11 Aug

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.

FANTASY STORY

Dear Vues Master:

Here is a story by Rabbi David Abramchik,

author of “Teachers who make a Difference!”

Setting: September 28, 2026: Arizona baseball

stadium. It is the bottom of the ninth

inning. Jacob Steinmetz is pitching and Eli

Kligman is up to bat for the Washington

team. Jacob is having a great season pitching

for Arizona and walking for miles as he

was at times in the rotation to pitch right after

Shabbos. Eli Kligman is up at bat. Having

an MVP season while refusing to play

on Shabbos, the bases are loaded the count

is three and two. A strike and Arizona goes

to the world series a hit and Washington goes

to the world series in this one game playoff.

Up in Shomayim two malachim are watching

this big game take place. Malach one says:

Should I give Chizuk to Jacob for his mesiras

nefesh for Shabbos as he walked for miles to

keep Shabbos? Malach two says: Should I

give Chizuk to Eli for his mesiras nefesh for

not playing on Shabbos? A loud Thunder is

heard and a Bas Kol exclaims: It was I who

got them to where they are today – Now they

are on their own.

BCS

Vues Master’s Note: Then a storm came

down and stopped the game as it rained till

Shabbos and none of them factored in the

World Series Play Off game and they both

quit playing and became Rosh Yeshiva and

there is a Yeshiva where the two Rosh Yeshiva

are the best pitcher and hitter in the Country.

Some OTD boy becomes frum there. Last but

not least Abie Rottenberg comes out with a

song of tribute for them!

STOP THE INSANITY

Dear Vues Master:

Please find a letter Senator Simcha Felder

sent to Mayor de Blasio.

Dear Mayor de Blasio:

I am contacting you about our shared concerns

with the safety of New York City streets and

sidewalks as the number of poorly regulated

bicycles, e-bikes and e-scooters continues to

increase by the thousands. I am requesting

that you administratively ensure everyone

using the roadways knows the rules and is

held accountable. At a June 15 press conference,

you were asked about the increase in

electric scooters, electric bikes, and electric

mopeds over the last three or four years, often

being ridden by people who do not have

a great deal of experience or not riding with

a great deal of care and what the city can do

to try to make sure that those people act more

responsibly? You responded that “the answer

is education, enforcement, and continuing

to refine the regulations to get it right.”

I couldn’t agree more wholeheartedly with

you! In fact, I recently wrote an op-ed where

I discuss my own unnerving experience of a

cyclist weaving through traffic and cutting

me off. I have enclosed the article for your

review. It was this experience, along with the

alarming number of stories from constituents

of dangerous encounters with these types of

vehicles that prompted me to recently introduce

a package of bills. This legislation aims

to institute better rules and regulation, as well

as increasing education and training on how

to use bikes and e-vehicles in New York City.

These bills seek to create safer streets by sharing

responsibility of the roadways. One Road,

One Rule. 1. (S7203) Requires a helmet

when operating a bicycle, e-bike or e-scooter.

2. (S7204) Establishes a DMV Bicycle and

E-vehicle Education Course and license. 3.

(S7205) Creates a double licensure path; be

both a safe driver and cyclist/e-vehicle rider.

4. (S7206) Requires registration and license

plates for bicycles/e-vehicles. 5. (S7294) Requires

liability insurance for bicycles/e-vehicles.

I ask that you administratively institute

the essence of some or all of these regulations

immediately before more people are injured

or killed. New York City is the largest, most

densely populated city in the nation. Allowing

people to ride untrained, unprotected, and

unaccountable among millions of cars, trucks

and pedestrians is dangerous and deadly for

everyone.

Sincerely, Simcha Felder

ST

Vues Master’s Note: Oy! That’s all we need is

more Government regulation!

RABBI YITZCHOK FEIGELSHTOK ZT”L

Dear Vues Master:

Horav Malkiel Kotler shlita, Rosh Hayeshiva BMG was maspid Horav Yitzchok Feigelstock ZT”L, Rosh Hayeshiva MLB by saying Sar V’Godol Nafal Hayom B’Yisroel! Der Rosh Hayeshiva ZT”L kma’at didn’t make a move without speaking over klal matters and yeshiva matters with Rav Yitzchok. Zu hee Chachamaschem U’binaschem. The Lakewood Roshei Hayeshivas always spoke over matters with Rav Yitzchok, since they knew that this was the daas torah of the Zeida. He was maamid thousands of talmidim. He was like a father to a son. Vos Zogt Rav Yitzchok? This is an Avedas Yochid V’raabim and Talmidim shel Rav Ahron. Horav Yeruchem Olshin shlita, Rosh Hayeshiva BMG, spoke [cried] next. They were chavrusos fifty years ago in Lakewood, and Rav Yitzchak was mekarev him as a younger bochur. Hashamayim V’Aretz bochim. Tzaddik Avad. His amelus b’torah was unbelievable, always starting over and over the sugya, and everyone would ask, what does Rav Yitzchok say in the sugya? His kishronos and chachma with notebooks on kol hatorah kulo. He was an ish emes that when asked how come you don’t give shiur on perek meruba? He would answer that I need another year to prepare. Rav Schneyer ZT”L always had hakoros hatov to Rav Yitzchak and Rav Elya Svei ZT”L for helping him make BMG matzliach, and to grow BS”D. Rav Yitzchak was the shomer mesora of klal Yisroel whose derech hatorah and haskofah, he acquired from Rav Ahron ZT”L. Like Moshe Rabbeinu giving over the Mesoras Hatorah M’Sinai to his talmid muvhak Yehoshua, so too Rav Ahron handed over the mesorah hatorah and daas torah to yechidim like Rav Yitzchok. The Acharayis to be marbitz torah, Rav Yitzchok carried out the Shlichas of the Rosh Hayeshiva. Rav Ahron would call Rav Yitzchok Pele Yoetz. Rucho V’Nishmaso went from Rav L’Talmid. Today, we lost the Rebbe ZT”L besides the Rosh Hayeshiva ZT”L. Hashamayim V’Aretz Bochim! Rav Yitzchok would always say you need a Rebbi. Havlei olam is a stirah to Torah. Rav Yitzchak would always quote Rav Chaim Voloshin and Mishnas Rav Ahron how without Torah there’s no Chaim. Horav Dovid Schustal shlita, Rosh Hayeshiva BMG, said over how his family called Rav Yitzchok a brother, since he’s a son of Rav Ahron [Talmidim k‘bonim].A letter once had been sent from the Brisker Rav to Rav Ahron, and Rav Ahron called in Rav Yitzchak to read it together. Rav Yitzchok would be lochem against the zisser golus like Rav Volbe would call it. The Milchamto shel Torah in America Golus. Rav Ahron would say the new Avoda zarah is serving the Guf. Rav Dovid pointed out the Chut Hashedra from the Yeshiva Rav Elya and Rav Yitzchok, Long Beach and Philly. He also mentioned Denver, besides Rav Meir Stern shlita and Rav Meir Hirshkowitz shlita to be mamshich the mesoras hatorah to the Olam hatorah and bnei hayeshivas together with Hagoan Rav Shmuel shlita. Rav Shimon Alster who used to be a Ra’am in the yeshiva for many years, and very close to Rav Yitzchok said everyone knows Rav Yitzchak. He would quote the Rosh Hayeshiva “Mer daf zein a ben torah nisht nor an ehrlichen yid. He was a bonayich. He made a yesh m’ayin. He knew what to say and what not to say in a shiur or a schmuz. He evaluated every single talmid how to make them into a ben torah. Rav Chaim Yehoshua Hoberman shlita, Rosh Hayeshiva MLB and son in law spoke afterwards. Rav Yitzchok always gave hakoros hatov to YTV for Rav Gedaliah Schorr ZT”L sent him to BMG to learn under Rav Ahron. When he first came to Lakewood, he could hardly make a laining. [My brother told me over how he would tell his talmidim in LB that you know how to learn at this age more than me when I was your age!] He was talmid muvhak of Rav Ahron. He would say that I don’t know what the Rosh Hayeshiva saw in me? He became a Rebbe Muvhak. He would give over to them what a dugma of a Talmid Chochom is supposed to look like. He loved his talmidim and made them into bnei torah. Yesomim hayinu V’Ein Av! Rav Yitzchak would always say over how the Rebbitzen always stood behind him and never mixed in. Rav Mordechai Respler shlita, Menahel & Rosh Hayeshiva MLB, would cry out as he was maspid about Rav Yitzchak’s gadlus b’Torah, Middos tovos, Emes, Zehiros, Hatzneh haleches, his harvania in learning. He would think about each and every talmid. Torah is nisht stam chachma. It’s Ruchniyos, kedusha, Esh L’remach evarim u’shsa giddin. Torah changes a person- Torah macht a mentch. Be davuk B’HakB”H. It’s the mesoras hatorah m’sinai. You have to shtell tzu your sevoros hatorah to the rishonim not the other way around! He would krechts durum teffilla. His tzuras hateffilla b’kol ram crying out for the Yeshivas and klal Yisroel. He was a chever Moetzes Gedolei torah of Agudas Yisroel, Torah Umesorah and Lev L’achim. Rav Yitzchak and Rav Elya led the way when it was time to be kano’os against College or to make a machaah for the kovod of Maran Harav Eliezer Man Shach ZT”L, when an organization was pogeah in his kovod. There was an asifa held in Kaminetz Yeshiva with all the Bnei Torah from the Olam Hayeshivas to defend the Kovod of the Ponovicher Rosh Hayeshiva ZT”L. He would have the yeshiva collect for aniyei Eretz Yisroel on Purim hundreds of thousands of dollars. He would say that you can tell a talmid after Simchas Torah in Yeshiva, Purim Seuda in yeshiva, and Shavuos in Yeshiva. His hachana l’shabbos he witnessed as a young bochur in YTV when he knocked on Rav Sharaga Feivel Mendlowitz door after chatzhos on erev Shabbos. He already saw Rav Shraga Feivel dressed in Shabbos begadim learning torah waiting for Shabbos that was hrs later on in the day. Hevdel bein Yisroel L’goy. His Zehiros B’Dibur-tzanua. B’shas Petira, he looked like a Malach Elokim. Misas Tzaddikim K’srefas Beis Hamikdash. Nachamu Nachamu Ami yo’omar Elokechem. He would ask to daven for BMG & all yeshivas. For 18 yrs., the family was moser nefesh to take care of the Rosh Hayeshiva after his stroke. He didn’t want to be matriarch the family, since they all took great care of him the Rebbitzen and family. The Rosh Hayeshiva should go up to the Kisei Hakovod to be meletz yosher for us all-no more Tzoros! Rav Zev Cohen shlita, talmid Muvhak cried next. He had been crying for days. He said over a statement that defined the Rosh Hayeshiva’s role with his beloved talmidim; “The Rosh Hayeshiva didn’t take us off the streets. Instead, He took the STREETS out of us”! When Rav Zev spoke, he represented all of the talmidim, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd. The Rosh Hayeshiva understood us better than we understood ourselves. He would call my mother an almanac, every erev Shabbos for ten yrs.! He would say the shiur one day and then shlug it up the next day, and this continued all week. He would delve deeper and deeper never fully satisfied. He picked us up and lifted us higher. He would tell us we have to do and what not to do. He would pull on your beard and give you a potch and a kiss out of love for his talmidim K’bonim. Sitting in a wheel chair, he would be mekarev you. He saved me, he saved me Rav Zev cried out. {I told Rav Zev afterwards that we all cried with you when you were maspid your beloved Rebbe.] He would say shiur five times over and over going deeper and deeper. When he didn’t come on time one day to give shiur on pesachim, Rav Zev and Rav Brill went into his office to see what’s happening. He told them; you think that I’m ready to say shiur on pesachim”? Mer darf zein Normal, he would always say. Rav Zev asked who’s going to be our Moreh Derech now? I knew him for 52 yrs.-BEN! He left no bonim but many talmidim who are Mekadesh Shem Shamayim B’rabim. Be a Melitz Yosher! Rav Pinchos Yachnowitz shlita, a son in law and Ram in the yeshiva was maspid the Rosh Hayeshiva that he suffered for the last 18 years but was always happy with his talmidim and family. He had Tzaros haguf and nefesh. He should now have menucha shleima. He thanked the Rebbitzen and daughters who were moser nefesh for him together with the entire family. He said over a powerful story that happened at the very end when they were saying viduy. He was unconscious and then was conscious for the entire viduy and then went back to being unconscious. Rav Ahron Shlomo Svei shlita, a son in law and son of Rav Elya ZT”L, cried throughout his hesped. That alone was the hesped-crying for a tzaddik. Rav Yechiel Mechel Gibber shlita spoke and represented all the eineklach. R’ Moshe Gold, a son in law spoke how he would try to learn with the Rosh Hayeshiva after the stroke. When it was too difficult for Rav Yitzchak to be meayen, R’ Moshe suggested that we can learn poshut. Rav Yitzchak told him; “Torah, mer learnt nisht Poshut”! When he asked me what happened in Eretz Yisroel, I answered that some solders got wounded. He asked how seriously, and I dismissed it that I didn’t know. He was annoyed with me that how can you not know when it affects the father and mother, wife and children of a yid. One day, he was very happy that he was able to daven some Hallekuas! I was standing outside BMG at the Kel Malei Rachamim when I noticed the name on the new building Beis Yitzchak after Rav Yitzchok Herzka Z”L. I thought to myself of how appropriate it was to have the Levaya of Rav Yitzchak ZT”L in Beis Yitzchak. I noticed the Beis Medrash Hayoshon in the background, since that’s where the Rosh Hayeshiva had learned when he was in BMG. My brother told me that he feels like a close talmid even though he didn’t always fully understand the deep schmuzen fully and complex shiurim from the Rosh Hayeshiva. He said that Rav Yitzchok still ingrained in us with his daas Torah and hashkafa in our DNA! Yhei Zichro Baruch!

RMS

Vues Master’s Note: Yes! Klal Yisrael lost another throwback from the previous generation!

WORK

Dear Vues Master:

ואספת†דגנך≠†הנהג†בהן≠†מנהג†דרך†ארץ

R. Yishmael says there is a Mitzvah

of ואספת†דגנך†The Torah com

mands us הנהג†בהן†מנהג†דרך†ארץ

The Chasam Sofer writes** part of Mitzvahs***Yeshivas Eretz Yisroel is working the fields and perhaps even other trades that are necessary for well-being of the inhabitants of the land are part of the Mitzvah. The same way one can not say he has no time to put on Tefillin because he is busy learning Torah, so too one can not say I am busy learning Torah and have no time to gather the grain, etc..

ברכות†ל”ה†ע”ב*

חידושים†מסכת†סוכה†ל”ו†ע”א†**

***The Chasam Sofer holds that it’s נוהג†בזמן†הזה†as soon as we have a

majority of Yidden living in Eretz Yisroel.

MF

Master’s Note: I don’t know about work I think I am vaccinated against it! LOL We need to do our fair share!

POLITICS

Dear Vues Master:

Reminder to Republicans: not everything on the left is communism. Reminder to Democrats: not everything on the right is fascism.

IE

Vues Master’s Note: Just a reminder that politics it Dirty!!

POLITICS

Dear Vues Master:

Reminder to Republicans: not everything on the left is communism. Reminder to Democrats: not everything on the right is fascism.

IE

Vues Master’s Note: Just a reminder that politics it Dirty!!

CANNABIS

Dear Vues Master:

Demeter Fragrances manufactures a cannabis scented perfume. It has good reviews.

AD

Vues Master’s Note: I hope those reviews were written sober otherwise someone under the influence is not to be relied on!

BELIEVE IT!

Dear Vues Master:

Sitting at the שבת†table, a father

asked his young son what he learned about פרשת†בשלח†that week. The

boy responded: “The Yidden left מצרים†, went through the desert and

reached the sea, but had no way to cross it. They were very frightened because the Egyptian army was pursuing

them. השם†made a miracle.

The Americans came and built a bridge and sent bombers to attack the Egyptians, saving the Jews.” Stunned, the father said “I can’t believe that’s what they taught you in cheder.” “If you don’t believe that,” the son replied, “you surely won’t believe the other version I heard.”

MB

Vues Master’s Note: This kid grew up to be a Great novelist whose books are read far and wide!

PROPERTY OWNERS NEED HELP TOO

Dear Vues Master:

NYS Senator Simcha Felder called on Washington to demonstrate unequivocal support for New York’s small property owners and protect the 2 billion dollars in Federal funds earmarked for NYS’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program while the state works overtime to eliminate fraud from the system. Since opening in June, the updated rent relief program received over 160, 000 applications from tenants and landlords in need and is still accepting applications. “Of-course renters needed relief during the pandemic, but small property owners were hung out to dry – and they’ve suffered enough! While tenants were relieved of the necessity to pay rent since September, billions in unpaid rent led to extensive debt and bankruptcies by small property owners,” said Senator Felder. “If not gratitude, they at least deserve fairness. They struggled through the pandemic with the added weight of this unbalanced policy. Their mortgages, taxes and bills had to be paid, interest and late fees still accrued. They are begging for help and ignoring their plea is unconscionable.” A Supreme Court ruling last month indicated that a majority of justices believed the CDC exceeded its authority when imposing the eviction ban in the first place. With the moratorium set to expire tomorrow, the Biden administration has declined to extend the moratorium, but called on Congress to legislate an extension. “Legislators calling to extend the eviction ban must be asked how they plan to remove the burden from the backs of New York’s small property owners. These hardworking New Yorkers, who scrapped and saved and made good choices, are being destroyed,” said Senator Felder. “They expect the full support of their elected officials at every level of government. I urge every representative to step up and pledge their unequivocal support to help New York’s small property owners survive and thrive again!”

ST

Vues Master’s Note: No way! If you own property then you are against Socialism and Communism and generally will vote republican. No support for you guys!!

AM HAARETZ NEEDS TO KNOW

Dear Vues Master:

Why is that when beating the ערבות

on הושענא†רבה†we say

למען†דעת†כל†עמי†הארץ†? What’s the

קשר†to

דעת†כל†עמי†הארץ†? An an

swer that has been given is that in the בית†המקדש¨†the ערבות†were כנגד†the

עמי†הארץ†, because they have neither

טעם†nor ריח†. And when we take the

הושענות†by themselves on

הושענא†רבה†, the עמי†הארץ†may get

the impression that they are the most important. Therefore, we immediately beat them and declare

.למען†דעת†כל†עמי†הארץ

BM

Vues Master’s Note: The problem is that the Am Haaretz does not know what these words mean. He is lost!

BASHING CHASSIDIM

Dear Vues Master:

Since when did the Country Vues join YAFFED? Why is a frum newspaper bashing chasidim? The letter on page 98 has no place in “The Heimishe voice of the Catskill community”. I understand the views expressed in the letters are not from the publisher rather a third-party. However, it is the responsibility of the publisher to make sure that they are not printing open Sinas chinam. Thank you.

EM

Vues Master’s Note: We print all letters. We need people to see how they are portrayed, especially upstate! We also need to know who our detractors are! Da Ma Shetashuv!!

COMPARING DIFFERENT JEWS

Dear Vues Master:

What’s the difference between an Orthodox, Conservative and Reform wedding? At an Orthodox wedding, there is a good chance that the mother of the bride is pregnant. At a Conservative wedding, there is a good chance that the bride is pregnant. At a Reform wedding, there is a good chance that the rabbi is pregnant.

NB

Vues Master’s Note: I am scared to find out what an atheist Rabbi is like!

MEAT OR MILK

Dear Vues Master:

Which animal may you only a) eat its meat but not drink its milk

פסולי†המוקדשין†שנפדו†Kodshim that

became Pasul and was redeemed may only be Shechted and its meat eaten. One may not keep it alive for its milk or wool ≠†תזבח†ואכלת

אין†לך†בהם†היתר†גיזה†וחלב†b) drink

its milk but not eat its meat. One may drink human milk ( פרוש†– milk in a

cup) There is a

מחלוקת†ראשונים†if eating human

flesh is a

איסור†דאורייתא†או†איסור†דרבנן†.

Ha

rav Hagaon R.Shlomo Miller Shlita said. Those who bite and swallow their cuticles might be

עובר†על†איסור†דאורייתא†according to

the שיטות†that hold eating human flesh

and חצי†שיעור†are אסור†מדאורייתא

FM

Vues Master’s Note: Now you got me nervous and I am spitting my cuticles out but am biting them much more furiously!

SLEEPY

Dear Vues Master:

A רב†went to a Reform rabbis house

one afternoon and saw him dozing without

a kippa. The רב†told the rab

bi’s attendant: “The הלכה†is with him,

since he is now doing a mitzvah:

שינת†רשעים†הנאה

להם†והנאה†לעולםÆ

Therefore, he is פטור†from covering

his head because

”.העוסק†במצוה†פטור†מן†המצוה

NB

Vues Master’s Note: It seems like the Rov going to the Reform Rabbi was a nightmare!

HEBREW PASSAGES

Dear Vues Master:

Lately I noticed a lot of the letters written to the Jewish views have some Hebrew passages without any translation.Not everyone can read Hebrew Let alone understand it. Therefore missing out the main point. Perhaps a translation can be followed by all and any Hebrew writings .Previously you have acquiesced it to my request in Having the print enlarged Therefore I am confident that this request will be highly considered Thank you very much Devora Leitner I look forward to reading your paper.

Vues Master’s Note: As we try not to mess up letters written to us so we don’t translate any letters. I would suggest using Google translate!

KEEP YOUR MINHAG

Dear Vues Master:

חסידישע†מעשה†told by Rav E.M.

Shach zt”l Rav Shach zt”l said he heard this story from the Strikover Rebbe zt”l . A Stoliner Chosid asked permission from the Tchortkover Rebbe zt”l to daven in his Shul Minhag Stolin by blaring out loudly the תפילות

The Rebbe told him that Minhag Tchortkov is not to scream during davening.

He quoted to him מאמרי†חז”ל

that are against loud Davening, and forbade him to be .משנה†מנהג†המקום

The Stoliner Chosid managed to hold himself back and davened the whole

פסוקי†דזמרא†quietly. By the time

he reached, נשמת†, he couldn’t

control himself and started screaming on top of his lungs

נשמת†כל†חי“ —“.

After the Dav

ening, the Chosid approached the Rebbe. He was about to apologize claiming that it was beyond his control and couldn’t hold himself back from screaming out loud the נשמת†. Before he got a chance to

open his mouth the Rebbe tells him how beautiful his נשמת†was,

and how much he enjoyed his loud Davening. The Chosid was flabbergasted, didn’t the Rebbe say that it is wrong to daven loud in his Shul? The Rebbe explained to him, ” If you come and ask on Wednesday to change on Shabbos,

the מנהג†המקום†, then the an

swer is that it is wrong to do so. However, if during davening one can’t control himself, and gets so excited during his davening, that’s not

משנה†מנהג†המקום†. On the con

trary, Such Tefilos are most inspiring and beautiful.”.

FN

Vues Master’s Note: I had to keep my earplugs in my ears. It is still ringing from that Nishmas!