10 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.
DANGER
Dear Vues Master:
This past Motzei Shabbos, a letter circulating under the Machon
Bnos Yehuda letterhead spread rapidly across WhatsApp groups
and community chats, causing understandable concern among
parents and families. The letter described alleged frightening in-
cidents involving Jewish women traveling through Egypt while
attempting to leave Eretz Yisrael during the current situation.
According to the message, women were reportedly separated
from the men traveling with them and subjected to deeply trou-
bling experiences.
Given the fear and uncertainty many families are already expe-
riencing, it is no surprise that the report quickly went viral. Par-
ents naturally worry about the safety of their daughters study-
ing in Eretz Yisrael, especially when travel routes have become
more complicated due to the closure of Israeli airspace.
However, since the letter began circulating, numerous travel
agents and coordinators who have been assisting thousands of
travelers leaving Israel via the Taba crossing into Egypt have
stated that they have not heard of any incidents resembling those
described. In fact, after further inquiry, it appears that the story
may have originated from a single situation in which a woman
was questioned on suspicion of drug trafficking. No broader pat-
tern of assaults or similar incidents has been confirmed.
At the same time, the rapid spread of this story should serve as
a reminder of how quickly unverified information can circulate,
particularly during tense times.
While it is reassuring that thousands of travelers have success-
fully and safely made the journey through Egypt in recent days,
caution remains essential. Anyone traveling outside of Eretz
Yisrael under these circumstances should continue to plan care-
fully, stay informed through reliable sources, and take all ap-
propriate precautions.
NR
Vues Master’s Note: I would rather err on the side of caution!
ROBBERIES
Dear Vues Master:
There has been a noticeable rise in auto thefts recently in the
Jewish Syrian area of Flatbush, and it is something the com-
munity should take very seriously. In many of these cases, the
thefts are not happening through complicated methods. Instead,
thieves are entering homes and taking car keys that have been
left easily accessible on the ground floor.
Many people leave their keys in the kitchen or near the entrance,
and criminals take advantage of this by quietly entering, grab-
bing the keys, and driving off with expensive vehicles.
Unfortunately, several residents have already learned this les-
son the hard way after losing their cars. These incidents are
happening frequently and have created understandable concern
throughout the neighborhood. What makes it even more trou-
bling is how preventable many of these thefts are.
Residents should take simple precautions to protect themselves.
Car keys should never be left in obvious places on the ground
floor of a home. Instead, they should be kept in a more secure
location, preferably on an upper floor or somewhere that cannot
be easily accessed if someone enters the house. Even small steps
like this can make a big difference in preventing theft.
During this challenging time, the community owes a great deal
of appreciation to Flatbush Shomrim. Their volunteers have
been extremely busy responding to incidents and assisting resi-
dents throughout the week. Their dedication, quick response,
and constant patrols help make our neighborhood safer.
We are grateful for the important work they do and for their
continued commitment to protecting our community.
TW
Vues Master’s Note: What a great mayor!
STUCK ON TUCKER
Dear Vues Master,
Why do we even care what Tucker Carlson says anymore?
Carlson is once again under fire for spreading a baseless narra-
tive, this time claiming that sleeve patches worn by some sol-
diers in the Israel Defense Forces referencing the historic Beis
Hamikdash somehow signal a secret plan to remove the Al-Aqsa
Mosque and rebuild a temple in Jerusalem. The suggestion is
reckless, inflammatory, and unsupported by facts.
Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that their military op-
erations focus on security threats, not religious ambitions sur-
rounding one of the world’s most sensitive holy sites. Yet Carl-
son chose to amplify a conspiracy-laden interpretation, even
dragging Chabad-Lubavitch and its historic leader, Rabbi Men-
achem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, into the nar-
rative, as though global Jewish religious movements are secretly
driving Israeli military policy.
This kind of commentary isn’t analysis; it’s provocation. And it
raises a more important question: why does Carlson still com-
mand such attention when his pattern of exaggeration and spec-
ulation is so well documented?
Even investor Bill Ackman publicly warned that Carlson’s
rhetoric has reached a dangerous level and could incite real-
world consequences. When prominent voices feel compelled to
warn that a commentator’s words could “get someone killed,”
it should give us pause—not about Israel, but about the media
ecosystem that continues to elevate Carlson’s claims.
Perhaps the most responsible response is not outrage, but in-
difference. Carlson thrives on attention and con-
troversy. Instead of amplifying his latest theory,
maybe it’s time to stop treating every provocation
as if it deserves a national conversation. PT
Vues Master’s Note: An anti-Semite if I ever
heard one!
LEAVING ISRAEL DURING A WAR
Dear Vues Master
Last night, an American student spending the
year in Israel called to say goodbye. Her parents
couldn’t bear the thought of Iranian missiles fly-
ing overhead and rushed her onto a flight back
to America. Did they make the right call? I’m
offering a nuanced take here. If you want black-
and-white judgments, this letter isn’t for you.
Critics highlight the deep irony: Jewish students
and tourists feel “stuck” in Israel during wartime,
desperate to return to the diaspora for Pesach
– the very festival celebrating liberation from
Egypt and the journey toward Eretz Yisrael. Cen-
turies of exile have flipped Jewish consciousness:
diaspora life feels normal and “home,” while Is-
rael seems temporary, despite the Torah’s clear
call to ascend to Jerusalem. Some even escape
via Egypt, turning the historical symbolism into
near-absurdity. War should jolt us, serving as a
catalyst to reaffirm Israel as our true destiny. That
said, an American Jew visiting Israel temporarily,
with no prior intention to stay and clear plans to
return home, doesn’t view Israel as their home.
It’s unrealistic, and unreasonable, to expect them
to suddenly decide, amid war and danger, to
make aliyah on the spot. Parents are entirely rea-
sonable to see missiles as an unnecessary risk and
want their child safer, ideally reunited with fam-
ily. Respect to those parents who’ve raised brave,
committed kids who choose to stay, maintaining
calm even as sirens blare. Not everyone reaches
that level of inner peace. Still, it’s problematic
when parents expose their child to worse dangers
just to flee Israel. Horror stories abound: young
women assaulted while escaping through Egypt,
or teenagers stranded for days in Jordan – a place
far from safe for Jews. Trading one peril for an-
other is irrational. What I find truly abhorrent is
when Jews complain about being “stuck” in Isra-
el or celebrate their departure as a triumph. Want-
ing to go home and disliking missile alerts in
temporary housing is understandable. But voic-
ing complaints about being trapped in the Jewish
homeland sends a needless, divisive message to
fellow Jews who live in Israel. Your private feel-
ings are yours; public expression can wound oth-
ers deeply. The same goes for cheering grabbing
a plane seat or safe arrival in America. Beyond
offending Israelis, is abandoning the land during
war really the “achievement” worth celebrating?
Parents are justified in prioritizing safety and
family for temporary visitors. The choice turns
troubling only when it involves heightened risks.
Far more disturbing is the tone, complaining or
triumphant, that frames leaving Israel as libera-
tion or victory. It offends those who see Israel
as home and erodes Jewish unity. Ultimately, it
exposes a persistent exile mindset that still treats
the diaspora as true belonging, squandering the
chance this disruption offers: to recognize Israel
as our destined center. RUP
Vues Master’s Note: I couldn’t agree more!
BACK FOR PESACH
Dear Vues Master,
As Pesach approaches, many families are busy
preparing their homes and planning precious
time together. For my family, however, the usual
anticipation is mixed with deep anxiety.
My daughter is currently studying in seminary in
Israel and is scheduled to return home the Sun-
day before Pesach. Under normal circumstances,
we would circle that date on our calendar with
excitement. This year, we are not sure it will hap-
pen at all.
With Israel currently under a state of emergency
due to Operation Roaring Lion, air travel has
become uncertain. EL AL Israel Airlines has an-
nounced the cancellation of all regular scheduled
flights, including those operated by its subsidiary
Sundor, through March 14. The cancellations
also apply to the corresponding return flights.
The decision follows heightened security mea-
sures, airspace restrictions, and operational limi-
tations at Ben Gurion Airport.
Like so many other parents whose children
are learning in Israel, we are grateful that our
daughter is safe. At the same time, the uncer-
tainty weighs heavily on us. Pesach is a time
centered around family, tradition, and being to-
gether around the Seder table. The thought that
our daughter may not be able to make it home
because of a war is heartbreaking.
We recognize that safety must come first and that
airlines and authorities must make difficult deci-
sions during times of conflict. Still, we hope and
daven that conditions will stabilize soon so that
the thousands of students hoping to return home
for Yom Tov can do so safely.
Until then, many of us are waiting, watching the
news, and davening for peace. ST
Vues Master’s Note: I can think of worse things
than getting stuck in Eretz Yisrael for Pesach!
MAMZER DUMMY!
Dear Vues Master:
Another horrible idea by Mamdani. The sug-
gestion that New York City may begin charging
for the millions of currently free street parking
spaces is deeply troubling. For many residents it
would be another financial burden in an already
expensive city, but for the frum Jewish commu-
nity it presents an especially serious concern.
From Friday evening until Saturday night we
do not drive, move our cars, or engage with me-
ters, apps, or electronic payment systems. Before
Shabbos begins, families park their cars and they
remain there until Shabbos ends. Any system that
requires moving a vehicle, renewing a meter, or
managing digital payments during those hours
creates an impossible situation for those who are
committed to keeping Shabbos properly.
Many frum neighborhoods already face extreme-
ly limited parking. If every street space becomes
metered or permit-based with strict time limits,
observant families could find themselves return-
ing after Shabbos to tickets or penalties simply
because they were unable to move their vehicles.
That is not a small inconvenience; it is a policy
that effectively punishes people for observing
their religion.
New York has always prided itself on being a city
that accommodates people of all faiths and back-
grounds. Policies should reflect that sensitivity.
Before city leaders pursue new revenue ideas,
they must consider the unintended consequences
for communities whose religious observance re-
stricts their ability to comply with such regula-
tions.
Balancing a budget should never come at the ex-
pense of religious New Yorkers who are simply
trying to live according to their deeply held be-
liefs and traditions. VT
Vues Master’s Note: Time to leave this oppressed
city!
BRACHA
Dear Vues Master,
Reb אלימלך צבי asked, “Why don’t we make a
ברכה before giving צדקה, the way we make
ברכות on everything else?”
He answered: “Because if we did so, a poor per-
son could starve to death before we finish the
ברכה. And if the הבית בעל is a חסיד, he would
first have to go to the מקוה. Then he would have
to recite a lengthy יחוד לשם. By the time he got
through the preliminaries, the poor fellow would
probably have dropped dead!” KJ
Vues Master’s Note: Just give the cash and make
a long Noch Bracha!
INTANA DE’YOMA
Dear Vues Master:
This year, Parshas Vayakhel and Pekudei are
combined into one parsha. It is also Shabbos Ha-
Chodesh (Rosh Chodesh Nissan falls on Thurs-
day of next week). I was looking into some sym-
bolism in this and found the following from Yitzy
Adlin yb”l’s Parsha Thought book, as well as
V’Shee-Non-Tom by Rabbi Elias Schwartz zt”l.
In Parsha Thought on Vayakhel, I learned that
Moshe instructs Hashem ,שמות לה א( ו ַי ַּקְהֵל מֹשֶׁ ה)
to gather Bnei Yisroel into groups (Shemos 35:1)
and teach them the laws of Shabbos. However,
hadn’t the people already learned the laws under
Moshe? Why should they assemble in groups?
The answer, says the Yalkut Shimoni, is that in
every generation we are to attend speeches giv-
en by our rabbanim and learn about the laws of
Shabbos. The Chofetz Chaim writes in the name
of Rabbi Yonasan Eibeschutz that if one does not
learn Hilchos Shabbos, it is impossible not to be
mechallel Shabbos.
With this in mind, we can see the great impor-
tance of not only reading the laws but also attend-
ing shiurim, asking questions, and applying what
we learn to our particular circumstances. For
example, new technology arises such as Shab-
bos ovens. People no longer cook their cholent in
communal ovens, and the rabbis created gedarim
(fences) around the laws of Shabbos to prevent
sin. We need to know what we are allowed to do
and what we are not allowed to do.
These — “אֵלֶּה פְקּודֵי הַמִּשְׁ כָּן ,read we ,Pekudei In
are the accountings of the Mishkan” (Shemos
38:21). Moshe took it upon himself to account for
the tzedakah that the Jews donated to the Mish-
kan. Chazal ask: Why was this necessary? Hash-
em vouched for it! (Shemos Rabbah 51:6).
Moshe wanted to negate any questions the nay-
sayers might have, so he made a full accounting
of all the donations made for the Mishkan, even
though he was not required to do so. Every bit of
gold, silver, and copper was recorded.
Haters are going to hate, but we can refute them.
When we assemble to learn Torah we counter:
The “י ִתְי ַצְּבּו מַלְכֵי־אֶרֶץ ו ְרֹוזְנִים נֹוסְדּו־י ָחַד עַל־ה׳
kings of the earth set themselves, and rulers take
counsel together against Hashem and His anoint-
ed one” (Tehillim 2:2).
How do we refute them? Make time for Torah.
Shabbos afternoons are getting longer. Enjoy
the Shabbos meal, rest, and read, of course. But
we, as Moshe guided us to do for all generations,
should go to shul to learn Hilchos Shabbos as
well.
Time is precious. Some people want to engage
the haters and counter their arguments. We can
make a kiddush Hashem by taking an account of
what we do.
This is what I believe to be the message of Vay-
akhel and Pekudei being paired this year. Shab-
bos is a day of rest, but how do we make it holy?
By learning Torah.
Even if we do something right, people call it
“fake news.” Therefore, we can show our work:
take an accounting of your money and use it
wisely. The Torah teaches us how to do this.
For example, one should not even buy food for
Shabbos if he has not yet paid his workers (Biur
Halacha O.C. 242 “l’chabed”).
And if we fall? We can get up and move on, put-
ting one foot in front of the other and walking in
the ways of Hashem.
Rosh Chodesh Nissan is the new year accord-
ing to the Torah (see this week’s Maftir, Shemos
12:1–20). It is the new year for kings and yomim
tovim as well. As far as Rosh Chodesh goes, the
calculation of the new month is key to determin-
ing the Jewish year and its holidays. We follow
the lunar cycle.
Don’t just take an accounting of your money;
make an accounting of yourself.
The moon waxes and wanes every month. Every
person undergoes periods of growth and contrac-
tion (Rabbi Moshe Greenwald, the Chuster Rav
in Arugas Habosem). Klal Yisroel has seen times
of darkness but also tremendous light. We never
give up. Bnei Yisroel are bnei malachim.
Last year, world-renowned speaker Rabbi Pay-
sach Krohn suffered a stroke. Baruch Hashem,
he is recovering and is back on the speaking cir-
cuit. He has since published new books as well.
Contraction and expansion — this is the Jewish
nation.
Finally, our Haftorah this week is Yechezkel
45:16–46:18 for Sephardim and 45:18–46:15 for
Ashkenazim. Before we left Mitzrayim, we had
to believe in our own rebirth.
Hashem chose to command us first in the mitzvah
of Rosh Chodesh so we can move forward in our
spiritual journey confidently in our relationship
with Him (Shemos 12:1).
Failure does not define our lives. The bright light
of the Torah shines the way for us.
This is Yechezkel’s message to Bnei Yisroel:
be reassured that your spiritual future is not de-
stroyed, even though the Beis Hamikdash will be
destroyed. Like the moon, we are always capable
of renewal.
This year, may we see the dedication of the third
and final Beis Hamikdash; and may we say,
“Takeh, Tucker, you were right!”
Chaim Yehuda Meyer
Vues Master’s Note: Hafoch Boh De’Kulei Boh
COLLATERAL DAMAGE
Dear Vues Master:
Our people have undergone the worst damage to
our reputation since the deception in Shchem by
Shimon and Levy — our claim to moral supe-
riority has given way to the belief (even among
many non-anti-Semites and even among many
Jews) that our people commit and/or support
genocide — because of what may be defined as
excessive collateral damage — or worse — in
the course of the War in the Wake of October
7th as well as in the course of the War in the
Wake of 47 years of Iranian policies in support
of Death to America, chass v’sholom, and Death
to Israel, chass v’sholom. The primary mefor-
shim on the Daf Yomi of Menachos 56 differ in
their attitudes toward collateral damages when
discussing slaughtering animals with defects.
On the one hand, Rashi refers to davar she’eino
mitkaven (unintended consequences), and on the
other hand, Tosfos refer to psik reisha v’lo Ya-
mus, literally and rhetorically “Can you cut off
[a chicken’s] head and expect it not to die?” The
classic discussions regarding these terms do not
refer to slaughtering animals in peacetime or kill-
ing humans in wartime, but rather to violations of
the law on Shabbos, but the concepts may be of
relevance and interest nevertheless. The discus-
sion that follows regarding these terms attempts
to summarize the Toras Har
Etzyon Introduction to the
Law of Shabbos Lesson 18
by Rav Daniel Schreiber,l.
Any errors are more likely
to be those of the writer of
this letter (collateral dam-
age?) than of the author of
the Introduction on which it
is based. To elaborate, Davar she’eino miskaven
refers to situations where an intended permitted
act yields an unintended prohibited act. Accord-
ing to halacha, a person is not liable in such a sit-
uation where a prohibited act might or might not
have taken place as a result of the permitted act. A
psik reisha is a rabbinic “catch phrase” for where
an unintended prohibited act will definitely oc-
cur as a result of a prior permitted act. According
to the majority opinion, this would be forbidden.
But there is a catch. Most Rishonim and Poskim
rule that a Torah violation has occurred in such a
case only when the unintended prohibited act is
nicha lei, in other words, of benefit to the person
who performed the action. In the case where there
has been no benefit to the person who performed
the prohibited unintended act, only a rabbinic
(lesser) violation has occurred. Some Rishonim
and Poskim even hold that in this case no viola-
tion has occurred at all. Although the majority do
not follow this minority opinion alone, “we” do
“utilize it” in conjunction with other grounds for
leniency, such as if one drank a cup of hot tea on
Shabbos, and some droplets remained on the bot-
tom and cooled off, one may refill the cup with
hot water from an urn without violating the law
against cooking on Shabbos, and this “we” turns
out to include Rav Moshe Feinstein. Some Ris-
honim and Achronim disagree as to whether psik
reisha is liable whenever the forbidden byproduct
is inevitable (the classic definitional situation) or
only where there is no other way to accomplish
the desired goal without also violating a melakha.
But if there is another way, then even choosing
the method that inevitably violates the melakha
is considered permissible. Actually, neither Rashi
nor Tosfos referred to at the outset of this article
and none of the meforshim whose positions were
cited in the balance of this article are really ad-
dressing either war referred to above because the
premises of wars are different. Those who initi-
ate the wars in good faith or who defend them-
selves in defensive wars in good faith believe
that the combatants that they kill are killed for
legitimate reasons and the civilians who die pass
away as inevitable collateral damage. Even the
most legitimate wars involve casualties on both
sides. But it is impossible to overemphasize the
necessity of calling the attention of everyone in
the world to the writings of the U.S. West Point
expert on urban Warfare John Spencer that the Is-
rael Defense Forces have shown more sensitivity
to protecting the lives and interests of enemy ci-
vilians than any other army in world history. The
writer of this letter hopes that tcollateral damage
in the ongoing wars will not occur, ideally be-
cause the Moshiach will
come soon and weapons
of destruction will be
converted into plow-
shares and gimmicky
ornaments. P.S. But be-
fore the swords will turn
into plowshares, they
have to fulfill their mis-
sion. It just occurred to me that a sword is a word
preceded by the letter S. Fighting with words is
the first choice, but if they don’t work, the words
must be preceded by the letter S, which can stand
for Shmaya, one of the names of Hashem, whose
help makes all the difference in the world!
Aaron Reichel
Vues Master’s Note: Great Chizuk!
SPEAK LESS
Dear Vues Master:
When a collector went to see Reb Asher, a
wealthy man, he was told that he would need to
come back another day because there already was
a long line of people waiting to see him. The col-
lector promised that if he is admitted, he will say
only one word. The intrigued secretary let him in.
Reb Asher asked him what he wanted. The col-
lector responded: “Gemara.” “What is that sup-
posed to mean?” Reb Asher asked. Smiling, the
collector said: “It stands for ‘Good Morning, Reb
Asher.’” Then, without missing a beat, he repeat-
ed: “Gemara.” Somewhat amused, Reb Asher
asked: “What does it mean now?” This time the
collector answered: “Give Me, Reb Asher.” Reb
Asher handed him a donation, but the collector
stood his ground and repeated a third time “Ge-
mara.” By now, Reb Asher grew impatient, but
couldn’t help asking “What does it mean now?”
Smiling, the collector said: “Give More, Reb
Asher.” MB
Vues Master’s Note: Really happened? Did he
get a nice donation?
BULLY
Dear Vues Master:
Shira Efron of the RAND Corporation, who has
become one of the New York Times’s favorite
sources for quotations critical of Israel, had this
to say about Israel’s preemptive strike against the
Iranian terror regime last week: “No one likes
Iran, but that doesn’t mean that bullyish behavior
by Israel is acceptable.” One way to respond to
Ms. Efron’s slur against Israel would be to list
all the massacres of Israelis that Iran has spon-
sored over the past four decades (including Oc-
tober 7), which make Israel’s action legitimate
self-defense, not “bullyish.” But perhaps a more
creative response would be to call her attention to
the lyrics of Bob Dylan’s 1983 song, “Neighbor-
hood Bully”:
Well, the neighborhood bully, he’s just one man
His enemies say he’s on their land They got him
outnumbered about a million to one He got no
place to escape to, no place to run He’s the neigh-
borhood bully.
The neighborhood bully
he just lives to survive
He’s criticized and con-
demned for being alive
He’s not supposed to
fight back, he’s sup-
posed to have thick skin
He’s supposed to lay
down and die when his
door is kicked in He’s
the neighborhood bully.
The neighborhood bully been driven out of every
land He’s wandered the earth an exiled man Seen
his family scattered, his people hounded and torn
He’s always on trial for just being born He’s the
neighborhood bully.
Well, he knocked out a lynch mob, he was
criticized Old women condemned him, said he
should apologize Then he destroyed a bomb fac-
tory, nobody was glad The bombs were meant for
him. He was supposed to feel bad He’s the neigh-
borhood bully.
Well, the chances are against it, and the odds are
slim That he’ll live by the rules that the world
makes for him ‘Cause there’s a noose at his neck
and a gun at his back And a license to kill him
is given out to every maniac He’s the neighbor-
hood bully.
Well, he got no allies to really speak of What he
gets he must pay for, he don’t get it out of love He
buys obsolete weapons and he won’t be denied
But no one sends flesh and blood to fight by his
side He’s the neighborhood bully.
Well, he’s surrounded by pacifists who all want
peace They pray for it nightly that the bloodshed
must cease Now, they wouldn’t hurt a fly. To hurt
one they would weep They lay and they wait for
this bully to fall asleep He’s the neighborhood
bully.
Every empire that’s enslaved him is gone Egypt
and Rome, even the great Babylon He’s made a
garden of paradise in the desert sand In bed with
nobody, under no one’s command He’s the neigh-
borhood bully.
Now his holiest books have been trampled upon
No contract that he signed was worth that what it
was written on He took the crumbs of the world
and he turned it into wealth Took sickness and
disease and he turned it into health He’s the
neighborhood bully.
What’s anybody indebted to him for? Nothing,
they say. He just likes to cause war Pride and
prejudice and superstition indeed They wait for
this bully like a dog waits for feed He’s the neigh-
borhood bully.
What has he done to wear so many scars? Does
he change the course of rivers? Does he pollute
the moon and stars? Neighborhood bully, stand-
ing on the hill Running out the clock, time stand-
ing still Neighborhood bully.
Dr. Rafael Medoff
Vues Master’s Note: History will repeat itself
over and over again! Did I say History repeats
itself?