10 Nov Speak Your Vues
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
KLAL YISROEL MOURNS
Dear Vues Master:
Mrs. Hannah Storch, a’h, the legendary Baltimore Jewish community matriarch was nifteres on Sunday, October 25th, at the age of 98. As HaRav Aharon Feldman, shlit”a, Rosh Hayeshiva, Ner Yisrael, mentioned in his hesped at the socially-distant levaya held outdoors on Sunday, October 25, Mrs. Storch was a true Aishes Chayil – woman of strength. “When I was a little boy here in Baltimore, the name M. Leo Storch was a household word. He had to do with everything educationally, spiritually, organizationally, and so much more. When he was niftar, his almanah continued in his ways, expanded him to this day. She was a partner in thousands of his endeavors…She was the pride of Baltimore; the pride of Baltimore has left us.” HaRav Moshe Heinemann, shlit”a, remarked in his hesped that under regular circumstances, a levaya for Mrs. Storch would have drawn thousands of people. “I’m sure thousands were probably listening to it or watching it from afar. Mrs. Storch didn’t want a large levaya, and the Ribono Shel Olam made sure it didn’t happen. The family deemed during COVID that it wasn’t proper to have a levaya indoors. Outdoors, the Ribono Shel Olam sent the rain so it would be very uncomfortable. The Ribono Shel Olam was listening to her wishes…her days were filled with mitzvos, and even though she was an almanah for many, many years, she never turned away from the path that she and her husband, M. Leo Storch, set forth. The chesed that went out from their home was remarkable – it was open to anyone who needed help. People entering their home were greeted with warmth, respect, and kovod.” Rav Heinemann continued and said “…Mrs. Storch was a unique type of person which we don’t see very often anymore. She carried herself with dignity, almost a royalty, and she treated everyone with respect and graciousness. She was wise in the world of business and ably ran the family business for many years…She was totally devoted to her family and to whatever she could do for klal yisrael. The dedication of the Storch family to Bais Yaakov is legendary. The school would never have gotten off the ground without the mesiras nefesh of the Storch family.” Mrs. Storch’s son, Frank Storch, began the family hespedim saying, “Women have different strengths: some are outstanding supportive wives, some are exceptional mothers, some are loving grandmothers, some are active in community affairs, some are capable to deal in business. Rarely do you find one person who excels in all of these areas in unique ways. My mother was all of the above plus more. My father, z”l, passed away after they had been married for only 18 years. Mom’s total devotion was to Dad. She was there for him with anything he needed. She shouldered many tasks so that he would be available to the Baltimore Jewish community that relied on him so much. But it didn’t stop when my father, z” l, was niftar…. She was an exceptional mother. She realized the strengths of each of her children and …my sisters are imbued with many of the wonderful midos and sensitivities that my mother was known for.” Frank continued, “Rabbi Brull wrote this morning, ‘…Before every winter season began, Mrs. Storch would call me to her home and she would say, ‘Rabbi Brull, do you know that it is getting cold outside. I’m sure there are many people – and children – who don’t own coats and gloves and scarves. I bought these hundreds of coats and gloves and scarves and would like you to please distribute them.’ Mrs. Storch constantly thought of ways to help everyone. Her life was never about herself – only about how she could help others. She is irreplaceable. My mother was zoche to arichas yomim, and we were zoche to be with her, see her and learn from her for these yamim and that zechus comes with an achrayus. Yes, we were incredibly blessed to have had years living with Mom, but we know that we are now responsible to continue to live by her standards and continue her legacy. She taught us by lesson and by example how to be a devoted spouse, parent, and community leader. We have a powerful role model to follow, an incredible example to live up to.” Mrs. Storch’s son-in-law, Rabbi Shlomo Spetner, who is married to Mindy, provided some family history. “Our father, Rav Moshe Aryeh Halevi, sought out a zivug that could be his true eizer. He married a bas talmid chacham; our grandfather was a talmid in Slobodka. He had been a Rav in America, and that mesorah was imbued into the family to our mother and very much imbued into the family by our grandmother. Our mom was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1922. I can’t imagine what a midbar that must have been. He was a Rav in Georgia. In the 1930s, he came to the Northeast to be a Rav in the New Jersey area. That mesorah is what built our family and that is what our father sought out in his zivug….When he became engaged [to our mother] the first place he went was to show her was the new Bais Yaakov on Greenspring Avenue that was a single, old building called ‘The Mansion” – saying, ‘This is where we are going to build the future.’ She became a complete partner in every way, enhancing all he had done. Rabbi Spetner continued to note, “After his [M. Leo Storch’s] petira, you would think that something like worrying about the kashrus in town would not necessarily be something that an almanah would take on. She’s the one who is responsible for the Vaad HaKashrus in Baltimore. She energized it, she drafted young baalei baatim – by the way, these baalei baatim are long retired – and said, ‘You need to build the Vaad HaKashrus!’, and these baalei baatim made a very wise choice, went forward and hired Rav Heinemann. To this day, of course, we know that the Vaad HaKashrus, the STAR-K is the premier kashrus, possibly, in the world.” Mrs. Storch’s son-in-law, Mr. Yaakov Hillel Gross, who is married to Judy (Bregin), recalled the first time he met his future mother-in-law. “I was immediately struck by her regal appearance. You knew you were in the presence of somebody special; it was as if you were with the queen. She just gave off that aura. Her dress, her demeanor was from a long-ago era, a different time. She was an icon that we were blessed to see in our age. There is no other duplicate of her today. She was the last of a very special breed; she was a very special lady…. She was always thinking of others; she was kulo tzidkas.” The myriad acts of gemilas chasadim that M. Leo and Hannah Storch, z”l, performed in the Baltimore community and beyond touched innumerable lives. May we be zoche to follow the example set by Mrs. Hannah Storch – Chana bas Avraham Pesach – in continuing her mission to fulfill the needs of our community and klal yisrael, and may the Storch family find comfort in the beautiful legacy she leaves behind.
GS
Vues Master’s Note: May her Neshame be a meilitza Yosher!
HYPOCRITE
Dear Vues Master:
Bill De Blasio came out with a statement that we should not visit people out of state for the Holidays! I believe that everyone should disregard it. Not because I am saying there is no Covid 19 but for the mere fact that if you remember on Columbus Day when the Mayor was not invited to the celebrations the statement from City Hall was that the Mayor could not make it anyways as he was out of town visiting relatives. I will do as the Mayor does and not as the Mayor says. Hypocrite.
KM
Vues Master’s Note: That is a liberal for you. Do as I say not do as I do!
SCHOOLING
Dear Vues Master:
Last week, some fantastic news from the science world should’ve given full time-schooling advocates real hope. Instead, officials are signaling that we may never return to full in-person learning, at least not like pre-COVID. A New York Times piece, “Schoolchildren Seem Unlikely to Fuel Coronavirus Surges, Scientists Say,” concluded that, yes, the science says kids should be in school. “The bulk of evidence now suggests only limited transmission from young children to adults.” That evidence, of course, has existed for months, but the Times piece brought it home for nonbelievers. Meanwhile, at the Wall Street Journal, David R. Henderson and Ryan Sullivan pointed to new research that shows infection rates in schools to be far lower than in the general population. “A group of researchers, spearheaded by Brown University Professor Emily Oster, have . . . made available the most comprehensive database on schools and COVID case rates for students and staff since the pandemic started,” they wrote. The data, covering “almost 200,000 kids across 47 states from the last two weeks of September,” showed an infection rate of 0.13 percent among students and 0.24 percent among staff. Given such low rates, they made a strong, science-based, cost-benefit argument for opening schools now. Alas, science doesn’t matter; we left it behind long ago. Instead, we’re seeing signs that schools may not open for full-time learning for years, if ever — and many of our leaders seem OK with that. In the city, Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza told Queens parents Thursday, “There is an opportunity to innovate here that we do not want to pass by.” His brilliant idea: Offer G&T classes to more kids using remote learning — next year. Surely he doesn’t mean the kids will still be in remote classes a year from now, does he? Actually, it seems he does: “Virtual learning, digital learning, mixed environments, digital content, digital supports will always be part of the new normal as we educate students,” he said. Ouch. The prospect that our kids may still be doing remote learning in a year — or even six months from now — should alarm every parent. What’s the upside? Is there someone out there who believes remote learning in the city is superior to in-class learning? Gov. Andrew Cuomo, meanwhile, keeps suggesting schools are a giant danger. In August he said if he had school-age children, he wouldn’t send them back. This month, he closed schools in areas with slightly elevated COVID infection rates. “The schools are important, because you will very often see the schools be a place of transmission,” Dr. Cuomo lectured. That’s a lie: Read the Times. Read the Journal. Schools are not major sources of COVID spread. Besides, if kids are such superspreaders, why did Cuomo put them last on his vaccination schedule for New York? Doesn’t he want to stop transmission? Fact is, our political leaders, in New York and elsewhere, appear to have made the calculation that, amid COVID, education is just not that important. But how long can families go with kids at home and inferior instruction? Why are we waiting for a vaccine, when we don’t know when it’ll arrive or how effective it’ll be? A few weeks ago, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he foresees social distancing and masks continuing into 2022. And who knows? It could be longer. Keeping schools closed that long will harm families immeasurably. And if we’re not going to wait, then let’s open them now. During last week’s debate, when President Trump suggested he’s eager to reopen schools, Joe Biden mocked him, sarcastically rephrasing his words (and doing his best to scare folks): “All you teachers out there, not that many of you are going to die. So don’t worry about it.” C’mon, Joe. To suggest many teachers will die is to reject science. And if we continue to treat schools as deadly germ factories sure to kill their occupants, kids and parents will suffer. The rest of the world has prioritized children and education and opened schools full-time. It’s an embarrassment that America’s major cities have no plan to do the same and that so many of our leaders spend their time fearmongering instead.
KM
Vues Master’s Note: Again it is all about power these liberals are looking for power!!
VUES MASTER’S RESPONSES
Dear Vues Master:
Your section of the newspaper could be the highlight of the Jewish Vues. However for this to happen, you’d need to make some key changes. Your responses are short and lazy at best and disrespectful and extreme at worst. From what I’ve seen your responses are completely unprofessional. For example, you say “With Hashem’s help they will both have a refuah sheleima and the year will be a great year as Moshiach will come!” While there is no problem with your statement alone you wrote refuah shleima instead of refuah sheleimah. An error this obvious could’ve been easily prevented through proofreading. Another example of this is when you say “Definitely agree! I think we should sing Yidden! Oops, that also comes from a goyishe song!” If you looked over your responses you wouldn’t have made this mistake and would have come off as much more professional. An example of your laziness is your response to the submission of Human Rights. The reader submitted eight hundred fourteen words and you responded with eight words, barely over one percent of the words in the submissions. For evidence of the claim that you are disrespectful, I turn to the September 30th issue where when asked if it is okay to rejoice over her death, you said “We can rejoice in the fact that hopefully, we will have a new member of the Supreme Court who will be a little more morally accepted to Hashem!” To say that we can be happy over the effects of someone’s death nevertheless another Jews death is a horrible horrible thing. Another example of your blatant disrespect is what you said about New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. For example when someone talked about how kayin died by drowning and how his body was eaten by dogs you said this ”Let us see the same to all our enemies. Especially the ones that stop us from Davening with more than ten people and shut our schools!!” This is a clear reference to Governor Cuomo and it is honestly horrible that anyone would wish such a thing on another person.
DM
Vues Master’s Note: I will respond in short! You can do a better job! Go for it! I will give it up so you can prove yourself. My responses serve a purpose of my own. If you don’t like it you don’t need to read it. I am entitled as much as you are entitled to give your letter. I never claimed to be a professional to the contrary I am and represent the laymen.
ARAB’S HATRED
Dear Vues Master:
The בחיי רבינו writes, (21:14 בראשית ( נבואה his with saw אברהם אבינו” that his children the Bnei Yisrael will suffer in the future from ישמעאל . No other nation will hate the Bnei Yisrael more than ישמעאל .He therefore treated his son as an enemy and supplied him with bread & water, the way it says אם רעב שונאך האכילהו לחם (25 (Mishlei in “ואם צמא השקהו מים Even though the Germans ש“ימ killed six million Yidden, however as much as they hated us, the ישמעאלים hate us even more. The Nazis weren’t נפש מוסר in killing Yidden whereas ישמעאל will even commit suicide to Ch”v kill Yidden
MF
Vues Master’s Note: Wow! I would have thought the Nazis are worse as they actually wiped out millions of Jews but you live and learn!
RABBI KAHANE
Dear Vues Master: Thank you so much for prominently featuring the memorial for Rabbi Meir Kahane ZT”L . I can’t believe it’s been 30 years since that fateful night on November 5, 1990 in the Marriott Hotel when our beloved rabbi was murdered in cold blood. I was there when, just after Rabbi Kahane had delivered a rousing speech, people lined up to speak with him. Then the pandemonium! I can still hear the shots that rang out from the gun triggered by the Muslim murderer. He had been sitting the whole time among the audience, as he waited for the speech to be over and marking time for when he would make his move. The Jewish people lost their hero that night. Will there ever be another like him?
S L
Vues Master’s Note: Guess what! This murderer is probably walking the streets again! What a travesty!
RIVKA’S TEST
Dear Vues Master: Part of the test for Rivka was to see if she was ok with a bachur that smokes, that’s why he showed up packing 10 camels.
AY
Vues Master’s Note: I hope you are not serious! Smoking is terrible!
SIMCHA FELDER’S WORK
Dear Vues Master: “Following weeks of work with the Governor’s office to ease restrictions in the red zone, we are finally turning a corner. There is some comfort in knowing that many people who live and work in the downgraded area will enjoy some peace of mind this weekend.” “I am thankful that Governor Cuomo finally heard us and agreed that today is the day to end to the madness and finally downgrade Brooklyn’s red zone. This is so important for small business owners who have been suffocating under this policy. I cannot overstate the toll taken by these shut downs, but today it ends. Please, put on your masks and go support them. SHOP LOCAL, SAVE LIVES.”
Thank you, ST
Vues Master’s Note: It is about time!
VETERANS DAY
Dear Vues Master:
Last year and again this year much of the Jewish press left out a remembrance. During World War Two there was a group of Jews I believe the Nazis hated more than any other Jewish group. So much hatred that they wanted this group of Jews killed before they entered the camps. While on tracks leading to the gas chambers and work camps the Nazis dreaded the arrival of these Jews. Why? These Jews wore Kipas made of steel. Their prayer shawls around their shoulders contained hundreds of bullets. The tracks they were on were not train tracks but tank tracks. They were the Jews with the Army of the United States. This being an American Jewish paper why the shame about writing of American Jewish Veterans. Many of the holocaust survivors were younger than those who liberated them. There will be survivors long after the American Jewish Liberators are gone. It is now the time to honor and thank those who crossed an ocean, to hear their stories before they are gone. Veterans Day and Memorial day should be included in the thoughts of the American Jewish community every year. Without the liberators succeeding this paper probably would not exist.
L K
Vues Master’s Note: Amen!!
INTEGRITY OF ELECTIONS
Dear Vues Master: Last week, America voted in its election. As of now, the mainstream media are calling Joe Biden the winner. However, many valid questions need to be answered. The questions don’t mean that anything is going to change, but as there are serious concerns with the validity of the election, answers and accountability need to be in sight. Judicial Watch has found in their research that in around 353 counties in the US, the number of votes exceeds 1.8 million people than on the voter rolls. Furthermore, Judicial Watch has also found that in Clark County, Nevada there are 154,000 inactive voters still on the voter rolls days before the election. A video on Twitter showed a GOP poll watcher being denied entry when it was required under the law. Later on, they issued an apology for their “mistake”, but how many convenient mistakes did take place this past Election Day? Jill Stokke is a voter in Nevada who claimed last week that she cheated her vote. Jill, who is blind, had a friend take her to a voting place. When she got there, they claimed that she already voted by mail, which she didn’t. The election officials claim that they offered to give her another ballet later, but Jill disputes that claim. Isn’t it also concerning that the AG of Pennsylvania before the election said that Trump was going to lose? How did he know that? The lawsuits and claims from the Trump campaign don’t mean that the results are going to change on a drastic scale, but they do mean that we need answers before anyone claims victory. Our right to vote isn’t some game that can be played around with. If Joe Biden is legitimately proven to be elected, I will be the first one to root for him on day one, because I want America to succeed. However, we must make sure that the election results are legitimate.
Sincerely, D S G
Vues Master’s Note: I guess the Democrats can only win via cheating. How sad!
MASKS
Dear Vues Master:
When Moshe descends Har Sinai, the Pasuk says that Klal Yisroel retreated from before him, as “rays of light” radiated from Moshe from his 40 day “quarantine” with Hashem. Moshe did not realize this himself, and from the point began to use a mask. The Pasuk seems to indicate whenever Moshe returned to the Machane and to the people he put on a mask. What is entirely clear is that the mask was not for Moshe’s sake, it was completely for the benefit of those around him. Moshe could have argued that Hashem had blessed his face and it is in everyone’s benefit to gaze at it. Or better yet, the ray emanating from his face reflects Hashem’s glory, is it proper to cover them up? We see that it was more important for the people to feel comfortable, to dwell together. Similarly, we find some are hesitant to wear masks. Perhaps they feel the face needs to be shared with the world as well, and it would be a crime to cover up such a striking Tzelem Elokim, disrespectful to Hashem who created such a face that reflects Hashem’s glory. To paraphrase the Gothamer Rebbe (or Ish Atalef as he is known in Israel) “wearing a mask is not about protecting yourself, it’s about protecting those close to you”. What we wear is an Os, a sign, Like tefillin and tzitzis. These things have symbolic meaning. Today, masks have taken on a meaning as well. They represent caring for our fellow. Or at the very least, respecting their wishes, sensitivities and concerns. It’s easy to accommodate someone when it’s no inconvenience to you. When doing something is difficult, that shows who a person really is, what their principles and values are. Is it more important for you to be comfortable and “right” when you daven, or is it more important for you that everyone in the minyan is comfortable. I’ve often heard it said “treat your friends’ gashmius like your ruchnius”. Why should this only apply to property and not our physical bodies, our health and well being as well. And if you think this is just anxiety, anxieties affect people’s health and wellbeing too. Are we willing to make ourselves uncomfortable for the comfort of others? This is a middos question. do we put ourselves before others or others first. In which way will our tefilos be more miskabel? The seforim say one should have in mind ואהבת לראך כמוך before Davening. Likewise, tefila is written in plural, as we are not supposed to only focus on ourselves. Those who daven for others first, putting their needs first, are answered by Hashem first. And on and on. Let’s drop the mask of excuses we are hiding behind. It’s uncomfortable. Its hard to breath. It’s hot and maybe I need more breath mints than I realized before. But what makes us Jews, children of Avraham, chosen, is that we put others’ welfare before our own. If you’re still not convinced, here are some Gematrias for the word מסוה the mask Moshe wore: מסוה=111 הכל ולך-Everything comes from Hashem פלא-The Rambam names his volume of Mishna Torah dealing with the mouth “Haflaah”. עולה-the korban in which we derive no benefit, it is totally lishma and for HAshem. also our “aliya” and growth אדמוני-Like Dovid HaMelech. Maybe respecting each other will bring mashiach גדול חכם-no explanation necessary . Let’s stop fighting and have some of these Kavanas when we wear our masks. May Hashem send us his Yeshua and Geulah, refuah from all our machalos, physical and spiritual.
R A D
Vues Master’s Note: That is your interpretation. I would tend to differ that Moshe’s mask was not a decision for everyone to wear a mask as it was only special for him. Hence no commandment for anyone else, no other navi to wear a mask!
NEGOTIATION
Dear Vues Master: When he took over as President in 2001, President George W. Bush had just watched lame duck President Bill Clinton put his foreign policy reputation on the line with a Hail Mary Camp David Summit. PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat ש“ימ made a fool of Clinton and as he pretended to negotiate for peace with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak he was planning the second intifada. When President Bush came into office he told the Palestinians he was serious about helping them, but wouldn’t deal with Arafat. If the Palestinians would choose a new leader, the Bush administration would engage in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As long as Arafat stayed, Bush understood that the Palestinian people weren’t serious about peace. Current Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has proven that he has little interest in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Preferring to make demands rather than compromises, play victim rather than take responsibility, and obfuscate rather than make meaningful progress, Abbas is the ultimate impediment to peace. The incoming Biden administration shouldn’t negotiate with Abbas. They should follow the Bush lead and tell the Palestinians they’re not going to be just another administration forced to deal with who has the presidency. Abbas is an illegitimate leader; he has refused to hold elections in over 15 years. He has no mandate nor authority to lead. His only legitimacy comes from world leaders propping him up and an armed security force willing to execute any dissidents. This isn’t someone a Biden administration should be validating.
R U P
Vues Master’s Note: You are dealing with Biden who wants more Moslems in this country. We need to learn in our Public School system about Moslems! Seems like separation between Church and State is only for Christians and Jews!
AGUDAS LETTER
Dear Vues Master: I read with some surprise the congratulatory letter you sent to Joe Biden. Likewise, chat groups within my community have been alight with bewilderment as to why you would prematurely congratulate Mr. Biden when the election results have not been certified yet. If it is to curry favour with the possible winner, don’t you think it is premature to do that? It is plausible President Trump will be granted another term. In that case you will have put our community at a disadvantage. My experience in politics would dictate that I hold my congratulations until the matter is settled. That way no harm is done. If Agudas Yisroel represents the Orthodox Jewish community and preelection as well as post-election polling shows that our members voted for President Trump at a rate of 82-83%, why would you write a letter to our President’s opponent before the matter is decided??? If you really have our best interests at heart, you would not imperil us with this misguided missive. You have let down a lot of people.
Yours truly, CS
Vues Master’s Note: Listen! An organization like Aguda must cover both sides of the coin. They may have jumped the gun and hopefully will not suffer any penalties!!
TWITTER STORM
Dear Vues Master: I saw on twitter a lot of references to Rabbi Dovid Feinstein’s response to the three dinner guests. He said he would find three random poor people. That is a great answer. What I can’t tolerate is that most of the people started off that they don’t like these fun questions etc. etc. I feel if so many great people respond to these questions and they are thought provoking why would you not like them?? Please keep up with the fun questions. My family looks forward to them every week. I am sure if you would take a poll you would see that most people love it. I challenge anyone else to write a letter to the contrary and convince me otherwise!
GG
Vues Master’s Note: There are always haters who can’t “fargin” they feel bad that they did not think of these ideas so they knock it!
RABBI KAHANE
Dear Vues Master:
There is a beautiful midrash on the Akedah – the Biblical story of Abraham’s being commanded to sacrifice his son Isaac. Interestingly, it comes from a non-Jew, the celebrated Soren Kierkegaard. The way the famed Danish philosopher tells it, father and son complete their long and mournful journey to Mount Moriah where Abraham has been ordered by God to bring the boy as an offering. The great patriarch and father of monotheism starts the fire, lays Isaac on the makeshift altar, ties his hands, picks up the knife, leans in close to his son and whispers, “By the way kid, this has nothing whatsoever to do with God. I’m killing you because I want you dead!” Isaac immediately begins screaming: “God, God, help me, help me, dear God, please save meeeee…..!!!” The canny Abraham closes his eyes and reflects, “Better the boy should think me a monster than God; better that he hate me than lose his faith in the Almighty.” The story is especially poignant in light of approaching 30th anniversary of the murder of Rabbi Meir Kahane, zt’l, hy’d, who was shot to death in New York City by El Sayyid Nosair on November 5, 1990. I was supposed to have been in the audience that night, but a scheduling conflict and the knowledge that the rabbi would be speaking once again the following Sunday kept me from attending. I watched the TV coverage later that night, though, with tears streaming down my face, and was part of the throng that shut down Brooklyn’s Ocean Parkway the next day at his memorial service. The powerful midrash of Soren Kierkegaard comes to mind because it shows Abraham willing to absorb the hatred of his own flesh in order to preserve his son’s connection to and faith in God. Rabbi Kahane, too, invited attacks, and vicious ones – from his days as a pulpit rabbi to the Jewish Defense League, his campaign to free Soviet Jews, and his time as a member of Knesset – from Jews and others over the course of a career spent working for the Jewish People. Few and far between are the people who are willing to listen to the truth, even fewer who are willing to let it change them. This discouraging little backwater of human nature is hardly new. In fact, the prophets of the Bible railed against just such self-inflicted blindness some 2,500 years ago. Isaiah writes: “For it is a rebellious people… children that desire not to hear the Law of the Lord; which say to the seers, ‘See not!’ and to the visionaries, ‘Envision not unto us true things; speak unto us smooth things, envision delusions…” Warns Jeremiah: “The prophets prophesy falsely… and My people love to have it so; and what will you do in the end thereof? Truth is perished and cut from their mouths.” Adds Amos: “They hate him who rebuketh in the gate and they abhor him that speakest uprightly.” Rabbi Kahane was this era’s conscience, a leader who lived and ultimately gave his life for his fellow Jews. That his name has largely been forgotten, and worse unheard of by youngsters, is a disgrace that our People will not soon live down. May Rabbi Kahane’s memory serve as a blessing, but also as a lesson for each of us. It is not the naysayers, the disbelievers, or the willingly blind who are remembered by posterity. It’s the seekers and speakers of truth — those who force us to open our eyes and see what we’d rather not but nonetheless must, even at a terrible personal cost — whom history cherishes. Howard Michael Riell is a veteran journalist and author of the just-released I Would Have Taught You Something Beautiful: Inspiration and Motivation From One of America’s Most Unorthodox Orthodox Thinkers, available on Amazon.com.
HMR
Vues Master’s Note: Rabbi Kahane was a great visionary! Despite the fact that many Rabbonim did not agree with him, his activities and speeches were all done Leshem Shomayim. May he be a Meilitz Yosher