25 May 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.
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Dear Vues Master:
A man smoking a pipe was asked what For months now we’ve been repeatedly told to follow science. Everything is data driven, of course. But now we have a President and Gov Murphy of NJ Ignoring the CDC, Keeping Mask Mandate. So where is the science here, pray tell.
MB
Vues Master’s Note:What> You never took Political Science? All you need to do is lie enough times that people believe you!
CRUZ WE LOVE YA
Dear Vues Master:
At a time when some American Jewish parents are flying their children back to America, and hardly any Jewish Americans (even those that qualify to enter) are thinking of coming on a trip to Israel, Senator Cruz’s gesture of support is simply incredible. For those cynics who will say it’s easy for him to come, he’ll have tight security, no amount of bodyguards can protect you from a rocket. This isn’t a mere symbolic gesture, this is REAL friendship. Senator Cruz, you’ve brought tears to my eyes, thank you so much.
RUP
Vues Master’s Note:At least Texas still has some sanity left. The rest of the Country has Liberal Left!
ACTIONS, NOT WORDS
Dear Vues Master:
Abraham Lincoln once said, “Actions speak louder than words.” Lincoln understood that nice words in a situation are to an extent reassuring and needed, however, what makes genuine change is action. In the past 2 weeks, America and the world have been tested to live up to that moral, unfortunately, though, most have failed. Israel has been under attack since its founding in 1948. Even through hard and impossible times, Israel has come out strong, thank G-d. Israel is unique in a diverse amount of ways that if presented on the surface without mention of any names, would be praised to the fullest extent. From the amount of care in life that Israel has on her enemies citizens to the fact that their enemies serve in their government, is an accomplishment of itself. For one to portray Israel as anything other than that, one could only be a fool. From claims of apartheid to genocide, Israel has and still has its fair share of false accusations. Most of the world has failed to defend what is correct and what is wrong during this period of Israel being under attack. One wonders why President Biden refunded the Palestinian Authority a month ago or why he is willing to rejoin the Iran Deal or why it took him almost 2 days to defend one of America’s greatest allies?! Joe Biden might not be the one shooting the rockets and even his delayed reaction might be the correct wording, however, his actions which make an actual effect, have been abhorrent. There will always be political disagreement in all issues, however, there are some issues in which full agreement should be granted. Political leaders can still implement their agenda without having to throw the truth under the bus. Leaders who are diplomats can use diplomacy also without throwing an ally under fire, under the bus. Whether it’s the classic “deescalate” or “all sides should calm down” putting some of the blame on Israel, that’s abusing the idea of diplomacy. Diplomacy and politics are rational things which have legitimate debates, but it should not be abused at the cost of the truth.
Sincerely, D S G
Vues Master’s Note: I guess you don’t know the Democrat party. The party of all words and only destructive action!
MERON TRAGEDY
Dear Vues Master:
I usually do not respond to articles I read but this article troubled me terribly and I find myself having to rebut the letter. I have a hard time when someone takes the words of the torah and uses it to state a point they are making without proof or enough knowledge. What makes this person think that there is not some sort of basis. It is true that it is not something that usually the litvish or yeshivish crowd follows or if students would go would be bitul torah but that doesn’t disqualify what has been done for many years and by great gedolim. For one the Arizal Hakadosh went to Meron the first Lag BeOmer that he arrived from Egypt. ( Rabbi Chaim Vital in his sefer Shar Hakavanot writes about it). The Bnei Yissaschar also writes about it and the reason that we light the Bonfire on Lag BeOmer. Rabbi Ovadia of Bertinoro in the 15th Century, known for his classic commentary on the Mishna writes a letter to his brother about going up together on the 18th of Iyar to light together a large fire. I don’t think one can disregard something so quickly and use words of the Torah to fit one’s agenda. It is taking the Torah Hakedosha and twisting it. I also found it insensitive to the people who lost their lives. These were all shomrei Torah Umitzvot and even if it is not my way it does not mean it is wrong. Some of these gedolim who were mentioned did not go up to Meron not because they were against it but they did not even attend some family weddings because they would waste too much time from learning. I want to make another comment,none of us know why this happened or why the loss of life in Stalin happened and we cannot assume to understand any of Hashem’ ways, the only thing we do know is that whatever Hashem does is good and just, even when we don’t understand. People trying in any way to give any sort of reason or explanation is to think they know or understand G-d’s thoughts. “Machsevosai lo Machshevoshaichem.”
DB
Vues Master’s Note: We kind of see that there are Ayin panim laTorah. We see that things can be interpreted in so many ways!
REVERSE DISCRIMINATION
Dear Vues Master:
Last week Camp Hikon achieved international notoriety through being smeared by NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo for “discriminating against vaccinated individuals”. This was very gratifying for us, since it highlighted the national hypocrisy whereby it’s OK for colleges across the country to discriminate against unvaccinated students in the fall, but it’s not OK for camps to cautiously “discriminate” and keep vaccinated counselors and campers away from vulnerable unvaccinated campers. Gratifying, yes, but also terrifying. How to reconcile a non-negotiable opening day coming up in 6 weeks with the abrupt political exile of Camp Hikon from NYS? If you think it might be a good idea to just call the whole thing off and try again next year, consider that not opening this season would send precisely the wrong message. It would tell the world that there’s not a whole lot you can do when things go badly. If we allow ourselves the luxury of becoming victims of our own circumstances, we lose all credibility to set ourselves up as teachers of the youth in navigating future crises. Let’s face it, if we can’t get through this one, we may as well just close our doors for good. So, yes, we will be opening this summer. But how to make it work? If no more than a few dozen campers were expected, we might be able to rent a farm with a large farmhouse. But the reality is that we’ll be hosting perhaps 100 boys and 100 girls plus ample support staff. It’s improbable any campsite with sufficient housing could be found. Obviously, we’re going to have to build a campsite from scratch. First, we’ll need a roomy parcel of partially forested land in a town with weak zoning regulations. Then we’ll have to install one or two pools. A fleet of RVs or temporary bungalows or tiny houses can serve as bunkhouses. Public buildings like a shul, dining hall and gymnasium are a little more complicated, but still manageable. What about plumbing? We’ll have washing water piped into bunkhouses, but we’ll sidestep the complexity and expense and delay of a full septic system by adopting composting toilets. (Incidentally, if you’ve never seen a Kibbutz Lotan composting toilet, you’ve never seen a composting toilet at all.) What about heat and hot water? Wood-burning stoves. Electricity? In the summer months we won’t be using a whole lot, so a little solar or wind should be sufficient. Setting up a campsite from scratch certainly seems overwhelming, but when you break it up into manageable parts, it doesn’t seem nearly so daunting. We have to believe that Hashem challenges us because He loves us. R. Avigdor Miller used to say that although we’re obligated to cry out to Hashem in need, this is not enough. We must also think our problems through and make an effort to arrive at reasonable solutions. And then we’ll truly receive Hashem’s blessing.
NS
Vues Master’s Note: I think if you will take the vaccine you will discriminate against those who did not take vaccine. It seems ro be the same as a liberal discriminating against a conservative!
PALESTINIANS
Dear Vues Master: Yakov Dzhugashvili was the son of Joseph Stalin. He suffered from severe depression, and he tried to commit suicide. His father’s response? “He can’t even shoot straight.” This is true evil. The evil that is shown by the Palestinian leadership, who sacrifice their own children to use as human shields and to feed the propaganda machine. Anti-Semitism is nothing new; in every generation, Jews are used as a scapegoat. Thus, it is a travesty yet no wonder that the world blames Israel for everything. Yet one must wonder why the Palestinians receive so much support despite what they do to their own children.
AS
Vues Master’s Note: They have the Squad on their side. This Country is headed in the same direction as Sedom. We protect those who desecrate the sanctity of marriage and yet we fight the Jews who believe in kedusha. This is where this country is up to!
HAPPINESS
Dear Vues Master:
The ז”בדר writes, “ Single men may Duchan םייפכ תאישנ. Even though they are without Simcha. (החמש אלב השא אלב) They are not worse off than married men הזה ןמזב who are also without Simcha because of their הסנרפ and household תוגאד (worries).”
MF
Vues Master’s Note: I am so happy you wrote this letter. I was worried no one would cover this topic!
VACCINE
Dear Vues Master:
It is certain that without the vaccine, the virus will mutate and continue to spread. It is certain that the virus is dangerous and has effects that appear to be long term. It is possible that the vaccine has long term effects, but extremely unlikely, just like it’s unlikely that rice dough has a dangerous effect when combined with ice cream (although not proven, so eat mochi ice cream with the same caution with which you approach the vaccine).
GW
Vues Master’s Note: What does rice have to do with this? Unless you call it China virus then we will have to stop eating Sushi. Your logic would not apply to children which the Government wants to vaccinate so they don’t feel like they wasted their money. Also people who had the virus are immune to it naturally. But science is only used when it agrees with the person’s narrative.
ANOTHER TRUTH
Dear Vues Master:
Don’t look down on those who have different תוריבע than you. Do look up on those who have different תווצמ than you.
LK
Vues Master’s Note: But what if his suit is different than mine or his hat is different than mine? Or if he does not wear a hat. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
USING WORDS
Dear Vues Master:
In “Record Depression and Anxiety: COVID and Mental Health,” the author, Rabbi Efram Goldberg, suggests that words like “anxious” and “depressed” should not be used outside of a clinical context. I respectfully disagree. These words long predate clinical usage, and a word’s original meaning and usage do not get erased just because the word acquired a clinical meaning. Referring to non-clinical depression and anxiety as such is no less correct than the clinical usage.
JB
Vues Master’s Note: I am anxious to find out if I will become depressed when I ask the politicians what the correct Science is for depression and anxiety. It seems that they are the experts these days on Science!
DISPUTE
Dear Vues Master:
Two men went to a בר to judge their dispute. While the plaintiff was preparing his presentation, he saw the defendant and the בר conferring and suspected that the fix was in. When the defendant rose to speak, the בר said: “I assume you claim ם״דהל.” Immediately, the plaintiff called out “I also claim ם״דהל.” Surprised, the בר asked what he meant by that. The plaintiff responded: “יבר, he claims ם״דהל, meaning םלועמ םירבד – היה אל. And I claim ם״דהל, meaning, as stated in היעשי, that טפשמ ושרד -בטיה ודמל .”
FM
Vues Master’s Note: I say that this story never happened. I still need to learn and research it well!
BAREFOOT
Dear Vues Master: The reason םינהכ must remove their shoes for Duchening is, 1) there might be a ןהכ with torn shoe strap 2) who will be embarrassed (to Duchen with torn shoes) 3) he will fix the strap 4) he will miss the Duchening (busy fixing) 5) and people say he is a השורג ןב. (Pasul Kohen) Chazal were very concerned we should not embarrass another Yid They prevented this unlikely sequence of events ( all 5 things have to happen) by having all םינהכ go shoeless to Duchen even though it’s highly unlikely for all this to ever happen.
KM
Vues Master’s Note: This is fascinating. You must be sensitive from head to toe!
MAYOR DE BLAH BLAH
Dear Vues Master:
After a series of violent attacks by pro-Palestinian rioters against Jews, Mayor Bill de Blasio tweets, “Anti-semitism has NO place in our city.” What a stinking hypocrite! This is coming from the man who time and time again called out the Frum Jewish communities in New York throughout Covid. Even as their rates were lower than those of Harlem etc. The man is a lowlife.
BM
Vues Master’s Note: His great laws of no bail required is awesome. Let these criminals do it again. Especially if they boast they will do it again. Sedom?
VORT
Dear Vues Master:
When their children got engaged to be married, their fathers, a ריבג and an ינע, each of them agreed to give a large sum towards the wedding. When the time for the wedding arrived, there was no way that the poor man could meet his obligation. The angry ריבג asked: “If you knew that you couldn’t pay, why did you agree to such a large sum?” The poor man answered: “Did you ever note that in the תונברק that we say each morning, there is no mention of the ינע ןברק? Do you know why? The answer is because since we merely say the תונברק, but don’t actually bring them, we may as well say them like the wealthy do.”
GC
Vues Master’s Note: Is this why we make a Vort?
ANTI SEMITISM
Dear Vues Master:
So now the BBC is investigating its hiring of journalist in Ramsllah, the Arab nazi who tweeted earlier, Hitler was right. She also said Israel is worse… which hoes hand in hand in this antisemitic fire. To praise Hitler and accuse Israel of outrageous terminology. This comes as the AJC blamed the increase in crude horrific anti Semitic attacks to vitriol, such as the use of “apartheid” (‘apartheid slur’). Incidentally, it was promoted in April by another bigoted Arab “activist” Omar Shakir, active against Israel since student years, deported in 2019 over his BDS, and is said to be very angry, now abusing HRW platform for the trope. On Sunday, anti-Israel extremist Bernie Sanders was asked by CBS what he thinks of the use of the word such as “apartheid.” (Used also by augter of Mohammed Hadid and by Rashida Tlaib and backed by AOC) Sanders said not to use such rhetoric.
Vues Master’s Note: Just imagine if a Jew would say all the things the Arabs say against us. It would create an uproar! Douvle Standard! Is it not interesting that the BLM has aligned itself with the Moslems who are still currently engaging in Slavery and oppression of women! Ironic!
BIDEN
Dear Vues Master:
My friend told me about Biden :Here’s the career Plagiarist taking credit for something else he didn’t do. An example of actually brokering a deal is Trump at the Abraham Accords. I responded : You clearly did NOT listen to his 3 minute remarks because he did NOT take credit for the cease-fire. In fact, he thanked many people and many nations that were involved in the effort. He also prayed to G-D publicly that the peace should continue since he is a obviously a very religious man and is not ashamed to say so. He responded: In what religion is he “obviously a very religious man and is not ashamed to say so.”? The religion of abortion, deviant relationships, funding of Iran and terrorism, protection of Rashanta Tlaib and her fellow behaimos, etc.? If so, then I agree with you. He is extremely adherent to the religion of “progressive” liberalism and destruction of everything this once great nation stood for. Who is right?
TY
Vues Master’s Note:You guys are both wrong! Al Tivtechu don’t trust anyone but Hashem!!
DEMOCRATS
Dear Vues Master:
It is an objectively true fact that whomever votes for the Democrat Party is voting for the party that a) Has a strong base of at least 20 to 30 percent that is actively opposed to Israel ( how many voted for Bernie. b) Has a core of rising stars that are visibly opposed to Israel ( The “Squad” The Republican party may have isolated cases of individuals who are anti-Israel however the leadership and core are visibly and actively pro-Israel a) Donald Trump was and is acknowledged by all to have been one of the most beneficial Presidents in History for the Israeli State. Ted Cruz, McCarthy, Hannity, DeSantis & others who have leading voices in the Republican Party were not shy about forcefully speaking up and defending Israel and forcefully condemning Hamas. It is also objectively true that while Trump was in office there was peace in the Mideast. Permanent Peace treaties were signed not temporary truces. The USA stopped send hundreds of millions of dollars to those who killed Jews. As soon as Biden entered office the Hamas terrorists saw fit to start another war. As a wry Isreali commentator said “we are glad the Jews who voted for Biden are no longer bothered by Trump’s tweets, Instead, now we are bothered by Hamas rockets”
IG
Vues Master’s Note: Could not have said it any better!