04 Mar SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER
Please note that the author of Speak Your Vues is in no way affiliated with the publisher of
this paper. The author of this column is an independent third party contributor. The views and
opinions expressed by this author may not reflect the views and opinions of the publishers. If
one has any issues with any of the views, please write a letter to the Vues Master.
WAR
Dear Vues Master:
I am writing with a heavy heart and deep frustration. At a
time when there is a war raging in Eretz Yisrael, when sol-
diers are risking their lives and families are living with si-
rens and unbearable fear, I cannot understand how so many
organizations in our community are proceeding with lavish
dinners and celebratory events as if everything is normal.
People are dying. Families are burying their loved ones.
This is not distant news; these are our people. How can we
sit comfortably at formal dinners and attend a large wom-
en’s concert this week while such suffering continues?
Yes, I understand that Purim is a time of joy. We are com-
manded to celebrate, to give, and to increase simcha. But
there is a difference between fulfilling the mitzvos of the
day and hosting elaborate productions and gala-style eve-
nings. Celebration does not have to mean extravagance.
Joy does not require spotlights and catered affairs.
In a time of war, our focus should be on tefillah, chesed,
and solidarity. If organizations want to gather people, let it
be for Tehillim, for fundraising that directly benefits those
on the front lines, or for supporting families in need. Large
dinners and concerts can wait. They should be postponed
and held when the war ends, iy”H very soon, when we can
truly celebrate with whole hearts.
Now is a time for sensitivity, unity, and perspective.
RA
Vues Master’s Note: It seems that the Torah wants us to
celebrate and the Yetzer Hora wants us not to! There has to
be a happy medium!
BEIT SHEMESH
Dear Vues Master:
I am writing through tears as I think about the precious
lives lost in Beit Shemesh and across Eretz Yisrael. My
heart is broken over the deaths of Sarah Biton, Avigail Bi-
ton, and Yaakov Biton, three young siblings whose faces in
the photographs have shaken me to my core. No parent, no
community, should ever endure such loss.
I am mourning as well for Bruria Gloria Cohen and her son
Yosef (Yossi) Cohen; for Sarah Elimelech and her daughter
Ronit Elimelech; for Oren Katz; and for the young teenager
Gabriel Baruch Revach. Each name represents a world, a
family, dreams, and acts of kindness that will never again
be repeated in this world.
The words of Oren’s wife, Smadar Katz, describing how
he went upstairs to close the shelter door and paid with his
life, reflect the quiet heroism that defines our people. His
son, Yosef Katz, spoke of his father’s selflessness and love
in a way that pierced the heart.
Even seeing Isaac Herzog kiss the tefillin that survived the
strike brought both comfort and sorrow.
I daven that this war is successful and concluded swiftly,
so that no more innocent blood is shed in Eretz Yisrael.
May the memories of these holy souls be a bracha, and may
shalom come speedily to our land.
PY
Vues Master’s Note: May Hashem grant the family a prop-
er Nechama!
HAKARS HATOV
Dear Vues Master,
With all things considered, it is impossible to go through
these days without thinking constantly about the war in
Eretz Yisrael. The pain, the uncertainty, and the worry for
our brethren weigh heavily on our hearts. Every headline
feels personal. Every report carries the name of a brother,
a sister, a soldier, a family. We daven with deeper kavanah,
we say Tehillim with more tears, and we carry a shared
sense of responsibility for Klal Yisrael wherever we may
be.
This year, Purim arrived amid not only the backdrop of war
but also severe weather. The rain poured, hail fell, and plans
were disrupted. Yet, Baruch Hashem, my Purim was still
very beautiful and uplifting. There was a palpable achdus
in the air. Even as we delivered mishloach manos through
the storm and gathered for the seudah, Eretz Yisrael was
on everyone’s mind. Conversations inevitably turned to the
soldiers and the families living under constant threat.
At the same time, it feels as though we are living in ex-
traordinary times, times in which open miracles unfold
on behalf of Klal Yisrael every single day. We hear sto-
ries of protection that defy logic, of rockets intercepted, of
lives spared in ways that can only be described as siyata
d’Shmaya.
In the midst of worry, there is also profound gratitude. I
feel a tremendous hakaras hatov to Hakadosh Baruch Hu
for His constant protection and kindness. May we merit to
see revealed brachos, yeshuos, and lasting peace for all of
Klal Yisrael.
LKT
Vues Master’s Note: I wholeheartedly agree; despite chal-
lenges, we witness Hashem’s miracles and kindness daily.
MAMZERDUMMY
Dear Vues Master:
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s support for a 25%
corporate tax surcharge is yet another exam-
ple of reckless fiscal policymaking that risks
driving businesses, and jobs, out of New York
City. While his allies, including Assembly-
woman Diana Moreno and State Sen. Kris-
ten Gonzalez, frame the proposal as a solu-
tion to the “affordability crisis,” they fail to
acknowledge the economic damage it could
cause.
Business leaders have pointed out that when
existing levies, including the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority surcharge, are in-
cluded, the city’s combined corporate tax rate
already exceeds that of New Jersey. Raising
it further would make New York dramatically
less competitive. As Steve Fulop recently
warned, companies would not need to flee to
Texas or Florida; they could simply relocate
across the Hudson.
Even fiscal watchdogs like Andrew Rein of
the Citizens Budget Commission have cau-
tioned that New York already collects more
taxes per capita than anywhere else in the na-
tion. The answer to budget gaps is spending
discipline, not ever-higher taxes.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has expressed reluctance
to raise taxes broadly, an understandable po-
sition given the state’s economic fragility.
The mayor’s agenda, however, seems driven
more by ideology than practicality.
New York thrives when it is competitive, dy-
namic, and welcoming to enterprise. Piling
on new taxes sends precisely the wrong mes-
sage. If Mayor Mamdani continues down this
path, he risks undermining the very prosper-
ity that funds the public services he claims to
champion.
NT
Vues Master’s Note: I have a feeling we will
be receiving such letters weekly, if not daily.
If you are a communist, your brain, whatever
you want to call it, may simply be wired dif-
ferently!
CAN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP
Dear Vues Master
There are moments in history when events
unfold so clearly that a person can only say,
you simply can’t make this stuff up. We are
watching open Divine Providence. The re-
ported Israeli airstrike on the headquarters
of the Assembly of Experts in Qom, the very
body tasked with selecting Iran’s next su-
preme leader, is one of those moments.
According to Tasnim News Agency, the strike
hit while deliberations were under way. An Is-
raeli defense source confirmed that the Israeli
Air Force targeted a building where senior
clerics had convened following the killing
of Ali Khamenei in joint U.S., Israeli action.
Meanwhile, Iran International reported that a
formal session had indeed been taking place.
Later Iranian claims that the building was
empty only strengthen the sense that the Rib-
bono Shel Olam guides world events in ways
beyond human understanding.
For decades, Iran’s leadership has openly
called for the destruction of Israel. Yet the
very mechanism designed to ensure continu-
ity of that hostile regime has been thrown into
confusion. The precision, intelligence, and
resolve demonstrated by the IDF are extraor-
dinary. It is hard not to feel that Hashem is
protecting His people.
When even the Mossad issues a warning be-
forehand, making clear that Israel will defend
itself no matter who is chosen next, it sends a
powerful message that the Jewish people are
no longer defenseless.
In these tense times, we daven for continued
protection and for the safety of every soldier.
We recognize the Source of our strength and
give thanks. YT
Vues Master’s Note: You couldn’t script it
better, even Hollywood would call it unreal-
istic.
JIHAD MAYOR
Dear Vues Master,
I am outraged by the reckless and irrespon-
sible comments made by Jihadist Mayor
Zohran Mamdani regarding the recent U.S.
and Israeli strikes on Iranian military targets.
At a moment when strong leadership and
moral clarity are needed, he chose to label a
defensive action a “catastrophic escalation”
and an “illegal war of aggression,” parroting
rhetoric that ignores the very real
threat posed by the regime in Iran.
These strikes, authorized by
President Donald Trump, were de-
scribed as preemptive measures to
neutralize missile capabilities and
protect American allies. Whether
one agrees with the strategy or
not, it is deeply troubling that
our mayor appears more eager to
condemn his own country than to
acknowledge the brutality of the
Iranian regime under Supreme
Leader Ali Khamenei.
Critics across the political spec-
trum have expressed disbelief. Investor Bill
Ackman questioned Mamdani’s moral com-
pass. Commentator Valentina Gomez and
comedian Michael Rapaport also blasted his
selective outrage. Their frustration reflects
what many of us in New York City feel: our
mayor should stand firmly against regimes
that terrorize their own citizens and threaten
global stability.
Yes, local issues matter. But moral leader-
ship does not stop at the water’s edge. We de-
serve a mayor who can distinguish between
a democratic nation defending itself and a
theocratic regime exporting violence. Mayor
Mamdani’s comments fail that basic test.
Sincerely,
A Concerned New Yorker
Vues Master’s Note: True colors come out!
OPERATION EPIC
Dear Vues Master,
I am writing in response to the recent address
by President Donald Trump regarding Opera-
tion Epic Fury and the escalating conflict in
the Middle East. As Americans and Israelis
absorb news of one of the “largest and most
complex” military offensives in modern his-
tory, many of us are left with a mixture of re-
solve, concern, and profound hope.
War, by its very nature, carries an unbear-
able cost. The tragic loss of Americans and
Israelis reminds us that behind every head-
line are families whose lives have been for-
ever changed. These brave men and women
volunteered to serve their nation, and their
sacrifice must never be treated as routine or
inevitable. They deserve not only our grati-
tude but also our commitment to ensuring
that their mission has a clear purpose and a
swift conclusion.
President Trump has suggested that the cam-
paign in Iran could last “four weeks, or less.”
For Israel, this conflict carries profound sig-
nificance. As a nation that has faced ongoing
security threats from hostile actors in the re-
gion, Israel views the outcome of this war as
directly tied to its long-term safety and deter-
rence. The weakening of forces that threaten
its borders is not an abstract geopolitical
objective but a matter of national survival.
If military action is deemed necessary, it is
my sincere hope that it proceeds decisively,
minimizes civilian suffering, and achieves its
objectives quickly enough to prevent a pro-
longed and destabilizing conflict.
Above all, I hope leaders in the United States
and Israel pursue every viable diplomatic av-
enue alongside military efforts. Strength and
strategy must ultimately serve peace. May
this conflict end successfully and soon, secur-
ing Israel, protecting American service mem-
bers, and fostering greater stability across the
region.
JT
Vues Master’s Note: They should have great
Hatzlacha!
QUOTE
Dear Vues Master,
I am writing to express how deeply moved I
was by Rabbi Moshe Meir Weiss’s quote in
last week’s edition regarding mishloach ma-
nos and the true essence of Purim.
Rabbi Weiss suggested that people should
first make up their mishloach manos list, then
rip it up and instead give to those who didn’t
make the list. This advice was both power-
ful and refreshingly honest. In a season that
can sometimes become focused on logistics,
social circles, and expectations, his message
cut straight to the heart of what Purim is truly
about.
Purim is not meant to reinforce our comfort
zones or simply exchange gifts with those
already in our inner circles. It is meant to fos-
ter unity, expand friendship, and ensure that
no one feels forgotten. Rabbi Weiss’s idea
challenges us to rise above habit and conve-
nience. By reaching out specifically to those
who may not expect it, or who may even feel
overlooked, we embody the real spirit of
mishloach manos.
There is something profoundly beautiful
about turning our attention outward in this
way. It transforms a customary practice into
an act of genuine inclusion and kindness. In
doing so, we not only fulfill the mitzvah but
elevate it.
This message is a timely reminder that the
essence of Purim lies in creating connection
where it is most needed. I am grateful that
such a meaningful perspective was shared
with the community.
MR
Vues Master’s Note: Hey! Wanna be my
friend? I want Mishloach Manos!
KUGEL
Dear Vues Master,
This past Shabbos was Parshas Zachor, and
my wife heard about the “Amalek kugel,” so
she decided to try making it for the first time.
That spirited discussion has now returned to
our Shabbos table: which reigns supreme—
Shalom Bayis kugel or Amalek kugel?
For those who may not be familiar with the
latter, Amalek kugel is a beloved vort built on
לע‘מ ;kugel apple — לגיק לּפ‘ע :teivos roshei
lokshen — לגיק ןשקָא‘ל ;kugel meal — לגיק
דובכל .kugel potato — לגיק לפָאטרַא‘ק ;kugel
תבש רוכז םינוק קלמע לגוק. In honor of remem-
bering our eternal battle with Amalek, we
“wipe out” Amalek by bringing an array of
kugels to the table. It is a minhag filled with
simcha, creativity, and a geshmak that el-
evates the entire seudah.
Shalom Bayis kugel, however, carries its own
holy mission. It is the kugel that ensures no
machlokes erupts over sweet versus savory,
crispy versus soft. It is usually a combination
of potato kugel, lokshen kugel, and Yerush-
almi kugel served together. It represents bal-
ance, consideration, and the quiet avodah
of maintaining peace in the home. Many a
Shabbos table has been kept serene thanks to
a well-chosen kugel that satisfies all shitos.
I must admit that until this year, I had never
been zocheh to taste the full Amalek kugel
experience. This Shabbos Zachor, I finally
did—and it was truly delicious. Each kugel
brought its own taam and chashivus, and
together they created a beautiful kovod for
Shabbos.
So which is better? Perhaps the true answer is
that when a kugel is prepared l’kovod Shab-
bos and shared b’simcha, it has already ful-
filled its highest purpose.
A Fellow Yid Who Appreciates a Good Kugel
Vues Master’s Note: Nu! Where is my
mishloach manos? I would love a piece of
Kugel!
GOATEE
Dear Vues Master,
Pinchas Gros lived in a small shtetl. He was
not from the great לומדים, but neither was he
an הארץ עם. To look distinguished, he grew a
small goatee. However, one day, after win-
ning the lottery and becoming very wealthy,
Gros bought himself fancy clothing and
shaved his beard. When לזר the מלמד saw
him, he said, “Good morning, Mr. Gras.”
“My name is Gros, not Gras,” he replied.
“Maybe it was,” the מלמד said. “But we
learned in חדר that with a beard it’s a קמץ and
without a beard it’s a פתח.“
LP
Vues Master’s Note: Ha! Ha! Very funny! I
got something stuck in my Komatz Beard!
NAZIS HONORED
Dear Vues Master,
Did you know that two Nazi collaborators are
honored on Broadway?
There are 206 granite plaques embedded in
the sidewalks along a half-mile stretch of
Lower Broadway known as the “Canyon of
Heroes.” Among those honored are Pierre
Laval and Philippe Pétain, the leaders of the
pro-Nazi Vichy regime in France during the
Holocaust.
The plaques for Laval and Pétain were added
in 1931 to honor their service in World War
I, long before they embraced the Nazis. Af-
ter World War II, both Laval and Pétain were
convicted of treason
for collaborating with
the Nazis and sen-
tenced to death. De-
spite the convictions,
New York City never
removed their plaques.
City workers recently
removed some of the
plaques, including La-
val’s, because they had
become a tripping hazard. Whether Laval’s
marker will be reinstalled after the work is
completed remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, halfway around the world, an-
other Nazi collaborator is being honored. The
official Palestinian Authority newspaper, Al-
Hayat Al-Jadida, reported last week that “Un-
der the auspices of [PA chairman] Mahmoud
Abbas,” an event was held at which the mayor
of Jericho and the PA’s Jordan Valley District
Governor “laid the cornerstone for the Mufti
Haj Amin al-Husseini Multi-Purpose Hall.”
Governor Hamayel announced that “the lay-
ing of the cornerstone was done out of loyalty
to the great figures of our people, and accord-
ing to direct instructions from President [Ab-
bas] regarding the need to commemorate the
memory of the leaders and fighters.” A large
sign at the site likewise emphasizes that the
naming of the site was done “Under the aus-
pices of His Honor President Mahmoud Ab-
bas, may Allah protect him.”
As mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini
was the senior Islamic religious authority of
the Palestinian Arab community. He insti-
gated mass violence against Jews in British
Mandatory Palestine during the 1920s and
1930s. In 1941, Husseini took part in the pro-
Nazi coup in Iraq, then traveled to Nazi Ger-
many, where he was personally welcomed by
Adolf Hitler. The Mufti remained in Berlin
for the rest of the war.
Husseini composed fiery anti-Jewish speech-
es that were broadcast from Germany to the
Arab world. He helped develop an Arab Le-
gion of the German army and organized Arab
sabotage squads that were parachuted into
the Mideast to attack Allied facilities. They
nearly succeeded in carrying out one of the
Mufti’s pet schemes—dumping large quanti-
ties of German chemical poison into the Tel
Aviv water system.
Husseini repeatedly interfered with nego-
tiations for the ransoming of Jewish refugees
from Nazi territory. In one case, his objec-
tions persuaded the Nazis to reject a proposed
exchange of 4,000 Jewish children for Ger-
man POWs held by the British. Instead of be-
ing placed on a train to freedom, the children
were sent to Auschwitz.
The Mufti also recruited Bosnian Muslims
for an all-Muslim unit of the SS called the
“Handschar” di-
vision. It com-
mitted so many
atrocities that
38 of its officers
were later tried
as war criminals.
In July 1945,
Husseini himself
was indicted for
war crimes by
the government of Yugoslavia. He eluded
justice only because the French and British,
nervous about angering the Arab world, al-
lowed him to escape to Egypt.
It’s bad enough that New York City has resist-
ed removing an offensive plaque that wasn’t
offensive when it was originally installed. It’s
much worse to have the leader of a regime
knowingly and publicly honoring a Nazi war
criminal today. That’s the wrong message to
be sending to the Palestinian Arab public, and
yet another reason so many Israelis doubt that
the Palestinian Authority is interested in liv-
ing in peace with Israel.
Dr. Rafael Medoff
Vues Master’s Note: That’s why the enter-
tainment world lives in a dream! Everything
is an act to them!
DRIVE
Dear Vues Master,
Joseph Schildkraut, who had been a star of
the Yiddish theatre, once remarked: “My wife
and I have a perfect arrangement when we
travel by car. I sit at the wheel, and she drives
in an advisory capacity.”
KL
Vues Master’s Note: Well, my wife just
drives me crazy!
SOCIALISM
Dear Vues Master,
Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-
Cortez are disgraceful elected officials and
disastrous for New York. Just the latest: he
accuses the United States of an “illegal inva-
sion” of Iran, and she charges Americans with
“killing civilians.” Meanwhile, Iranians liv-
ing in New York are in the streets celebrating
the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
While Mamdani and AOC are constantly at-
tacking the United States, they say nothing
about the atrocities committed by Iran over
the years, including killing Americans and
murdering 30,000 of their own people in
just the past two months. Nor have they con-
demned Iran for being the leading supporter
in the world of state terrorism, including the
horrific attacks of October 7th against Israel,
which saw more Jews slaughtered than at any
time since the Holocaust.
Mamdani and AOC: Whose side are they on?
How bad can these two get? When will New
York voters wake up?
PK
Vues Master’s Note:
Don’t let the facts
distort my anti-Se-
mitic views! True
colors coming out!
ON TIME
Dear Vues Master,
A Tuesday evening
lecture on time man-
agement was sched-
uled at the local shul to help people cope bet-
ter with financial pressure and the stresses of
managing their business, family, and social
obligations. One of the congregants ap-
proached the שמש and asked what time it
would start.
“Oh,” he said, “sevenish, eightish…”
BM
Vues Master’s Note: That is what bediyuk
stands for: Biz Dee Yidden velln kumen.
LANDER
Dear Vues Master,
Self-hating Jew Brad Lander’s recent cam-
paign video, in which he emphasizes that he
has not “sold out” to AIPAC, reflects a style
of politics that prioritizes ideological signal-
ing over substantive leadership. Reducing a
complex and deeply consequential foreign
policy debate to a swipe at a single pro-Israel
advocacy organization may energize a nar-
row political base, but it does little to dem-
onstrate the seriousness, balance, and nuance
that voters deserve.
New York is home to one of the largest Jew-
ish and pro-Israel communities in the coun-
try, with a wide range of perspectives. Treat-
ing support for or opposition to AIPAC as a
litmus test oversimplifies both the district and
the broader national conversation. Foreign
policy, especially regarding Israel and the
Middle East, requires thoughtful engagement,
coalition-building, and the ability to navigate
difficult trade-offs. Campaign soundbites are
no substitute for that work.
At a time when New Yorkers are grappling
with pressing local challenges—anti-Semi-
tism, public safety, affordability, infrastruc-
ture, and quality of life—voters may reason-
ably question whether this approach reflects
the priorities and temperament they want
in their representative. Political leadership
should be measured not by applause lines,
but by a demonstrated capacity to unite di-
verse constituencies and advance practical
solutions.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Voter
Vues Master’s Note: Another socialist trip-
ping all over himself to win an election! What
a loser mentality!