08 Feb 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.

 

CHINUCH

Dear Vues Master:

My daughter just received her report

card and we were very happy

with her grades. The one subject

that she was actually struggling

with was math. Her math teacher

last year thought that she should

go up to the top class in her grade

and she has been doing well but

not as well as she was doing,

when she was in the second highest

math class. The teacher is not

concerned but I ask, is it better to

be the weakest child in the highest

class or the strongest child in the

lower class?

GS

Vues Master’s Note: I guess like

everything in life it is a calculated

risk. Math is all about percentages.

It all counts. It is a numbers

game.

DIETS

Dear Vues Master:

Is it just me or is it impossible to

lose weight as a frum Jew? Between

kiddushim & simchas I can

never lose weight. I know they say

that you should eat in moderation

but†it’s†so†difficultƆWherever†I†go

people are shoving food in my

face & then I come home and

my†mother†tells†me†I’m†fatƆWhat

should I do?

KL Vues Master’s Note: I I say just

wait and see. I am on a seefood

diet. I think fat is good as then

there is more of me to think about.

More of me to love. Remember

round is a shape too..

EULOGY

Dear Vues Master:

The two wealthiest brothers in

town were also its biggest misers.

They refused to contribute to the

shul. They didn’t give tzedakah to

the poor. When one of them died,

his brother approached the Rabbi

and asked him to deliver a eulogy

at the funeral. The Rabbi turned

him down, explaining that he had

nothing good to say about his

brother. “I’ll give you $100,000

right now, if you agree to do it and

say he was a mensch,” the surviving

brother said. At the levayah,

the Rav addressed the mourners,

saying: “The deceased made a lot

of money with his stealing ways

and thought he could take it all

with him. But all in all, he was

more of a mensch than his brother.”

MB

Vues Master’s Note:As we always

say where there is a will there are

relatives.

ANTI-SEMITISM

Dear Vues Master:

It’s really getting scary out there.

Over the last few months it feels

like there is more antisemitism

throughout the United Sates than

their has been in the last fifty years.

Two weeks ago it was Texas. Last

week it was Orlando. This week it

was Williamsburg. There is even a

case now being brought against

Brooklyn College. Chas Vshalom,

are we on the verge of another Holocaust?

Hashem please help us!!!

JV

Vues Master’s Note: Yes there is only one place that Rashi on the Torah brings a halacha and that is: Halacha is known that Eisav hates Yaakov. This is around since mattan Torah and from even before!

WAITING

Dear Vues Master:

I spend half of my life waiting†on†line†either†in†traffic†honking, at the bank getting quarters for the meter, at the barber, grocery, bakery, shoemaker, Hoshana Rabba making hakofos, waiting for the train, plane, bus, and especially at the deli waiting on line for my Super Bowl hero sandwich on a whole wheat baguette with smoked turkey, turkey pastrami, Mexican turkey with mustard, mayo, Russian dressing, lettuce, tomato, fried onions, pickles, coleslaw, French fries, onion rings, potato salad, potato Kugel, luckshshin Kugel, salt & pepper Kugel, yerushalmi kugel, and an ice cold Diet Coke! If I wouldn’t have to wait on line, I would be a Talmid Chochom!

RLL!

Vues Master’s Note: Why don’t you order everything on line? It is not that tangled as a web?

KIDDUSH HASHEM

Dear Vues Master:

I saw a great Kiddush Hashem this past weekend on VinNews and I had to share it with your readers. Dovi Soiefer, a Jewish businessman, arrived in Miami for a business conference – “the ECAP Health Conference” this week, looking forward to productive business meetings.

On his way to the conference, Soiefer was attacked by two rottweiler dogs, who knocked him to the ground and scratched and bit him on the arm. After the owner of the dogs succeeded in controlling them, he gave Soiefer his number and told him to be in touch and receive restitution from him.

A woman from the hotel who saw the attack called the police, who said that if Soiefer pressed charges, the dogs would be put down.

The embarrassed owner of the dogs pleaded with Soiefer not to press charges and promised him compensation for his injuries. The man said

that he had already recently lost a dog to sickness and did not want to lose his other dogs. However after Soiefer heard that the owner of the dogs was Jewish, he had a different request from him.

Soiefer, the owner of a business providing equipment to restaurants,had hoped to meet potential clients at the conference. Once he met the

Jewish man, he refused to get remuneration and instead asked him to put on TefillinƆHe†told†that†man†that he could see how distraught he was and assured him†that†putting†on†Tefillin†would make him feel better.

The man agreed and for the first†time†in†his†life†placed†Tefillin†on†his†arm†and†head†and said Shma Yisrael with his new friend.

VN

Vues Master’s Note: Inspiring! I guess these dogs had a bite worse than their bak.

POLITICS

Dear Vues Master:

The Vues Master will be happy that I’m writing about something else; however, not about what Jamie Scher Esq. has to say: I urge you to share this with others. If you think I’m crazy I hope you are right, and I’m wrong. This is not politics; this is simply right v. wrong. I hope you will take the time to read it. February 14, 2022 is the last day to put in a comment regarding your opinion of Governor Hochul’s health care regulation. She is sneaking through a similar bill that she recently had to withdraw, bill A416. She surreptitiously regurgitated it as a Health regulation. This regulation will give her power to arrest and indefinitely detain people as suspected health threats. There will be no due process, no hearing, no judges, or lawyers. People will be put into Covid camps for an indeterminant amount of time. This regulation completely bypasses the legislature, including public opinion and debate and voting by elected representatives.

Call the Governor’s office and leave a message that you want to see S75a/A279a stopped. Governor Kathy Hochul: P (212) 681-4580; F

(518) 474-1513 Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins: P (518) 455-2585; F (518) 426-6844 Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie: P (518) 455-3791, scousins@nysenate.gov

G-d makes kings; Biden in Hebrew means b’din (in judgement) so let’s do our part to lessen the judgement. The last president was Trump which is truma po (You will raise here) and not somewhere else, I hope I’m wrong about that.

DG

Vues Master’s Note: Yes! Our messages will really make a difference. Considering the fact our Governor never was elected and will be elected in a landslide She will really care about our letters!

COVID

Dear Vues Master:

My family just went to Israel for Yeshiva break & a crazy story happened. The day we were supposed to leave back to America my family had to get antigen tests in order to get back on the plane to go back to New York. My husband tested positive & everyone else tested negative. My husband had to stay in Israel†for†an†additional†five†days because that is Israel’s rule. The problem I had was not Israel’s rule but that the day after he tested positive he took another rapid test & tested negative. He tested negative everyday the rest of the week. Israel’s rules did not let him get on the plane &†they†officially†counted†him as someone that got CovidƆWhen†you†hear†that†Israel’s numbers are insane regarding Covid, I think we all have to understand that not everyone really had covid that they say had it. The numbers are clearly exaggerated.

DS

Vues Master’s Note: I believe Covid made a lot of people sick. Some physically, some mentally and some by making them into power hungry

people!

SANITATION

Dear Vues Master:

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU to the department of sanitation & the local politicians i.e. Councilwoman Inna Vernikov helped out last week by making alternate side of the street parking suspended due to the big snow storm from the previous weekend. It was definitely a big help. 

HG

Vues Master’s Note: Now can we finally get garbage pick up not a week later?

SNOW

Dear Vues Master:

It was very hard last week to walk around Flatbush with everyone away & snow all over the place. People should do a chesed & help their neighbors by shoveling their neighbors’ walkways when they are away because it becomes a big Chilul Hashem, when people notice all the Jewish homes having snow on their walkways.

RS

Vues Master’s Note: People don’t want to shovel as the street looks bad . There is no garbage pickup so all you have is smelly garbage all over!

CONCERT

Dear Vues Master:

I’m†really†excited†to†find†out†who is going to be at the Makor concert that is featuring singers from the last sixty years. My guess is Avraham Fried, MBD, Shwekey, Yeedle, LIPA, Dedi & Abie Rotenberg. The fact that Sheya Mendlowitz is producing it, I’m sure it’s going to be a great concert!!

SM

Vues Master’s Note: Wow! It is the closest thing to a time machine where we will get carried back in time!

SMOKED

Dear Vues Master:

I just went this past Shabbos to a friend’s house for Friday night dinner and the host smoked a lamb and brisket. It was awesome! I never had something smoked in someone’s house. I’ve had it at a restaurant, but I really enjoyed it. I’m thinking of getting a smoker also.

HW

Vues Master’s Note: Did they serve it on a chicurri board?

COMMAND

Dear Vues Master:

Not everybody, but almost all have†the†Wrong†Teitch

Even Artscroll incorrectly translated†הוצת†התאו†“You†SHALL command”

You†shall†command≠†≠WRONG

You will command- – CORRECT

Rashi in Parshas (Emor translates Veata Tetzaveh

“You†WILL†command”†©prediction)

In this week’s Parsha, Hashem is predicting to Moishe that he will command.

MF

Vues Master’s Note: I shall respond that this letter was written to correct my translation. It was meant to be!

KADDISH

Dear Vues Master:

A Rav who went to pray in the Shul of a town he was visiting was surprised to see that all of the congregants were saying kaddish. He went over to the shamash and asked what happened, was there a mageifa in town? “No,” the shamash answered. “Unfortunately, in this town people only come to the shul when they have to say kaddish.” The Rav sighed and said: Kol Haeida kulam kedoshim.

NM

Vues Master’s Note: It is a dead issue!

CULT

Dear Vues Master:

Where†are†cults†mentioned†in†the Torah?

Vayikra 18:21 “Do not allow any of your offspring to be offered up to Molech, and do not profane†the†name†of†your†G≠d∫†I am the Lord.”

Ibn Ezra, 11th century, comments:

The rabbis interpreted Molech as a general term for any idol whom a person accepts as a king over him. The word Molech is connected to the word melekh – king (Vayikra18:21. Sefaria.org).

Sforno, 16th century, comments:

The difference between offering†sacrifices†to†G≠d†and†to†Molech†respectively†is†that†G≠d†takes†only†animal†sacrifices¨†whereas as Molech takes, human†beings¨†specifically†children¨†as†a†sacrificeƆThis†would†indicate that the worshiper (the father who gives his children to Molech) considers him more powerful†than†G≠d†©Leviticus

18:21. Sefaria.org).

Maimonides, 12th century, Mishneh Torah:

One is liable for leading any of his descendants to Molech, whether they are legitimate or illegitimate, whether sons or daughters, their children or grand-children, or any descendants. If he led his brothers, sisters, ancestors, or himself, to Molech, he is not liable; or if he led his offspring, while asleep or blind, he is not liable (Moses Haymson. Sefaria.org).

If the father is blind that this person is lording over his child he is not liable; however, those who are not blind should help curb this by informing others.

DG

Vues Master’s Note: This gives a new meaning to the word cultivate!

SEFER

Dear Vues Master:

The Malbim was once asked for his haskoma on a sefer. The Malbim reviewed the sefer, which was a pirush on the Kinnos of Tisha B’Av. Concluding that it wasn’t worthy of his haskama, the Malbim said “I can’t give you a haskama on your pirush of the kinnos, but I can†give†you†a†kinnaה†on†your†pirush.”

Vues Master’s Note: II would sign my name on the bottom of the page as we know the Torah says midvar sheker tirchak!

YOU TUBE

Dear Vues Master:

We†should†all†boycott†YouTube†and start using Odysee instead. YouTube stands for cancel culture. Odysee stands for free speech. The way things are going, YouTube will probably start banning shiurim soon. Odysee welcomes them.

LN

Vues Master’s Note: Never heard of that company.The closest I have heard is my Honda which is a Shonda! Do you work for that company?

SCAM

Dear Vues Master:

Blink and you might miss your a chance to seemingly buy ‘Forever’ stamps for 48 cents apiece. Not buying is the key to saving yourself and others too. The USPS has been seeing what they call ‘an uptick’ of counterfeit ‘Forever’ postage stamps. AARP wrote about this

(https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2021/fake-postage-stamp.html

Two months ago a Jewish magazine ran an aggressive ad saying that other people are paying fifty†eight†dollars†for†a†roll†of†stamps – “but you’re not other people” – so why not pay only FORTY Eight. The email address they use seems ‘Jewish’ but†Gneiva†©what†The†Post†Office’s†Inspector†General†labels†Postal Revenue Fraud) is not our way.

Two scenarios: Someone thinks they’ll help their shul by buying these stamps. The shul mailing might be returned to the shul not too long thereafter, assuming that an entire mailing was brought to what USPS calls†the†“source”†post†officeƆAlternatively, individual Chasuna invitations might be held by†the†post†office¨†with†a†notice†left in the recipient’s box saying that a postage-due item is being held for pickup at their local†post†officeÆ

A†Google†seeking†Counterfeit†Stamp AARP will show what a postalinspector outlined as another pair of outcomes: In brief, either youget nothing in the mail for your money (what a MaMaMin should see as a big bracha) or worse, counterfeit stamps, with the prior pair of likely results.

The pattern of these ads in Jewish periodicals (Dec. 22 issue of one weekly, Jan. 19 in another) suggests that some of us are viewed as likely to fall for this.

(signed)

Don’t Fall for 48 Cent Counterfeit Stamp ad

Vues Master’s Note: It is time to stamp out all these scams! We need to follow the “letter” of the law.