04 Jun SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER

DAIRY
Dear Vues Master:
I can’t stand eating milchigs. My wife makes
every Shavuos 4 milchig meals. Baked
Ziti, Penne ala vodka, eggplant parmesan,
cheesecake and many other dairy dishes.
I do not like cheese. I do not like pasta. I
appreciate all the hard work my wife does
to prepare for Yom Tov, but I wish she made
some fleishigs also. One thing is for sure, I
am very happy that we dont eat milchigs on
a regular Shabbos.
SD
Vues Master’s Note: I tried coming up with
a good answer but all I could come up with
was a pareve answer!

SHIDDUCHIM
Dear Vues Master:
Over the last month I have found that three
of my friends’ kids and two relatives got
engaged after going out with the first person
they ever went out with. Not only that, it was
the first time the other side went out with
someone else as well. Is that a little crazy?
I know that people do a lot of research these
days before going out on shidduchim, but
don’t you think people should go out with
a few people before making a commitment
like marriage?
GH
Vues Master’s Note: Look, whatever works.
Sometimes it is good that they get engaged
when they are young and stupid and grow
together. Obviously, it is all from Hashem!

FLYING TO ISRAEL IS REALLY
EXPENSIVE
Dear Vues Master
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have
announced that they will resume flights to Tel
Aviv later this month, following an extensive
security risk assessment. Delta’s daily service
between New York JFK and Tel Aviv will resume
on June 7, while United will resume its non-stop
service to Tel Aviv on June 6. I just booked my
daughter a flight to go to Israel in the beginning
of September. It cost me $1850 round trip for an
economy seat on EL AL. The price is insane. I
hope that now that Delta & United Airlines are
flying again, the prices go back down.
AC
Vues Master’s Note: There’s a reason why EL
AL’s profits went up so much this year. They
were the only airline flying and they raised their
prices accordingly.

FRUIT SOUP
Dear Vues Master:
This past weekend a little debate happened at
my table about the bracha made on fruit soup.
My wife served fruit soup as an appetizer and
my two boys were arguing whether they needed
to make a separate bracha after they washed and
made hamotzei. I believe one makes a separate
bracha when eating a fruit for dessert, even after
one had washed in the beginning of the meal.
What do you think?
LB
Vues Master’s Note: Dessert is correct but since
it serves as an appetizer that would be considered
part of the meal thereby becoming exempt with
the Hamotzi made on the bread. I would check
with your local Orthodox Rabbi.

CHINUCH
Dear Vues Master:
My son just informed me that he wants
to stay in Eretz Yisrael to learn for a
third year. I’m having a very hard time
with that. I want him to go to college &
get a degree & move on with his life. I
don’t think he wants to go into chinuch
& I’m pretty sure he’s not learning
in the Beis Medrash full time. What
should I do?
JN
Vues Master’s Note: Nothing! He
probably won’t listen to you. So let him
figure it out!

HEAR YA
Dear Vues Master:
With Sefirah ending, the noise
increases. The days of mourning are
replaced by weddings, B’nai and B’not
Mitzvah and other simchot. With
these events comes loud ear-damaging
music. The earbuds and headphones
go back on the head and the loud
music is back in style. Summer camps
feature frequent music events with loud
music blasting from big speakers. All
forms of loud music have the same
harmful effect on one’s hearing. I
have spoken to several audiologists all
of whom told me that in the past few
decades they have seen a tremendous
increase in hearing loss in teenagers
and even in children as young as two
years old. Hearing loss is irreversible.
Much of this damage is caused by
loud music through headphones and
attending events featuring loud music.
Deafness and hearing loss is more than
just an individual inconvenience. It
immensely affects one’s emotional and
psychological health. It also affects the
entire family dynamic, permanently.
Hearing loss can be largely prevented.
Lower the volume of music when
wearing headphones. The volume
should be lower than what you would
need if you were listening to the music
in a quiet room, not louder. Avoid
simchot that play loud music. If you
can’t hear your friend when you speak
to him while standing or sitting next to
each other, then the music is certainly

damagingly loud. Ear plugs do not
sufficiently help. The best solution is to
not be in the same room at all. If your
friend won’t cooperate by lowering the
volume to a safe level, I recommend not
attending the event at all. Your health
I smore important than your friend’s
feelings. Seriously, if your friend won’t
consider protecting other people’s
hearing health, what type of friend is s/
he? I am shouting out to all rabbanim,
community leaders and anyone with
congregational influence to prioritize
speaking about the effects of hearing
loss, while their community still has
the ability to hear your words. Simchot
and fun occasions do not require loud
music to be enjoyable. Emphasize that
everyone take care of their own as well
as their attendants’ hearing health and
safety by lowering the volume in their
personal smartphones, digital devices,
conferences, shul / yeshiva dinners,
weddings and other simchot. Camp
directors should also practice similar
procedures to protect campers’ hearing
health. There is no excuse for apathy
or neglect. Let’s be safe and smart
during the summer so that by the time
the Yamim Nora’im arrive when we
say Lishmo’a El Harina V’el Hatefila
it will be more than just a request to
G-d, but a benefit to ourselves and our
community.
D F
Vues Master’s Note:This letter is
ringing in my ears. Hope it does not
serve as white noise.

RECYCLING
Dear Vues Master:
Is recycling a scam or myth at best? Are
there any benefits to recycling when it
costs more to recycle an item than to
produce a new one? Most recycling
ends up in the same place as garbage
so is it mostly just a way to increase
revenue by ticketing people who
dont separate recycling items? What
are some better or additional ways
to minimize waste and unnecessary
junk? I’m not a save the whales kind
of guy but the environment does matter
at least a little seeing how we eat the

fish, animals and plants that all get
contaminated by hazardous waste and
items. It doesn’t seem that recycling is
the answer.
RW
Vues Master’s Note: Only recycling
letters serve a purpose.

PRICES
Dear Vues Master:
I was so surprised at how expensive
cheesecake is this year. I bought some
from a local bakery & it was over $65
for a small cake. Last year I paid $50 in
the same bakery.
RS
Vues Master’s Note: Thank President
Biden for inflation!

MOSQUITO
Dear Vues Master:
We are now in the warm weather season,
which is somewhat different from other
parts of the year. One difference is that
the threat of mosquitoes looms in the
background at this time. Mosquitoes
are not only a nuisance and irritant,
but also a health hazard, as they can
carry dangerous disease. Therefore it
is incumbent on all, particularly G-d
fearing Jews, to make sure that their
property doesn’t serve as a base or haven
that spreads those pests. Mosquitoes
breed in stagnant water. Therefore, if
there is standing water on your property
for just a few days, mosquitoes can
breed there. They can greatly multiply
in rapid fashion. It is recommended
by experts that standing water not be
tolerated. Standing water now is also
illegal under local law. Containers
that can hold such (even small ones,
like the size of a bottle cap), should
be removed, overturned, or disabled
(e.g. by making holes in them to allow
water to drain out. This goes also for
things like garbage cans, which may
collect water when it rains. In addition
to looking after this vital matter on your
own property, if you see standing water
elsewhere it would also be a mitzvah
to remove the hazard, whether by
education (alerting people to the threat
and sharing ways to address it), or other

appropriate action. As the saying goes,
an ounce of prevention is worth a pound
of cure. Thanks in advance for your
attention to this important matter. In the
zechus of concern, caring, and assisting
each other, maybe we be zoche to a safe
summer and good news.
Sincerely, Hoping not to be bitten
Vues Master’s Note: Oy! Its is water
under the bridge!

CAT
Dear Vues Master:
A man absolutely hated his wife’s cat
and one day decided to get rid of him,
driving him 20 blocks from his home
and leaving him at the park. As he was
getting home, the cat was walking up
the driveway. The next day, he decided
to drive the cat 40 blocks away. He put
the beast out and headed home. Driving
back up his driveway, there was the
cat! He kept taking the cat further and
further and the cat would always beat
him home. At last, he decided to drive a
few miles away, turn right, then left, past
the bridge, then right again and another
right until he reached what he thought
was a safe distance from his home and
left the cat there. Hours later, the man
called home to his wife and asked if
the cat was there. “Yes,” she answered,
“Why do you ask?” Frustrated, the man
answered, “Put him on the phone, I’m
lost and need directions!”
JK
Vues Master’s Note: I thought men
never ask directions?

FOUNDATION
Dear Vues Master:
We are counting up the Sefira on
the way to Shavuos. Along with the
number count, many have a custom
to mention in their prayer a reference
to the kabbalistic sephiras including
Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferes, Netzach,
Hoid, Yesoid , and Malchuth. When
davening, one might notice sporadic
occurrences of most of these. except
for Yesoid. For example, in the prayer
Va’yevorech Dovid, it mentions “lechu
Hashem Hagedulah (translated to
Chesed), va’Hagevurah, v’haTifereth,

va’HaNetzach, va’HaHoid..”
Malchuth is present in the davening
in sections as during Yishtabach and
Aleinu. However, Yesoid is almost
never mentioned unless you count “al
Yesoid ha’Mizbeach” in Karbonos.
Why is that? Well, yesoid translates to
foundation. The foundation of a house
supports the house but one cannot see it
from the outside. It’s underground. So
here too we don’t mention the yesoid
in davening because It’s hidden. In
addition, the word yesoid is comprised
of two words Yid and Soid which
could translate the Yid should keep
it secret. Only when “nichnas Yayin,
yutzu Soid”. The essence of Yesoid
symbolizes the Tzaddik as it says
“Tzaddik Yesoid Oilum”. Now, we
know that every Yid a Tzaddik; Yesoid
is the hidden Tzaddik in every one of
us. So it is generally kept hidden in
the general davening but it supports
everything.
DF
Vues Master’s Note: My Rosh Yeshiva
said in his shiur every week a new
yesoid. I could not find the foundation
to anything!

EASY
Dear Vues Master:
Albert Einstein was in constant
demand as a speaker and lecturer.
One day, he confided to his chauffeur,
Max, that the lecture circuit was
just wearing him out. Max listened
sympathetically and replied; “You
know, I’ve heard your presentations
many times and with a little practice,
I could stand in for you. Our looks and
the sounds of our voices are similar
and no one will be the wiser.” Einstein
smiled, but after a few moments asked
“Do you really think you can pull it
off?” “Yes,” Max responded. “Let
me try.” Later that week, after some
practice, Max and Einstein changed
roles. Einstein put on Max’s cap and
chauffeur’s uniform and sat in back
of the auditorium as Max made a
brilliant presentation, even answering
questions from the audience. He had
them all fooled. But one professor

got up and asked an extremely
complicated and difficult question that
had Max stumped. Without missing a
beat, Max responded: “The answer to
your question is simple. In fact, it’s so
basic that I’ll have my chauffeur, who
is sitting in back of the auditorium,
answer it for me.”
MV
Vues Master’s Note: I guess he felt it
was as easy as PI!

ALUMNUS SNUBS ALMA
MATER
Dear Vues Master
Columbia just took a massive hit!
A Columbia alumnus anonymously
donated $260 million of his fortune
to Bar-Ilan University in Israel. The
donor, while remaining anonymous,
wanted it known that he was a
Columbia graduate. He added that
he sees Bar-Ilan as “best able to
undertake the great task of expanding
science-based technological resilience
in Israel.” (Source: New York Post) *
This is just a reminder that everything
we do in life matters; everything.
And everything we do in life has
consequences; everything. No matter
how privileged, wealthy, powerful,
or respected a person, organization,
or university is… there is no escaping
this truism.
RSR
Vues Master’s Note: This is the
only way to fight back against these
colleges. Actions have consequences.
I’m glad that people are finally doing
something about it.

SIMCHAS ON SHABBOS
Dear Vues Master:
This isn’t an easy topic to speak about
but I do feel it has to be said. I waitered
Shabbos for many years and there are
many many halachic issues that come
up every minute on these jobs. I’m
sure nobody making a simcha has
put much thought into this because
it’s things you don’t really see. The
first problem is that no Jewish waiters
receive any type of crash course on
hilchos shabbos before starting. A

kippa is enough. I don’t think I need
to tell you what happens when you
don’t know about hilchos Shabbos.
Forget that mistakes will inevitably
happen, but you won’t even know
when it is time to ask either. Just a
quick example. Every single thing
that shows up to a catered event is
sealed shut and often taped as well. I’ll
name 5 melachos just to start that are
virtually unavoidable when dealing
with unknowledgable staff: koraya,
mechatech, boneh, mochek, makeh
bepatish. Since nobody is making sure
anything is opened in advance, you can
bet that a Jewish waiter will be doing
it wrong. I could start mentioning
other problems that came up weekly
such as refrigerator lights that were
left on as well as digital numbers that
kept changing, warmers that blew
out, garbage and carrying, muktza
problems, and the biggest one of Borer.
Particularly on a dishes job, the staff
collects all the dirty stuff and proceeds
to completely sort it into different
crates based on size and item. I don’t
think any posek would agree on that
being permitted. But even aside from
that, breaking down sweet tables often
involves forbidden types of sorting as
well as Hachana! Now you can start to
add other problems such as “building”
mechitzas, and the inevitable spills we
were clueless on how to do properly,
or what happens when people start to
show up with vases and seating cards.
If you add a party planner to the mix
you can also bet that it is unlikely she is
fully familiar with the laws of Shabbos
to do this job properly. The only two
options here is to either hire or assign
someone as a shabbos mashgiach to be
present to make sure that your simcha
is done k’halacha. Or the easier option
is to really request a nonjewish staff.
They come and do their job and
without your direct instruction, you
don’t really have to worry about them
sorting and ripping. Of course you’ll
need someone kashrus supervising.
But if you’re hiring a crew of Jewish
guys, it’s a very big responsibility to
have on your head. I do urge people

to take this seriously as I was doing
it for 15 years and I don’t think there
was one Shabbos that didn’t have
issues, because we weren’t equipped
to handle it. And the pressure you get
put under to make sure things are A1
leads to shortcuts.
RK
Vues Master’s Note: Yup! You are
100% correct!

SHADCHAN
Dear Vues Master:
A shadchan was working on making
a shidduch for a wealthy man’s
daughter, whose engagement had
broken up after the boy’s family
learned of her reputation. The girl’s
father told the shadchaan: “Look at the
difference between the shadchanim of
past generations and those of today. In
the past, the shadchanim were honest
and trustworthy brokers who made
קיימא של זיווגים and it was only one in a
thousand that תנאים would be annulled.
Now, however, the shadchanim are not
trustworthy and תנאים get annulled
every day.” The shadchan responded:
“I’m afraid you’re mistaken.
It’s not the shadchanim who are
untrustworthy, but the משודכים, the
couples themselves. The gemara says:
תנאי קודם למעשה, הרי זה תנאי;
“. מעשה קודם לתנאי, – אינו תנאי
In past generations, the תנאים preceded
the מעשה and therefore the זיווגים were
where ,however ,Now .זיווגים של קיימא
the מעשה comes first, the תנאים get
annulled.”
SH
Vues Master’s Note: This Shadchan
gives the one percent of Honest
Shadchanim a bad name!