for example, Iron Dome
had a more than 90% success rate intercepting
them…” Then she explains that due to demands
for a ceasefire from the Biden White House and
Netanyahu’s acquiescence caused unexpected
consequences. “In hindsight, that was the mo-
ment when Hamas’s leader Yahya Sinwar, realiz-
ing that the Iron Dome had rendered its missiles
and rockets largely useless, started planning for
a very different sort of attack on Israel,” Coates
opines.
Make Peace: A Strategic Guide for Achieving
Lasting Peace In Israel is by Rabbi Elisha Pearl.
As the book itself explains on its cover it is
“Based on The Teachings of the Lubavitcher
Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.”
To those only casually acquainted with Chabad
the ideas presented may be more than a bit sur-
prising. Rabbi Pearl shreds calls for ceasefire
and the surrender of Israeli territory for prom-
ises on paper for peace. He makes passionate
demands for Jewish unity and Jewish educa-
tion. Also revealed are the Rebbe’s views on
Jewish settlements. “Perhaps you have heard
that I spoke of the absolute necessity to settle
all of the territories at once,” quotes Pearl from
a 1977 letter that continues “especially those
disputed by the nations of the world.” One
specific section of the book that is particularly
done well is where Pearl explains that each of
the next generation of replacements for Abbas
are just as bad for Israel. At its center the book
calls for “subduing enemies until they no lon-
ger pose a threat” and “the protection of Jewish
lives.”
Israel Victory: How Zionists Win Acceptance
and Palestinians Get Liberated is by historian
Daniel Pipes. Perhaps Pipes is at his best when
he reviews history. As he depicts Israeli his-
tory over the 30 years and the disastrous Oslo
Accords he writes “Israelis experimented with
such statecraft exotica as “painful concessions”
and unilateral withdrawals.” Less effective is
Pipes when he presents his ideas for the future
although even here he starts well enough call-
ing for the “abandoning (of) conciliation and
returning to the eternal verities of war. I call
this Israel Victory. More negatively but more
accurately, it consists of Palestinian defeat.
Summing up: Palestinians lose, Israel wins.”
He also calls for an end to not just Hamas but
also the Palestinian Authority. Pipes writes that
Israel will be able to “convince Palestinians to
end their campaign of rejectionism” after their
defeat but he fails to really explain how. Pipes
writes that “No Palestinian people existed
through the centuries” but he stubbornly refus-
es to offer ideas about what comes after Hamas
and the PA no longer exist. He writes “Israel
must use force; but it cannot look to force as the
solution to rejectionism. Its power offers a wide
range of levers with which to exert influence
over Palestinians, from economics to religion.”
His arguments in this vein fall to impress.
Black Saturday: An Unfiltered Account of the
October 7th Attack on Israel and the War in
Gaza is by Fox News journalist Trey Yingst.
This book differs in many ways from the oth-
ers included here. Yingst tells some of his story
as an on the spot journalist visiting places like
the infamous Al-Shifa hospital and it is a grip-
ping tale. “I had to make sure that our coverage
wasn’t demonizing Palestinians,” writes Yingst
“Some Palestinians entered Israel to slaughter
Israelis, some entered to loot, some to look
around. Others never entered but cheered when
hostages were brought back to Gaza. Others,
albeit quietly, condemned the actions of Hamas
…” Yingst does not offer real examples of these
“others.” What he does offer an example of
is the kidnapping of civilians from Be’eri by
Hamas terrorists. It is a powerful and haunting
narrative.
After a year in which President Biden was spot-
ted holding a copy of extremist Rashid Kha-
lidi’s The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A
History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance,
1917-2017 every supporter of Israel should do
more to help promote books that offer thought-
ful ideas about the Jewish State. MP
Vues Master’s Note: I think a Gemara and a
Chumash or Mishnayos are better!
COMPROMISE
Dear Vues Master:
Sanhedrin 6 includes discussions regarding
pshara (compromise), which is at the heart of
every negotiation, most recently on government
funding and the debt limit, and on the hostages
and the ceasefire. Many people support, and
many oppose, negotiations in principle. Daf 6
includes something to support both sides. On
one hand, uncompromising din, or judgment,
symbolizes truth (emess) or clarity (birur). On
the other hand, flexible pshara, botzea, or medi-
ation, symbolize(s) peace, and Tosfos notes an-
other benefit of this approach – it only applies
if there is unanimity. On one hand, judges must
assure that the true judgment will prevail, as it
is stated “For the judgment is G-d’s” (Dvarim
1:17) (Sanhedrin 6).
On the flip side, Rabbi Eliezer ben Rabbi Yosi
HaGlili says it is prohibited to mediate a dis-
pute, and anyone who mediates (botzea) a dis-
pute is a sinner, and as to this it is stated the
[wicked or covetous person] (botzea) blesses
himself, though he despises G-d (Psalms 10:3)
(Sanhedrin 6). Botzea also means stealing,
presumably because none of the disputants
receive(s) everything they believe they are en-
titled to. On the other hand, Rabbi Yehoshua
ben Korcha says it is a mitzvah to mediate a
dispute, as it is stated “Execute the judgment of
truth and peace in your gates” (Zechariah 8:16).
Ideally the judgment has peace within it, hence,
“this is mediation” (as both sides are satisfied
with the results) (Sanhedrin 6). We can now ap-
ply some of these principles to the negotiations
mentioned above. As to the U.S. budget, strict
judgment would require that money should be
spent by the government on necessities. The
problem is that there is no agreement on what
is necessary; hence, the need for compromise.
As to the Gaza situation, strict judgment would
require Israelis to be able to live on their own
land without being targeted for annihilation,
and not to be taken forcefully.
The Gemorah makes it clear that, ideally, jus-
tice should prevail, and the letter of the law
should be followed, but in the real world, some-
times this simply isn’t realistic, so that compro-
mises have to be made. But you can’t have it
both ways. You can’t first submit to a judgment
and if it doesn’t go the way you like, go to a
compromise. Once the verdict has been decided
by a judge, before it is even issued, says the
Gemorah, it is not permitted for the dispute to
be mediated (6b). Double Jeopardy long pre-
ceded the 5th Amendment to the U.S. Consti-
tution and the 1999 film in Hollywood by that
name, Talmudic law doesn’t have the flaw of
American law which sometimes blurs the dis-
tinction since a losing litigant on the merits can
appeal, and the winner may wish to avoid the
time and expense of fighting it by accepting a
compromise offer. In a lecture delivered about
71⁄2 years ago, but aired in the current cycle.
Rabbi Shalom Rosner quoted Rabbi Jonathan
Sacks, quoting Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik,
in Reflections of the Rav, as follows: “Din [ —
strict judgment — ] pits one party against the
other. The dayan analyzes the relevant facts of
the case, and applies the appropriate legal sanc-
tions as prescribed in Choshen Mishpat. Legal
decisions are dictated by objective data.
One party emerges the victor…. Discord and
resentment persist. The legal issue has been
resolved, but human bitterness continues to fes-
ter. “In pshara, however, social harmony is the
primary concern…. The goal is to be socially
healing. The psychology of the contenders,
their socioeconomic status and values as well
as the general temper of society are … prima-
ry… These considerations are evaluated within
the broader halachik parameters of the Choshen
Mishpat, and the final resolution of conflict is a
delicate… blending of… objective legal norms
and subjective humanistic goals. For this rea-
son, pshara is the preferred alternative.” It all
sounds beautiful, but note that compromises
in financial matters may not really be used as
precedents for hostage situations, even without
considering the precedent set by the Maharam
m’Rutenberg (circa 1220-1293) who achieved
immortality (in Jewish lore) by choosing to die
in prison rather than to submit Jewish commu-
nities to blackmail to get their hostages back,
on the grounds that hostages should not be
redeemed for more than their “value” (Gittin
45a).
Note: In each case referred to above (din and
pshara), Rabbi Soloveitchik referred to the pa-
rameters of the Choshen Mishpat. But on the
world stage — or behind the scenes in previous-
ly smoke-filled rooms — in hostage negotiations
and in government funding nego-
tiations, the laws of the Choshen
Mishpat are not exactly universally
accepted. Until they will be, not to
mention the mitzvos bnei Noach,
we will have to settle for the best
that can be obtained by the negotia-
tors, one way or another.
Aaron Reichel Esq
Vues Master’s Note: Thanks for
this dvar torah!
NEGEL VASSER
Dear Vues Master
Especially at this time of year, when Alos ha-
shachar is so late (in NYC, approximately 5:50
am, or 6:08 according to some) for the next
several weeks, let us be mindful of the p’sak of
the Rema O.C. 4:14, that if one washes negel
vasser before Alos, one must wash again after
Alos without a bracha. DY
Vues Master’s Note: Thanks for the reminder!
RABBI TEICHMAN Z”L
Dear Vues Master:
I’m ready to go to the Rebbe in YTT for my
einekel’s upsherin, when I get a text from my
sister about Duvid Teichman niftar BDE Es
Lrkod Ves Lbkos. I was dancing with my son
and einekel about the sweetness of Torah, while
crying inside about the petirah of my friend and
former director when I was in Ruach DC Tov
lelech lbeis mishta mlbeis avel. I had mixed
emotions. I couldn’t be at the levaya in Brook-
lyn while I’m in Toms River. I first called my
former head counselor, Moish Zimberg, and
told him; “who was closer than you, Moish?
Without missing a beat and maintaining his hu-
mor, he answered me ; “ his wife”! I next called
my close friend Shloime Dachs from Ruach &
Temimah DC, who told me that Duvid had such
Simchas Hachaim. He told me how on one hand
you’re supposed to be masiach Daas and the
Yehoshua will come. On the other hand, achaka
Lo bchol Yom sheyavo? The answer is that line
a shidduch, you make all the hishdadlus. But
Moshiach will come from far out unexpectedly
from nowhere hopefully soon. I then called R’
Yossie Goldstein from Camp Govoha-Teich-
man’s camp in the country. He spent the entire
night in the hospital with Duvid. I told him a
vort from Rav Belsky ztl. Everyone asks how
can we daven by birchos Kohanim that Hashem
should give us Chen in everyone’s eyes just
like the Ksonos Pasim??? What caused Sinas
Chinam? The answer is that Hashem makes
you popular, charismatic, personable, but that
can cause jealousy after all. Not by Duvid! Ev-
eryone loved him like a favorite uncle, brother,
close friend, Zeidy. No one was jealous of his
popularity, his charisma, his Simchas Hachaim,
his fun to be around. He loved everyone and
made everyone feel special! Yossi could only
cry broken heartedly; “ It’s True- It’s True!
RMS
Vues Master’s Note: Yes! A terrible loss!