27 Aug Speak Your Vues
GUN CONTROL
Dear Editor:
Do you actually think the solution to Mass Shootings is gun control? How about Drugs? Do you think making things like Heroin illegal, solves its abuse?!?
John M
Editor’s Note: So are you arguing that because people abuse heroin anyway, we should make it regularly available no questions asked? If it saves one life it is worth it.
BLAMING IN POLITICS
Dear Editor:
Who ruled the House when there were recessions? Who ruled the House when the economy was doing great? It was the Democrat’s fault. They know how to stunt the economy and spend other people’s money.
Editor’s Note: It is not so simple. The economy is cyclical and does not depend on who is in Congress.
CREDIT CARDS AND POINTS
Dear Editor:
I have two Amex cards, one offers 6% back on groceries and 3% on gas and the other 4.5 points per dollar on groceries and 3 points per dollar on gas. Now obviously for groceries I will be using the cash back. I travel a lot for a living, and fill up my tank almost every day, sometimes twice. For someone who likes air travel a lot, what is the better option? On the tzad of points: each Amex point can be used for travel and is valued at one cent. In that sense it is equivalent with the flexibility of transferring them to airline or hotel points which you can get great value out of them if you know what your doing. But all the opinions I hear are to go for cash back.
Editor’s Note: It is not one size fits all. You’ve got to do what is best for you.
GUN CONTROL
Dear Editor:
Many hunters support the Second Amendment, which does not support them in return. “Arms” has not been interpreted as referring to the types of weapons used for hunting.Since hunters don’t have hunting as a constitutional right, should they be given that?
Reb Yidel Schwartz
Editor’s Note: It depends if hunting ammunition will be used to kill people.
SPONSOR AN IMMIGRANT
Dear Editor:
If a citizen is wealthy enough, why should he or she not be able to vouch for and pledge support to an immigrant individual or family and allow them into the country?
A Wealthy Sponsor
Editor’s Note: What is to stop the citizen from backing out?
UNNECESSARY EXPENSE
Dear Editor:
I understand why the Kallah & mother’s in law wear a special gown but why does the extended family need to go through the expense, time, & bother to rent or buy a gown for one time use? Can’t a takanah be made to discontinue this practice? Wouldn’t a fancy Shabbos dress be as respectable & usable in the future? We’ve done away with other needless chasunah expenses, why not this one?
Chaim M
Editor’s Note: How would the takana hall enforce it?
FEELING SAFE
Dear Editor:
Israel seems safer than NY. About every week there are reports of black people enabled by Dem leadership committing violent crimes. No action is being taken and these criminals see this trend. The only thing I’ve seen was Deblasio condemning anti-Semitism in a speech filled with hot air. In Israel, there are terrorist attacks, but in the areas where the yeshivas in Yerushalayim are, attacks were very rare.
Yanky T
Editor’s Note: It’s time to vote differently.
Dear Editor: A Rosh yeshiva once came to Rav Shteinman to discuss a student they were considering throwing out of the yeshiva. Rav Shteinman asked him: “Do you know the name of the boy’s mother?” The Rosh Yeshiva said, “No.” “So you haven’t even davened for him yet, and you’re thinking of throwing him out?”
Editor’s Note: What an amazing lesson in chinuch! We lost a great tzaddik and luminary of our generation.
NOT SO NICE AND NOT SO FUNNY
Dear Editor:
I’ve noticed that lately, many people think it’s funny to make insulting jokes. Not that a joke can’t be funny despite being insulting to some people, but it seems to me that something shouldn’t be viewed as humorous because of hurting someone’s feelings. I think it’s mean to make fun of people, and it’s usually assur. What is your opinion on this matter?
Sincerely, RebYidd2
Editor’s Note: My opinion is concurrent with the Torah’s opinion; one may not be mischabed b’kloin chaveiro – one may not make himself greater by demeaning someone else. Funny or not, it is assur.
TIPS REQUESTED
Dear Editor:
I recently made a bar mitzvah and was the delighted recipient of some beautiful miniatures sent by my friends and relatives. I was completely taken aback when the guy delivering the gifts requested a tip. I felt that it was uncalled for since it was supposed to be a gift to me, not an obligation! I am sure my generous friends and relatives paid a delivery fee. I really got me annoyed and upset. Then I had a similar experience on the day of the big storm last week. I had ordered some fancy baked goods that I planned on giving somebody for Shabbos in honor of their simcha. Foolishly, I didn’t look at the weather forecast and planned on picking the stuff up on Thursday morning. We all woke up on Thursday morning to a blanket of snow. I could not get out to pick up the items. I therefore called the place requesting that it be delivered and I was willing to pay the messenger fee. I was told that the fee was higher than usual since the weather was so bad. I agreed to do it since I felt that I had no choice. Imagine my chagrin when the driver asked for a tip! I was so annoyed. I paid the guy extra money to come out in the snow. Why was he expecting more on top of that?
C.M. Stein
Editor’s Note: You are right. And he’s also right. He’s trying to make a living and a large part of that comes from tips. You are right in the sense that a tip should be something given and not requested. All in all, if you were happy that the guy came to bring you your items in the snow, it would be nice to give him a tip. What would be even nicer, would be if he didn’t request it!
MINHAG HAMAKOM
Dear Editor:
Does the concept of minhag hamakom apply today? If it does, to what extent? Many times I go to Shuls and they say that the minhag here is not to say tachnun, do I still say it or not?
Boruch David
Editor’s Note: This is a question you should ask your local Orthodox rabbi. It seems that this concept is overused in many different ways.
STOP TALKING IN SHUL REVISITED
Dear Editor:
I think the Stop the Talking campaign has done a really spectacular job in making the oilam aware of their chatter and it has really made a difference! I see many people have become more aware and it has affected (in a positive way) their behavior in shul. May this herald in a new era of quiet davening which will surely bring Moshiach closer.
Boruch B. Kranz
Editor’s Note: I would not say, “quiet davening” but rather “loud davening but quiet during davening.” Chazak V’ematz!