06 May SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER
POLITICIANS
Dear Vues Master:
I’m deeply concerned about politicians visiting shuls on
Shabbos as part of their campaigns. Andrew Cuomo’s
appearance last Shabbos at Congregation Shaare Zion in
Brooklyn is just the latest example.
Shabbos is meant to be a sacred time of rest, family, and
spirituality. Turning it into a political photo-op is deeply
inappropriate and undermines the sanctity of the day.
This is not about partisanship — it’s about preserving the
dignity of our sacred spaces.
— ST
Vues Master’s Note: How is a politician worse than a law-
yer? He doesn’t even have to open his mouth to lie!
ANTI-JEWS
Dear Vues Master:
It was disgraceful to see NYC mayoral candidate Zohran
Mamdani welcomed at the COJO of Flatbush legislative
breakfast — an event meant to serve the Orthodox Jewish
community.
Mamdani has a long history of anti-Israel activism and an-
tisemitic rhetoric. His presence there sent the wrong mes-
sage.
Councilwoman Vernikov and Assemblyman Yeger were
right to speak out. Mamdani does not represent our values,
and he should not be embraced by our institutions or sup-
ported by our votes.
— PL
Vues Master’s Note: Same person, same views — he’s just
showing his true colors.
PREP
Dear Vues Master:
Many people don’t realize that opening food packages on
Shabbos can involve multiple halachic issues. It’s not a
free-for-all just because it’s food.
For example, ripping open a cereal box or creating a reseal-
able tab is a problem. So is snapping open the corner of
square dip containers.
Better to open these packages before Shabbos. Some fam-
ilies even keep a checklist on their fridge — paper tow-
els, stove top covers, etc. Pre-opening questionable items
should be on that list too.
And don’t forget: many poskim who allow plastic bottle
caps don’t allow metal ones — like Perrier or sparkling
grape juice. Be prepared!
— KLMY
Vues Master’s Note: Thanks for the Shabbos prep crash
course!
FLATBUSH CHAMETZ GEMACH
Dear Vues Master:
Summer is upon us, and my landlord’s garage is empty
again! The very last of the chametz has been given away:
a full case of Bone Suckin’ BBQ sauce. The nice lady who
took it was ecstatic, “it’s my kids’ favorite!”
Without the help of a whole group of volunteers, there
would be no gemach. Our success relies on the generosity,
enthusiasm and dedication of the community.
This year, we collected and distributed nearly 9,000 pounds
of food, bringing our sixteen-year total to over 87,000
pounds. This remarkable chesed is a testament to your sup-
port.
We’re deeply grateful to everyone who contributed food,
funds and time. Your efforts in donating, schlepping, deliv-
ering and redistributing chametz, along with sharing new
contacts, made all the difference. You answered every call
for help, ensuring the gemach ran smoothly.
Special appreciation to Mordechai and Shmuel Anflick,
whose tireless work kept operations seamless during the
busiest days. They worked so hard and I am not sure I could
have done it without them.
Extended gratitude to Leah, Shoshana, and Mrs. Rosen-
berg, whose dedication to supporting families was invalu-
able. I have immense gratitude and hakaras hatov to my
landlord for providing his garage – without his endorsement
and encouragement, the gemach would not be possible.
Applause to Shea Gold and Abe Beyda (photographer ex-
traordinaire!), both of whom continue to give me chizuk
when things get hard. A big yasher koach and thank you
to Moshe Gold, Ronnie Aboff and all those who donated
Pesach food, wine and Shmurah matzah. Families were
ecstatic and appreciative. So many families worried about
making Pesach this year and you helped lessen their anxi-
ety.
I am in awe of Motti Rosenberg, who runs his own gemach,
and helped connect food to families in need.
The gemach is indebted to Yossi Friedman, amazing driver
who helped pick up all those tasty, tasty Reisman’s treats.
Of course, a special nod of appreciation and big thanks
to Reisman’s bakery, who brightened the day of so many
families with almost 1,000 pounds of mouth-
watering treats. Families were very excited.
We’re so grateful for your partnership.
If you know any of these people, please give
them a big yasher koach on our behalf.
We also appreciate The JEWISH VUES for
amplifying our mission and spreading the
word.
Thank you all for your extraordinary kind-
ness and for helping make the gemach a suc-
cess. — Yitzchak Relkin Flatbush Chametz
Gemach yitzchak@relkin.com
Vues Master’s Note: Now if only you could
help me afford the Pesach matzos!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GOFER
Dear Vues Master:
This week, our family is celebrating a very
special simcha: it’s our goldfish Gofer’s sec-
ond birthday.
Now, I know it might sound a little meshuga
to make such a fuss over a fish, but to my
daughter and me, Gofer is truly part of the
mishpacha. He swims to the glass when we
walk in, and he’s brought us so much quiet
nachas over the past two years. We love him
dearly—like any other member of the house-
hold.
Earlier this year, we almost lost him. Gofer
became very sick—barely moving, not eating,
lying at the bottom of the tank like a nebach.
My daughter and I sat by his tank, eyes full of
tears, davening and saying Tehillim that he’d
pull through. We checked the pH, adjusted
the temperature, gave him refua-grade water
changes, added drops of fish-safe medication,
and even fed him by hand. I stayed up through
the night, practically keeping a shmira by his
tank. Baruch Hashem, after several days of
real hishtadlus, he started to perk up again. It
truly felt like a little nes.
My husband, nebach, has never quite warmed
to Gofer. He doesn’t understand the ahavah
we feel for this little creature. I wish he could
see what we see—that even a goldfish can
encourage acts of chesed for Hashem’s crea-
tures.
And yes, we eat gefilte fish on Shabbos—but
never in front of Gofer. It just doesn’t feel
right. He’s family.
We also want to give a heartfelt thank-you
to Gofer’s cousins, neighbors, and friends
who’ve been wonderful fish sitters whenever
we’ve gone away. Knowing he was in such
caring hands has meant the world to us.
So no, it’s not a bar mitzvah—but it’s still
a simcha. And in our home, that’s reason
enough to say l’chaim and celebrate b’simcha!
Swimming with gratitude, Gofer’s Humans
Vues Master’s Note: We wish Gofer many
more years of good health and calm waters—
mazel tov on this very fishy simcha!
TOUGH QUESTIONS
Dear Vues Master:
Our community faces many tough issues —
Ben Gvir, YU’s LGBTQ policy, Charedi army
service, Gaza strategy. These aren’t simple
topics, and they deserve honest, Torah-rooted
discussion.
But let’s not let ego, sarcasm, or negativity
poison the conversation.
We must move from a “critical eye” to an
“ayin tovah” — a good, generous perspective
that sees the good in our people and the depth
of our Torah.
That’s how we build a stronger and more unit-
ed community.
— PT
Vues Master’s Note: Funny how those in
power always push for “dialogue” — until
they’re in the opposition!
ACAPELLA MUSIC DURING
SEFIRAH
Dear Vues Master:
Why is Sefira a Time of Mourning? The origi-
nal mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer, as command-
ed in the Torah, was not intended as a period
of mourning. It was a joyful countdown from
the barley harvest on Pesach to the giving of
the Torah on Shavuot. However, mourning
customs developed later, primarily because of
the tragic death of 24,000 students of Rabbi
Akiva during this time, as recorded in the Tal-
mud (Yevamot 62b). Over the centuries, ad-
ditional tragedies—such as the Crusades—in-
tensified this mourning. Although these events
are not directly related to the destruction of
the Beit HaMikdash, the halachic framework
for mourning established after the Churban
influenced how communities expressed grief
during Sefira.
Why is Music Prohibited During Sefira? To
determine whether music—especially a cap-
pella—is permitted during Sefira, we must
understand the nature of the halachic concern.
Is the restriction about the source of the music
(i.e., instruments), or about the emotional ex-
perience it creates?
There are two main halachic approaches:
1. The Instrumental Sound Approach (Techni-
cal) This view holds that the prohibition specif-
ically targets music produced by instruments.
Based on sources in the Talmud (Gittin 7a,
Sotah 48a) and later authorities like the Ram-
bam, Shulchan Aruch, and Mishnah Berurah.
Instrumental music is associated with joy, cel-
ebration, and leisure, which are deemed inap-
propriate during mourning.
Implication: A cappella music, being purely
vocal, may be technically permitted even if
emotionally uplifting, since no instruments
are used.
2. The Emotional Effect Approach (Experi-
ential) This perspective emphasizes the emo-
tional impact of music, rather than its method
of production.
The Rambam (Hilchot Ta’anit 5:14) rules that,
after the Churban, music was restricted to
curb frivolity and preserve national mourning.
Authorities like Rav Moshe Feinstein stress
that the true concern is the emotional state
music creates, not just the instruments.
Implication: If a cappella music evokes the
same emotional response as instrumental mu-
sic, it may still fall under the prohibition—
even though it is technically vocal.
So Where Does A Cappella Music Fit In? A
cappella music is composed entirely of human
voice without instrumental accompaniment.
While technically permitted under the “instru-
mental sound” approach, complications arise
when a cappella mimics instruments (e.g.,
beatboxing or vocal imitation of guitars or
drums).
If judged by sound production, then all voice-
based music—even imitative—might be per-
mitted.
But if judged by emotional impact, then even
technically “permissible” music could be re-
stricted.
This leads to a central dilemma: Are we re-
stricting what the music is (its form), or what
it does (its effect)?
What’s the Bottom Line?
Halacha traditionally
distinguishes between
instrumental and vocal
music during Sefira. But
as vocal performance
becomes more sophis-
ticated—mimicking the
feel and sound of in-
struments—we must re-
examine the principles
behind the prohibition.
If we accept: Vocal mu-
sic as permitted → then a cappella is permitted.
A cappella that imitates instruments as permit-
ted → then perhaps any sound made by the hu-
man body is included.
But this raises the core question: Is the hala-
chic boundary based on the technical source
of the sound—or on the emotional experience
it creates?
As creativity blurs traditional categories, pos-
kim and communities must determine wheth-
er the prohibition is fundamentally about the
tools we use—or the emotional space we in-
habit.
Vues Master’s Note: I can imagine someone
composing a song about listening to a cappella
during Sefira!
Cheski Baum
Vues Master’s Note: I can see a song being
made up about listening to Acapella on sefira.
SMOKING
Dear Vues Master:
Three yeshiva boys were caught smoking on
Shabbos.
One claimed: “I forgot it was Shabbos.” The
second: “I forgot smoking was assur on Shab-
bos.” The third? “I forgot to close the door and
window shutters.”
— KF
Vues Master’s Note: Sad… but funny!
FIRE
Dear Vues Master:
The Lag BaOmer “Darkei Emori” Fire Dance
The Tosefta (Shabbos 7:1) lists actions pro-
hibited due to darkei Emori (pagan customs),
including clapping or dancing in front of a fire.
Dancing around a fire may violate the Torah
prohibition of “u’v’chukoseihem lo teileichu.”
Some argue that dancing on Lag BaOmer is an
established minhag — but the same was true
when thousands danced around the Golden
Calf.
Anyone planning to dance around a fire
should ask their mora hora’ah if this Torah
prohibition is still applicable — and why it
wouldn’t be.
— NJ
Vues Master’s Note: Skip the dancing — roast
some marshmallows instead!
IT IS IN OUR POWER TO TRY TO
HELP SAVE ISRAEL’S JEWISH
CHARACTER AND PREVENT A
CALAMITY
Dear Vues Master:
There is a major crisis in the Jewish world that
we have the opportunity to help resolve in a
variety of ways. According to a news story that
is not getting adequate attention in the general
and Jewish worlds as of the time this article is
submitted, there have been reports that Presi-
dent Trump is weighing the idea of issuing an
Executive Order that would forbid nonprofit
organizations from making grants outside of
the United States, G-d forbid, which, if imple-
mented, would devastate the economic sup-
port for Torah and other charitable entities in
Israel and the Ukraine and other countries that
rely most substantially on such support. Were
this support to be eliminated, many of these
institutions would lose their abilities to func-
tion as they do now, or even close to the way
they do now, without even considering poten-
tial funding cuts by local governments in Is-
rael and the Ukraine. Inactivity on our part is
not an option. Head shaking and hand wring-
ing are not the kinds of solutions that will
help. Communications to President Trump,
one way or another — or better still in all pos-
sible ways — can help. Ideally, we should try
to get the message across with someone we
know who has the president’s ear — in a good
way. But if not — or even in addition, I recom-
mend that we all try to contact the president
by mail, email, and/or phone, and ask every-
one we know who shares our concerns to do
the same.
Here is a template or proposed text:
Dear President Trump,
I support and commend your efforts to elimi-
nate waste and corruption in government,
though I also recognize that decent and rea-
sonable people may differ on the details of the
implementation, though still supporting your
efforts in principle. I also support the con-
cept of not using taxpayer dollars to support
controversial programs abroad that do not
necessarily advance the interests of our coun-
try either directly or indirectly. I believe that
private citizens – and Foundations — should
be the ones to pay for activities — especially
abroad — in this category. Precisely for this
reason, I was surprised to read that you are
considering an Executive Order that would
restrict private foundations from spending the
money earned by their founders by very hard
work over lifetimes to support educational,
medical, and charitable entities abroad, es-
pecially considering that many of these enti-
ties benefit U.S. soldiers stationed there and
remote American employees working there
as well as people who were born in America,
helped to build America by hard work, and
then went to retire in another country (such as
Israel) and use their resources instead of ours.
Please do not issue such an Executive Order,
or, if you issue such an executive order, please
restrict it to apply only to money to countries
that are not allied with our country. If Heaven
Forbid you will have already issued such an
order by the time you see this communication,
I humbly implore you to please consider re-
voking it or limiting it as suggested above or
in some other way. Thank you very much, and
may G-d bless America and all people who
promote and share its values,
Signed
Here is the link for sending emails to the Pres-
ident: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
comments (202) 456-1111 switchboard (202)
456-1411 The official address in one cite is
presented as 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW,
Washington, DC 2050, but per Google and zip
code information, it’s SE at zip code 20003-
3228 so in light of the contradiction, maybe
it’s best to leave out NW and SE and both zip
codes, and leave it to the post office to figure
it out.
Rabbi Aaron I. Reichel, Esq. Vues Master’s
Note: Let’s all flood the email of the Presi-
dent!
ULTIMATE RULE
Dear Vues Master:
Rabbi Akiva said: “This is a great rule in the
Torah.” (Yerushalmi Nedarim 9:4)
The Chazon Ish explains why “V’ahavta
l’rei’acha kamocha” is such a foundational
principle in the Torah:
Anyone willing to sacrifice his own wants
and needs for others will also be willing to do
so for Hashem. That was also Hillel’s inten-
tion when he told the ger that this mitzvah
is the foundation of the Torah — the rest is
commentary.
— KL
Vues Master’s Note: If you truly love your-
self, you’ll know how to love your fellow
Jew.
CHILDREN
Dear Vues Master:
A principal called one of his rebbes and said
not to bother coming in — it was snowing
heavily and only six kids had shown up. The
rebbe replied, “I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
The principal was surprised and asked, “Why
are you so eager to come?”
The rebbe responded: “Because I
have nine kids at home.”
— HO
Vues Master’s Note: Simple math!
OP-ED ON MACRON
& PALESTINIAN
STATEHOOD
Dear Vues Master, French Presi-
dent Emmanuel Macron’s an-
nouncement in April that France
will recognize a Palestinian state by June is
deeply disappointing. This decision reflects a
troubling inconsistency in Europe’s approach
to Israel — one that is both morally and stra-
tegically flawed.
Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza
is a direct response to the horrific October 7
attacks by Hamas. The goal is clear: to elimi-
nate Hamas’s capacity to launch terrorist at-
tacks against Israeli civilians and to secure
the release of hostages. Over 1,700 Israelis
have been killed since that day.
France, as a member of the European Union,
officially designated Hamas as a terrorist
organization in 2003. That makes Macron’s
current stance all the more baffling.
What will arise from the so-called “Palestin-
ian Authority” is not a democratic state but
a PLO-dominated regime steeped in terror
— regardless of whether Mahmoud Abbas or
any other PLO figure holds the title of chair-
man, president, or prime minister. A Palestin-
ian state, under current conditions, poses a
danger not only to Israel but to regional and
global security. A Palestinian state is unsafe
at any size and under any leadership be it
PLO or Hamas.
Recognising and/or creating a Palestinian
state is wrong not only because it threatens
Israel’s security, but because it would signal
a broader victory for international terrorism
— particularly Islamic extremist groups. A
Palestinian state would quickly become a hub
for state-sponsored terror, emboldening radi-
cals worldwide.
The PLO’s long history of cooperation with
global terror networks — from the Japanese
Red Army and Red Army Faction to elements
of the IRA — is well documented. It has also
collaborated with every major state sponsor
of terrorism in the last 30 years. Recogniz-
ing a PLO-led Palestinian state would be
perceived as a reward for decades of interna-
tional terrorism.
Mahmoud Abbas is now entering the 20th
year of his original four-year presidential
term. His likely successors, Hussein al-Sheikh
and Rawhi Fattouh, are deeply problematic
figures. Fattouh, nominated in November
2024 to assume the presidency should Abbas
become incapacitated, is a bombastic figure
who makes even Yasser Arafat seem urbane.
In June 2023, Fattouh bizarrely claimed: “We
say that we have been here for more than 1.5
million years.” The oldest known human fos-
sils, for reference, are estimated to be about
300,000 years old.
Abbas also recently signaled that Hussein
al-Sheikh is his preferred successor by ap-
pointing him vice president of the PLO. Al-
Sheikh’s record is deeply troubling. At a 2023
event honoring “Palestinian Martyrs’ Day,”
he declared: “Even if we have one penny left,
it will be spent on the families of the mar-
tyrs and prisoners… They are our purest,
most permanent, loftiest, and most precious
jewel.”
Macron’s aggressive push for recognition of
Palestinian statehood illustrates a dangerous
refusal to confront the reality: a Palestinian
state, east of the Jordan River, under PA lead-
ership, is an existential threat to Israel. Any
agreements made by a Palestinian Authority
“statelet” would be quickly undermined by
Hamas when it seeks to claim power as ex-
perts have said that it will.. Believing that Ab-
bas or his successors can restrain Hamas is a
dangerous illusion. They could not in Gaza in
2007 and we are now living with their failure.
Indeed, Hamas official Ghazi Hamad has
already warned that the October 7 massacre
was “just the first time,” promising a second,
third, and fourth wave of attacks, saying,
“The existence of Israel is illogical.”
Every proposed map of a two-state solution
demands that Israel return to the pre-1967
borders, reducing it to a mere nine miles wide
at its center. PA controlled cities like Tulkarm
and Qalqilya, which the PA would never re-
linquish at a negotiating table, are within easy
rocket range of Israel’s major population cen-
ters.
What would Israel’s fate have been on Octo-
ber 7, 2023, if it were confined to those nar-
row borders?
Such a configuration would leave Israel’s
strategic heartland indefensible. Major cities,
including Tel Aviv, and critical infrastructure
like Ben-Gurion Airport would fall within
immediate range of rocket fire from across
the border.
If the Israeli army were then forced to cross
into “Palestine” to defend their citizens, the
international backlash would be swift. The
EU, led by figures like Macron, and the Unit-
ed Nations, would almost certainly threaten
sanctions.
And who would stop “Palestine” from im-
porting Iranian missiles or “volunteer”
Houthi fighters from Yemen?
Macron — and those who share his view —
must come to terms with the new geopolitical
reality. The U.S. has recognized the inherent
risks in establishing a Palestinian state. The
European Union would do well to follow suit.
A two-state solution would expose Israel to
an October 7 scenario every single day.
No rational nation would accept that future.
Neither should Israel.
Moshe Phillips [Moshe Phillips is national
chairman of Americans For A Safe Israel
(www.AFSI.org), a leading pro-Israel advo-
cacy and education organization.]