13 May SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER

EDAN ALEXANDER
Dear Vues Master,
Hodu L’Hashem Ki Tov – Thank You, Hashem!

With full gratitude, I thank the Almighty for the miracu-
lous release of Edan Alexander. After 584 days in captiv-
ity, he has returned to the loving arms of his family and

his homeland.
We cried to You in sorrow—now we sing to You in joy.

Through the courage of the IDF, the strength of Am Yis-
rael, and the prayers of the nation, he was brought home.

May Edan heal—body and soul—and may his return be

a symbol of hope for all the hostages still waiting for re-
demption.

– SK
Vues Master’s Note: Beautifully said! Amen!

HOSTAGES
Dear Vues Master,
Now that Edan Alexander—the last American hostage in

Gaza—is free, don’t expect Donald Trump to keep pre-
tending to care. His self-congratulatory post on Truth

Social was dripping with fake concern and political pos-
turing. He got what he wanted: a photo op and patriotic

applause.
But the non-American hostages? They’ll now fall off his
radar.

Let’s be honest—Trump only shows concern when it ben-
efits him politically. The remaining hostages—many el-
derly and terrified—deserve more than being props in a

PR campaign. Compassion shouldn’t depend on national-
ity or media buzz. These hostages deserve better—better

leadership, better attention, and above all, genuine empa-
thy.

– BR
Vues Master’s Note: Megalgelin zechus al yedei zakai—

merit comes through the worthy, whether directly or in-
directly!

DRUG PRICES
Dear Vues Master,
Donald Trump’s latest executive order to lower drug
prices is little more than political theater. While it may
sound bold—linking Medicare drug prices to international
rates—the actual impact is minimal. It only affects drugs

under Medicare Part B (administered in clinical settings
like chemotherapy), not the everyday prescriptions that
seniors rely on under Medicare Part D.
This narrow scope means that most Americans struggling
with medication costs won’t benefit. On top of that, there’s
no clear timeline, no defined strategy, and no guarantee
of meaningful price drops. With the election approaching,
it feels more like a campaign stunt than genuine reform.
Americans deserve more than empty gestures—they need
real, lasting solutions to soaring drug prices.
– IV
Vues Master’s Note: Some people find fault in everything!
Let’s at least start somewhere!

BERNARD VAISELBERG FOR NEW YORK
STATE SENATOR
Dear Vues Master,
Honesty. Integrity. Community. Results.
I’m Bernard Vaiselberg, and I’m running for New York
State Senator —not because I have deep pockets, but
because I have deep roots in Brooklyn. I’ve stood with
neighbors to fight for affordable healthcare, public safety,

and access for all—and I’ll keep fighting for you in Al-
bany.

No corporate PAC money—ever
Open-book campaign
Open door policy—you’ll always be heard
Making our lives easier
Fixing NYC’s garbage can crisis
Ending unfair speed camera tickets when schools are out
Making jury duty optional for senior citizens over 69

This isn’t about politics as usual. It’s
about honest leadership that puts our
communities first. The illegal Congestion
pricing toll issue It will be my honor to be
your advocate in Albany.
Please go out to the voting booths.
When writing the name it’s important
to spell the name out in full and correct
BERNARD VAISELBERG

ENDORSING BERNARD
VAISELBERG FOR SENATOR
Der Vues Master,
I am honored to write this letter in strong

support of Bernard Vaiselberg’s candi-
dacy for New York State Senator. I have

had the privilege of knowing Bernard for
nearly two decades, and throughout that
time, I have been continually impressed
by his unwavering dedication, integrity,
and passion for his community. Bernard is

a hardworking individual who cares deep-
ly about the well-being of Brooklyn’s res-
idents. His commitment to improving the

quality of life in our city is evident in both
his actions and his vision. As a longtime
Brooklyn resident, he understands the
challenges our neighborhoods face and
has the experience, determination, and
leadership necessary to enact meaningful
change. Beyond his professional and civic
contributions, Bernard is devoted to the
health and well-being of his community.
His thoughtful and proactive approach
to addressing local concerns makes him
an ideal candidate for New York State
Senator. He listens, he acts, and he works

tirelessly to ensure that Brooklyn contin-
ues to thrive. I can think of no one better

suited to serve on New York State Senate,
and I offer him my full and enthusiastic
support. I urge you to consider Bernard

Vaiselberg as the leader Brooklyn de-
serves.

Sincerely,
The Honorable David J. Shulkin M.D.

Ninth Secretary, US Department of Veter-
ans Affairs Washington, DC

EDUCATION
Dear Vues Master,
I strongly support the Educational Choice
for Children Act (ECCA), which is now
included in the House tax reconciliation

package. This bill offers a critical oppor-
tunity to support families—especially in

the Orthodox Jewish community—who
struggle with the high costs of private
education.

The ECCA provides $5 billion annu-
ally in federal tax credits to donors who

contribute to Scholarship Granting Or-
ganizations (SGOs). These organizations

will then issue scholarships to families,
including many with modest incomes, to
help with yeshiva tuition, tutoring, special
education, and other educational needs.
For many families, this could mean the

difference between barely affording tu-
ition and being able to give their children

a meaningful Torah education. I urge ev-
eryone to support this bill.

– AS

Vues Master’s Note: Thanks for educat-
ing us! By the way, who’s footing the bill

for all this?

TRUMP KEEPS US FAVORITE
Dear Vues Master,
President Trump’s executive order could

be a game changer in our fight for afford-
able prescription drugs. He gave phar-
maceutical companies 30 days to volun-
tarily lower prices—or face tough federal

action. Under his “most favored nation”
policy, the U.S. won’t pay more for drugs
than countries like Germany or France.

This could potentially save taxpayers tril-
lions by tying Medicare and Medicaid

prices to international rates. With nearly
150 million Americans relying on these
programs, this move matters. Big Pharma
is resisting, but Trump is standing firm—

prioritizing patients over corporate prof-
its.

This isn’t just a political promise—it’s a

bold step toward fairer prices and real re-
lief for millions of Americans.

– PY
Vues Master’s Note: Amen! Keep the
good news coming!

KORBAN
Dear Vues Master,
I was shocked to read about the group
of men who tried to smuggle a goat in
a shopping bag onto the Temple Mount
to perform the Korban Pesach (Passover

sacrifice) on Pesach Sheini. That’s not re-
ligious devotion—it’s delusion.

The idea that someone in 2025 would

sneak past armed guards with a live ani-
mal in the name of religion is absurd. It’s

dangerous, inflammatory, and ignores
halachic (Jewish legal) consensus.
Mainstream rabbis have clearly ruled that

ascending the Temple Mount is forbid-
den. These actions don’t bring holiness—

they provoke chaos. Chanting “Shema”
while resisting arrest doesn’t make it a
mitzvah—it makes it a spectacle. Zealotry
like this only harms the causes it claims
to support.
These people are out of their minds.
– LW

Vues Master’s Note: I’d call them wick-
ed—they risk Jewish lives! They know

exactly what they’re doing and it’s evil.

REB MEIR
Dear Vues Master,
When people say “Eloka d’Meir aneini”
(G-d of Meir, answer me), which Meir are
they referring to?
Rabbi Meir the Tanna?
Rabbi Meir Baal Hanes?
Rabbi Meir of Premishlan?
Rabbi Meir Kahane?
None of the above?
According to the Maharsha on Avodah
Zarah 18, it cannot refer to the Tanna
Rabbi Meir, because he was still alive at

the time and it wouldn’t be proper to asso-
ciate his name with Hashem in that way.

The Maharsha explains that “Meir” is

not a name here, but a description: Elo-
ka d’Meir means “The G-d who brings

light”—either in the present or referring
to the light brought during the miracles of
Chanukah.
– MF
Vues Master’s Note: Thanks!

EATING CROW
Dear Vues Master,
Two yeshiva students were sharing an
apartment near the Mir Yeshiva. One
brought home a rooster for kapparot. His

roommate disagreed: “That’s not a roost-
er—it’s a hen!”

They argued, then agreed to keep the bird
overnight to see if it would crow in the
morning. At dawn, the bird crowed.
“You hear that?” said the first boy.
“I sure did,” said the second. “If I hadn’t
heard it myself, I’d never believe a hen
could crow!”
– LK
Vues Master’s Note: Some people just
can’t admit they’re wrong!

DIFFERENCE
Dear Vues Master,
A rabbi once pointed out a key difference

between Orthodox and Reform semi-
cha programs: In Orthodox programs,

students study ta’amei hamitzvot—the
reasons behind the commandments. In
Reform programs, they study ta’amei

ha’aveirot—the reasons behind the trans-
gressions.

– MB
Vues Master’s Note: This joke has no
taam (taste)!

AN OPEN LETTER FROM A
FRUSTRATED SHADCHAN
It’s almost impossible to please anyone
these days!!! Here’s just a partial list of
some of my clients — I couldn’t even get
them a single date. That’s why
I’m finally quitting and going
into the pickle business.
Avraham Avinu: “How could

you suggest him for my daugh-
ter? Didn’t he have a falling out

with his father over some idol
issues? And he left home with
no GPS and no viable business
plan!”
Yitzchak Avinu: “His brother is
an Arab terrorist!!!”
Rivka Imeinu: “She seems
nice, but did you hear about her

family? Her father’s a murderer, and her
brother runs a Ponzi scheme!”
Yaakov Avinu: “Sure, he sits and learns
all day, but his brother is a no-goodnik.
And we heard he has a limp…”
Leah Imeinu: “Her father’s a con artist,
and she has some kind of eye condition.
Could be genetic…?”
Moshe Rabbeinu: “Are you serious? His
parents are divorced! And worse — they
remarried! Plus, we heard he’s in speech
therapy.”
King David: “How dare you suggest him
to our yichusdik family? Our neighbor
Yenti said his great-grandmother was a
giyoret!”
Chava (Eve): “Do you know anything
about her family? No one knows where
she came from! She can’t even provide a
single reference!”
Please — judge the person for who they
are. You’re marrying a person, not their
entire family. Marriage is about building
a bayis ne’eman, not about impressing
your neighbors. And remember: if you’re
in this world, you’re not perfect — and
neither is your future spouse.
– AZ
Vues Master’s Note: Ha ha — very
funny, but the shidduch crisis is
still a very real and serious issue.

REB SHAYA
Dear Vues Master,
What was going on last week that
everyone was talking about Rav
Shaya’s yahrzeit? Who was he,
and what is the significance of this
event? – ML
Vues Master’s Note: Reb Shaya
was a Hungarian Rebbe known for
his dedication to helping the poor.
His yahrzeit is commemorated by

many through acts of kindness, es-
pecially by giving free food to oth-
ers in his memory.

PESACH SHEINI:SECOND
CHANCE SECOND NAME
Dear Vues Master,
We recently observed the 14th of
Iyar—Pesach Sheini, also known
as Pesach Koton. Honestly, I enjoy
Pesach Sheini even more than its
more famous predecessor, Pesach
Rishon. Why? It comes with none
of the hard work, but still carries
the rewards.
There’s no mitzvah to clean
or scour the house beforehand
(thankfully!). Yet, we still get to

eat matzah and drink four koises of grape
juice. I even eat maror—well, only the
green kind (Romaine lettuce), not the
harsh white stuff.
To give it that Erev Pesach Sheini feel, I
warm up the matzah in the microwave. I

even eat some Pesach cake, since the po-
suk says “Ugois Matzos” — interpreted

as cakes and matzah. Why not enjoy both?
The Shabbos before is sometimes called
Shabbos HaKoton, in reference to Pesach
Koton. I didn’t set aside the afikomen this
time, but the kid who stole it during the
Seder on Pesach Rishon returned it to me
on Pesach Sheini. That counts, right?
After finishing my meal, I sing, “Chasal
Siddur Pesach Sheini Ka’hilchoso.”
Now, the reason for Pesach Sheini is quite
meaningful—it was established to give a
second chance to those who were tamei
(ritually impure) or too far away to bring
the Korban Pesach in Nissan. Today, we
are all considered tamei, so the lesson still
applies. And being “far away” can also
be understood spiritually. Someone who
was distant from Torah or mitzvos still
gets another opportunity to reconnect and
return.
As Avrohom Rosenblum said at the

HASC 27 concert: “We all get another
chance.” A second chance.
And in case you’re wondering why I’m so
enthusiastic about Pesach Sheini, here’s a
personal note: My second name is Pesach.
– D. Pesach

SINGLES SHAVUOUS
PROGRAM
Dear Vues Master,
I would like to let people know that there
is a singles shavuos program upstate in
Camp Nageela (Fallsburg) for all ages.

Mr. and Mrs. Sholom and Frumi Wein-
stein will be there to help facilitate.

For more information check out shavuos.
eatnrelax.com. Thanks to the Jewish
Vues for getting the word out.
Gav

WE LOVE THE
JEWISH VUES
Dear Vues Master
I just want to thank you and
compliment you on your
amazing paper!!!!

Not only is your paper in-
formative but it’s a pleasure

to have a fun and entertain-
ing paper on shabbos!!!!! I

look forward to your paper every week!!!
It’s the only paper out that does this!!!
The fun question is always fun!! The מי
ישראל כעמך page makes me cry every
time!!! The divrei Torah articles are
BEAUTIFUL and the laughter page is so

healing in these times!!!!!!!!! Every sec-
tion has something for everyone!!!!!!

Keep up your amazing work on this pa-
per!!!!!! I don’t need any other papers to

read out there– even though I get them to
my door — but yours I make SURE to pick
up at my local store!!!!!! Hatzlocha rabah
with everything.
Mrs M. Hochman
Vues Master’s Note: Thank you so much!!
We love our readership! We have the best
fans in the world!!