17 Aug 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.

 

THE TORAH OF YOUR MOTHER

Dear Vues Master:

Proverbs (1:8) Hear, my son, the mussar

of your father, and do not forsake the

Torah of your mother. The question is,

why the Torah of the mother and not the

father and doesn’t Torah come before

mussar?

\The answer: If the mother doesn’t

undermine the father’s mussar then it’s

Torah with a capital “T”; however, if she

undermines his mussar then it’s her torah

and forsake it. This is clearly spelled out

in another proverb Proverbs (10:1): The

proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes

a father glad, but a foolish son is the grief

of his mother. The Malbim says: A father

is seen by his son as the source of

discipline and moral instruction; if the

son lives virtuously, then the credit goes

to the father; that is his “gladness.” The

mother, on the other hand expresses the

grief of feeling personal responsibility

and blame if the son chooses a life of

vice, for evidently her loving relationship

with him has served to protect her son

from the discipline and wholesome rigors

of the father’s education. – ArtScroll I

think this explains why the Ramban quoted

Proverbs (1:8) at the very beginning

of his letter to his son. He’s saying to his

son that it’s his father’s mussar that will

lead him in the right path and not his father’s

Torah; even though he was a Gadol

in Torah.

DG

Vues Master’s Note: Now, I feel like it’s

Ellul! Thanks for the Mussar.

THE POWER OF HELLO

Dear Vues Master:

Years ago, a renowned rabbi in Poland

always took a daily stroll around his

neighborhood, Mindful of the Jewish

Sages’ teaching to greet every person

with a pleasant expression, the rabbi met

each person he passed on these walks

with a smile and a sincere “Good morning!”

In this way , he met many friendly

acquaintances, including a neighbor of

German decent. “Good morning , Herr

Mueller!” the rabbi would say. “Good

morning Herr Rabbiner!” the man would

replied. When World War ll began, the

rabbi’s walks came to a stop, and many

non-Jews donned S.S. uniforms and went

off to war. The rabbi soon found himself

on one of the infamous selection lines of

the concentration camps, where a flick of

a hand towards the right meant life, and

where a flick to the left signaled imminent

death. the weak frail rabbi was sure

to be sent to the left, but at the front of the

line , a flash of recognition crossed his

face. “ Good morning , Herr Mueller,”the

rabbi said to the guard. “Good morning

,Herr Rabbiner,”couldn’t help but

respond. And then, “To the right!”. The

rabbi uttimately survived the war, and all

because he had taken the time to say good

morning. There is no guarantee that

your kindness to others will be paid back

by others. there may have been other

Jews who were recognized in the concentration

camps by former neighbors , then

Nazi soldiers who did not return kindness.

Kindness should not be extended

because you expect something in return.

Kindness should be extended because of

the person you are, your essence, and the

example you wish to set for others. Hoprfully

kindness will become contageous

and others will recipricate with an equal

reply, making our journey in this world a

more pleasant one. But it isn’t something

you should expect or count on. Adapted

from Yaffa Eliach’s, Hasidic Tales of the

Holocaust.

YE

Vues Master’s Note: Hello! This is a

great story.

STOMACH

Dear Vues Master:

A םכח†דימלת†was asked whether there is a scriptural expression which refers to Jews whose observance of the םיגח†is expressed through their stomachs, like eating donuts or latkes on הכונח, or Hamantaschen on םירופ, or even cheeses on תועובש? “Yes,” he replied. “A קוספ†in םיליהת†says: יעמ†ךותב†ךתרות.”

MB

Vues Master’s Note: I can’t stomach such letters. It feels like a Boich sevara.

BETTY CROCKER

Dear Vues Master:

Many people have purchased the Betty Crocker Pizza Machine. I was wondering if any kashrus organization checked it out since there is a heavy coating in the pan. Sometimes it leaks heavy brown oil and I am wondering if it is kosher – Made in China??

CYM

Master’s Note: I have not heard anything but if anyone did please share it with us. This would leave the people using this pot in a sticky situation!

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!

DONUTS

Dear Vues Master:

Before Dov started to eat the chocolate danish the Rav reminded him not to forget to make a Bracha (תונוזמ) After eating the danish (full רועיש) the Rav told him not to make a הנורחא†הכרב. Psak from Rav Y.S. Elyashiv zt”l Dov is a diabetic and should not be eating chocolate danishes 1) Brocho Achrono needs a shiur (minimum amount must be eaten). 2) Brocho Rishono has no shiur. (no minimum food need to be eaten) 3) Food that is harmful, no Brocho is made When Dov bites into the first והשמ†(minimum piece), it is not yet harmful (too small), he is obligated in a Brocho Rishono. After eating a shiur, it is harmful, therefore no Brocho Achrono is said.

MF

Vues Master’s Note: Sounds like I need to run it off. I still think we can have food in moderation!

MONEY IN YOUR MOUTH

Dear Vues Master:

A man showed up in the hospital having accidentally swallowed some cash. The doctor got it out, but then she asked him, “How did this even happen to you?” He replied, “Today I learned never to listen to people who tell me to put my money where my mouth is.”

LD

Vues Master’s Note: I am betting that this guy lost some money over the years! To coin a phrase money does not grow on trees so we don’t eat it!

COMPARING DIFFERENT JEWS

Dear Vues Master:

The great אריפש†ריאמ†בר†once explained the difference between a דיסח†and a דגנתמ†in learning. “Two young men, one a דיסח†and one a דגנתמ, were learning the ארמג†in הכוס†תכסמ†which says of לאיזוע†ןב†ןתנוי†that

קסועו†בשוי†היהש†העשב

וילעמ†חרופה†ףוע†לכ†–†הרותב

ףרשנ†דימ†ריוואב. The דיסח†was very moved by the story and the holiness of לאיזוע†ןב†ןתנוי. The דגנתמ, on the other hand, asked “What is the ןיד? Is לאיזוע†ןב†ןתנוי†liable to pay for the damage that he caused to the owner of the burnt bird?”

BM

Vues Master’s Note: I think the bird can be described as having a bird brain!

REMOVE FAT

Dear Vues Master:

Many people believe that there are exercises that remove fat from a particular area of the body. This is not the case. Exercise can lead to a calorie deficit, which can lead to weight loss, but the weight can come off any part of the body. There are cosmetic procedures such as Emsculpt that can spot reduce, but exercise cannot.

AD

Vues Master’s Note: Hey I am in shape! Round is a shape!

HELP PROPERTY OWNERS

Dear Vues Master:

NYS Senator Simcha Felder called on Washington to demonstrate unequivocal support for New York’s small property owners. 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. Yesterday, the CDC extended the moratorium for 60 days. “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: A Bracha Levatala. In Communist Russia and in Socialism one can’t own property. No help for property owners. We want everyone to be dependant on Government!

LIVING IN ISRAEL

Dear Vues Master:

לארשי†ץרא†בושי†תוצמ

התוא†םתשריו≠

הב†םתבשיו≠You shall possess it and settle in it

In Parshas יעסמ†(Bamidbar 33:53) there is a similar

Pasukתא†םתשרוהוÆ

ץראה

הב†םתבשיו

י”שר†explains that the Torah tells us is to conquer and rid the other nations from the land. By doing so we will have the capability to settle in Eretz Yisroel.

1) According to י”שר, there is no such Mitzvah of י”א†בושי.

2) The ן”במר†argues and holds that הב†םתבשיו†is a

אתיירואד†השע†תווצמ†that is applicable even הזה†ןמזב

3) The ם”במר†doesn’t mention the Mitzvah of Æי”א†בושי

There are different opinions in the Rambam if and when he holds there is a Mitzvah of

י”א†בושי

4) The ש”אר†quotes a הטיש†that during תיבה†ןמז†there was

אתיירואד†השע†תווצמ†but today there is no Mitzvah.

5) תופסות†quotes םייח†וניבר†who holds that even הזה†ןמזב†there is

a Mitzvah of י”א†בושי. However, we don’t practice this Mitzvah because there are many

ץראב†תויולתה†תווצמ†which are difficult for us to observe.

6) The יולה†תיב†explains Tosfos that the ח”ר†holds the sole reason for the Mitzvah of י”א†בושי†is to be Mekayam

ץראב†תויולתה†תווצמ†and since we can’t do it there is no reason to practice the Mitzvah of

י”א†בושיÆ

7) The רפוס†םתח†holds that the Mitzvah is applicable הזה†ןמזב†but only if you have a majority of Yidden living in לארשי†ץרא.

8) The השמ†תורגא†holds that

הזה†ןמזב†the Mitzvah is

a תימויק†הוצמ†and not a

תיבויח†הוצמ. One is not

obligated to live in י”א†but those who do live there are

י”א†בושי†תוצמ†םייקמ†.

9) Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein and many more Poskim

hold that even הזה†ןמזב†the Mitzvah is a תיבויח†הוצמ.

Everyone who can is obligated to be י”א†בושי†תוצמ†םייקמ.

10) The השמ†לאויו* holds that י”א†בושי†תווצמ†is only applicable for those who are םימש†יארי†and doing it 100% םימש†םשל.

(™ב”כק†י”א†בושי†רמאמ)

FM

Vues Master’s Note: Are you a real estate agent in Israel? Do you have cheap property?

COMPARING DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS

Dear Vues Master:

After Sukkos, we put away the Sukkah. After חספ, we put away the dishes. After Shavuos, there are those who put away the Torah.

BN

Vues Master’s Note: Sad, but unfortunately true!

HORSING AROUND

Dear Vues Master:

At a time when obtaining an גורתא†was something few could afford and most people had to make do with the single one in shul, זיכשענמ†יכדרמ†׳ר†was determined to get one to perform the הוצמ. He saved up for months and travelled to the town of Brod to make the purchase. On his way, he met a poor Jew crying his eyes out. When he asked what happened, the man told him that he had a horse and wagon to transport merchandise. His horse died and now there was no way he could afford to buy another and continue to earn a living.

יכדרמ†׳ר†took all the money that he had saved up for the גורתא†and gave it to the poor man to buy a horse.

“גורתאה†לע†םיכרבמ†םלועה†לכ,” he said, “סוסה†לע†ךרבמ†ינאו.”

DN

Vues Master’s Note: Hee Haw shaking a horse cowboy style! Great story!

GOT THE MESSAGE

Dear Vues Master:

Benny and Mildred had tickets to Florida. At the last minute, Mildred had to take care of business and told Benny to go ahead without her and she would join him in a few days. When he arrived in Miami, Benny wanted to inform her that he arrived safely. He pulled out his phone and drafted an email but mistakenly sent it to an elderly woman who had just gotten up from shiva for her husband. As soon as she saw it, she let out a scream, fainted and fell to the floor. Her son came rushing to her side, looked at the message and saw the following: “My dear. Just checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival on Thursday. Your loving husband. P.S. Sure is hot down here.”

ND

Vues Master’s Note: Sounds like a good wake-up call for Ellul!

ELLUL

Dear Vues Master:

םינויבאל†תונתמו†והערל†שיא†You may do it 11 months in the year (even הליחתכל) but you may not do it the entire month of Ellul. ? 2) You may do it only 1 month in the year, in Ellul but not the other 11 months of the year. ? 1) The ןחלשה†ךורע†(O.Ch.581:12) writes, “It is forbidden to blow Shofar the entire month of Ellul, in the night time, even if it’s done just for practice. The reason is, not to awaken the negative forces of the night.”(Kabbalah) The רוט†(O.Ch. 581) writes that in זנכשא†the Minhag is to blow Shofar every morning and evening

(ברעו†רקב†לכב†) R. Moishe Feinstein zt”l (Igros Moishe O.Ch. 4, 21,) writes, “It is רבתסמ†(makes sense) “Erev” is not in the night-time, but during the daytime, either after Mincha* or after early Ma’ariv. (They used to Daven Ma’ariv in the daytime).” *The םדא†ייח, brings the Minhag of blowing Shofar after Mincha. 2) The סחנפ†ירמא†(R. Pinchos Koritzer zt”l) writes, During the month of לולא, one may recite Tehillim in the nighttime even before תוצח†(all year round one may recite Tehillim in the night only after תוצח) MD

Vues Master’s Note: Good info here. Won’t blow the Shofar at night but will say tehillim at night!

WRONG ITEM

Dear Vues Master:

A customer who purchased a watch returned with it to the store the next day, complaining that it wasn’t keeping proper time. The storekeeper took the watch, shook it from side to side and up and down and returned it to the customer. “It will work fine now.” Sure enough, the customer returned the next day and again complained that the watch wasn’t keeping time. The storekeeper once again shook it from side to side and up and down and said it’s working now. The customer said: “Take it back. I bought a watch, not a בלול†and גורתא.”

KM

Vues Master’s Note: I laughed so hard that I was shaking. Time for a new watch!

TIRCHA OF THE TZIBBUR

Dear Vues Master:

Not to waste the Tzibur’s time by adding a Kapitel Tehillim The Gaon’s Minhag was not to add ירוא†’ה†דודל†from R. Chodesh Ellul till Simchas Torah Davening. ‘ The תרדא* writes the reason for not saying it was because of ארוביצד†אחריט. Saying one extra Kapitel Tehillim takes up too much time of the Tzibbur. Perhaps we can explain the Aderes /Gaon, There is no mention in

¨םינושאר†¨ימלשורי†¨ילבב

ל”זירא†יבתכ†ע”וש¨רוט†etc. to say ירוא†’ה†דודל†(in Ellul) The first to mention to say it רוביצב** is the Sefer םימיה†תדמח*** & the Sefer ןטק†בוט†םש†which are

הלבק†ירפס****. The Gaon, in general, was against adding additional Tefillos & Pesukim. He tried to stick to the original Tefillos of the Anshei Knesses Hagedola. A רוביצ†חילש†who starts one minute late in a Minyan of 100 people, wasted not one minute but 100 minutes. (אחריט†of 100 people times 1 minute) Adding a

םיליהת†לטיפק†which takes to say only one minute can at times be considered taking 100 minutes. This might explain why the Gaon considered it

ארוביצד†אחריט†and didn’t add it to the Tefilos during Ellul etc. . לולא†’א†most Shuls will be saying 3 םיליהת†ךלטיפק†at end of Davening. 1) םוי†לש†ריש

2) ירוא†’ה†דודל†3) ישפנ†יכרב†According to the Gaon, we don’t say the regular םוי†לש†ריש†since the םייול†didn’t say it on Rosh Chodesh & Yom Tov. All you would say i s ישפנ†יכרב†which was the םוי†לש†ריש†of Rosh Chodesh.

*םימואת†ץיבוניבר†דןד†והילא†ברה†(he was a twin) **The Sefer Shem Tov Katan printed before the Chemdas Hayomim mentions only to say it דיחיב†. ***major controversy who the author was. Some don’t say Ledovid Hashem Ori (Ellul) claiming the source is ש”מי†יתזעה†ןתנ†**** I believe the first Halacha Sefer to say it is the םירפא†הטמ

JF

Vues Master’s Note: A little extra Davening never hurt anyone!