19 Nov SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER
HUCKABEE CHANNELS GOLDA MEIR
Dear Vues Master
When former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambas-
sador-designate to Israel, appears at his Senate confirmation
hearing, he’s sure to run into some harsh questions from Ver-
mont Sen. Bernie Sanders and other critics of Israel concern-
ing some of his past comments about Palestinian Arab identity.
All Huckabee will need to do in response is quote the words
of Golda Meir.
In 2008, Huckabee said: “There’s really no such thing as a
Palestinian. You have Arabs and Persians. And there’s such
complexity in that. But there’s really no such thing. That’s
been a political tool to try and force land away from Israel.”
And in 2015, he told The Washington Post: “The idea that
they have a long history, dating back hundreds or thousands
of years, is not true.”
None of which is any different from what one of Israel’s most
famous and beloved prime ministers said, repeatedly.
Golda Meir, the prime minister of Israel (and leader of its So-
cialist Labor Party) said in an interview with the London Sun-
day Times on June 15, 1969, that until very recently: “There
was no such thing as Palestinians. When was there an indepen-
dent Palestinian people with a Palestinian state? It was either
Southern Syria, before the First World War, and then it was a
Palestine, including Jordan. It was not as though there was a
Palestinian people in Palestine considering itself as a Palestin-
ian people and we came and threw them out and took their
country from them. They did not exist.”
That was not some one-off comment. Meir said it again and
again. For example, here she is on the BBC’s “This Week”
program in 1970 (the segment can be viewed on YouTube):
“What difference is there between Arabs who were on this side
of the Jordan and the other side of the Jordan, Arabs in the east
bank and the—west of the border of the west bank? I mean,
when were Palestinians born? What was all this area before
the First World War? When Britain got the mandate over Pal-
estine, what was ‘Palestine’ then? Palestine was then the area
between the Mediterranean and the Iraqi border.”
The interviewer then cut in: “You say there is no such thing as
a Palestinian—”
Meir: “No, east and west bank was Palestine. I’m a Palestin-
ian. From ’21 until ’48, I carried a Palestinian passport. There
was no such thing in this area as ‘Jews and Arabs, and Pales-
tinians.’ There were Jews and Arabs.”
She continued: I don’t say there are no Palestinians. But I say
there is no such thing as a distinct Palestinian people. Of all
the Palestinians who live in Jordan, why have the Palestinians
in the West Bank become more ‘Palestinians’ since the fifth of
June ’67 than they were before? Why didn’t they set up a Pal-
estinian country, in addition to Jordan? … They should have
set up another, independent Palestine, and fought from there.
They didn’t do that. They adopted the fact that they are in Jor-
dan, they have adopted Jordanian citizens[hip]. They are the
majority in Jordan, they are in parliament, they are in govern-
ment. What has happened since then—why they have become
more Palestinian-conscious since the war of ’67?”
The answer to the prime minister’s question (Why did Pal-
estinian Arab identity suddenly emerge after 1967?) was an-
swered succinctly by Huckabee: It was invented to serve as “a
political tool to try and force land away from Israel.”
All serious historians and anthropologists know the truth.
There is nothing about the Palestinian Arabs that genuinely
distinguishes them from the Arabs in Jordan or Syria. They all
speak the same language. They all have the same history and
culture. Almost all of them have the same religion.
This is why, throughout history, they never demanded the
creation of a separate “Palestinian” state. The region was oc-
cupied by fellow Muslims for many centuries—Turkish Mus-
lims for 600 years, and Jordan and Egypt from 1949 to 1967.
Yet these “Palestinians” never asked their fellow Muslims to
set up a “Palestine.”
Meir alluded to the ironic fact that Jordan itself used to be
called “Palestine”—that is, before the British arbitrarily sliced
off the eastern 75% of the Palestine Mandate territory in 1922,
barred Jews from the area and renamed it “Transjordan”
(which was later shortened to “Jordan”). The people there
were magically transformed from “Palestinians” to “Transjor-
danians” with one wave of a British wand. Isn’t it remarkable
how today’s outspoken critics of colonialism have nothing to
say about the British colonial decrees that arbitrarily redefined
the meaning of Palestine and Palestinians?
It was only when modern-day Israel was established in 1948
that the Arabs began using the term “Palestine” as a way of
attacking Israel’s legitimacy. And it was only in 1967 when Is-
rael took over the areas where most of those Arabs reside that
they began using the label “Palestinian” in earnest, actively
trying to create out of thin air a distinct identity in the hope of
delegitimizing and displacing Israel.
So Bernie Sanders better bring a large handkerchief with him
to the hearings. He’s going to need it to wipe all
the egg off his face when ambassador-designate
Huckabee starts quoting Golda Meir to him.
Moshe Phillips
Vues Master’s Note: Huckabee was a great
choice by Trump to be the new ambassador.
Let’s just hope Trump lets him do what he wants
to do!
CARLEBACH
Dear Vues Master:
I heard from Sheya Mendlowitz zl that R’ Shlo-
mo Carelbach came backstage during a concert
intermission, and Sheya asked him why he sang
KADDISH? He answered bluntly and cynically;
“ It was a Toteh Olam! It was a dead crowd!
RMS
Vues Master’s Note: It’s sad now that we are
missing both of them!
SHIDDUCH
Dear Vues Master:
A shadchan was friendly with a Rosh Yeshiva,
who told him about a brilliant boy who would
make a great catch but was having difficulty
finding a shidduch because he came from a poor
family. The shadchan contacted the boy’s mother
and said that he has the perfect shidduch for her
son: a wonderful girl from London. The mother
said that she and her husband wanted someone
local. “But, the girl is the daughter of the frum
Rothschild heir,” he said. “Well in that case, of
course we would consider it,” she responded. He
then contacted Rothschild, who said his daugh-
ter wasn’t looking for a yeshiva bachur, no mat-
ter how brilliant he may be. “But,” the shadchan
said, “he’s already a vice-president of the World
Bank.” “Well in that case, you should arrange
the shidduch,” Rothschild answered. Having
persuaded the parents, the shadchan used his
connections to arrange a meeting with the head
of the World Bank. “I have a brilliant young man
who would make a great vice-president at the
bank,” he said. “Thanks, but we already have
all the vice presidents we need,” responded the
banker. “But the young man is Rothschild’s fu-
ture son-in-law,” said the shadchan. To which
the banker replied: “Well, of course, we always
have room for one more vice-president.”
DF
Vues Master’s Note: Fairy tales can come true,
it could happen to you!
WORSE AND WORSE
Dear Vues Master:
Holy cow. I knew they were bad, but I didn’t
think they were this bad! Biden and his admin-
istration are a total disgrace! Netanyahu in a
closed meeting just revealed Biden and Blink-
en’s threats towards him this past year: “Biden
called me before entering Rafah and said to
me: Prime Minister Netanyahu – you will be
left alone!” I answered him: “Then we will do
it alone!” Two days later, Blinken was sent to
threaten me: “You will not receive any arma-
ments.” I answered him: “We will fight with
our hands and claws. We will not compromise
on Rafah.” Netanyahu added: “The Americans
estimated that 20,000 people would be killed
in Rafah. It turned out to be an absolute lie.”
(Channel 14) With friends like this… Who
needs enemies?
Hillel Fuld
Vues Master’s Note: As we see there is a reason
Trump won!
SICK
Dear Vues Master:
An author of a sefer brought it to חריף אייזל רבי
to request his הסכמה. The author explained that
he wrote the sefer because he was sick and need-
ed expensive medical treatment which he hoped
to pay from the proceeds of sales of the sefer.
The rebbie said: “I will cite you a מפורשת ראיה
הגמרא מן that it’s better for a person to be sick
and suffer יסורים than to need to get a הסכמה on
a sefer. We find in ברכות מסכת that המלך חזקיהו
and הנביא ישעיהו refused to come to one another
and therefore השם brought sickness upon חזקיהו
so that ישעיהו should have to come visit him to
be חולים ביקור מצוות מקיים. Now, this is puzzling
because we know that חזקיהו was a מובהקי למדן
and therefore could have written a sefer, which
would have been an ideal reason to visit ישעיהו
to ask for a הסכמה. His failure to do so is a ראיה
that it’s better to be sick and suffer יסורים than to
be an author and seek הסכמות for a ספר. “DW
Vues Master’s Note: This is a sick letter!
BRILLIANCE
Dear Vues Master: There are going to be some
moments in this war that will go down in history
as one of Israel’s best of the best. You obviously
have the beepers. You have both attacks from
Iran. You have Israel taking out Iran’s aerial de-
fense systems. And now there’s another one that
only came out last night. When Israel attacked
Iran and took out its defenses, it also did some-
thing else. You see, the Biden administration
warned Netanyahu not to attack Iran’s nuclear
facilities. Some friend… So what did Israel do?
It took out a huge nuclear facility. How? Why
didn’t Biden punish Israel? Well, because this
was a secret facility. Iran is supposed to be re-
porting all its facilities used to develop nuclear
power. This one was not reported. So when Is-
rael took it out, Iran couldn’t admit it publicly
without admitting that it’s been lying this whole
time. The name of the facility was Taleghan 2.
“Since Taleghan 2 was not part of Iran’s de-
clared nuclear program, Tehran could not ac-
knowledge its existence or the damage incurred
without admitting to violating the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty.” – Jerusalem Post There’s
a name for this kind of move. What’s it called?
Oh yes, it’s called Checkmate! What a historic
move by Israel! The absolute best part is that Is-
rael is remaining quiet about all of this.
Hillel Fuld
Vues Master’s Note: I love it!
MI KAMCHA YISRAEL
Dear Vues Master
We have a family member who’s a combat
medic in an infantry unit. He’s been in Rafah
for weeks now, without showering or coming
home. He wears contacts and got an eye infec-
tion. He took a cab to Beer Sheva last week to
see a doctor. The cab driver refused to let him
pay, waited for him to finish his appointment,
took him to his own home, fed him, washed his
uniform (which had blood on it) and told him to
nap for an hour. Then he took him back to his
base. Mi K’amcha Yisrael.
AC
Vues Master’s Note: I love hearing these types
of stories. We all need to hear them! Thanks for
sharing.
ANTI-SEMITISM
Dear Vues Master:
A prominent institute for the study of antisemi-
tism has once again chosen a professor who is
hostile to Israel and Zionists to deliver a lecture
about Israel and Zionists.
The Birkbeck Institute for the Study of Anti-
semitism, based at the University of London,
has announced a December 3 online program
about “Aliya, Antisemitism, and U.S. Zionism
in the World,” featuring Doug Rossinow, a pro-
fessor in Minnesota who has been harshly at-
tacking Israel for more than twenty years.
In July 2002, Palestinian Arab terrorists mas-
sacred nine Israeli civilians on a bus near the
town of Immanuel. Days later, Rossinow and
fellow-extremists signed a large advertisement
in the New York Times declaring that “both the
Israeli and Palestinian peoples have suffered
great wrongs at the hands of the other.”
Rossinow and his friends demanded in their ad-
vertisement that Israel return to the indefensible,
nine-miles-wide pre-1967 lines, and they called
for the mass “evacuation” (expulsion) of all
Jews from the areas beyond those lines—mean-
ing Judea, Samaria, the Old City of Jerusalem,
and the Golan Heights.
Rossinow’s group also urged the U.S. govern-
ment to use “our massive economic and military
support” as “leverage” to force Israel to agree
to those demands. They even asserted that “for-
eign troops may well be required to enforce [the
terms], and they must be prepared to accept ca-
sualties.” Demanding that American and other
soldiers give their lives in order to force Israel
to its knees is a remarkable position to take, to
put it mildly.
Over the years, Rossinow has participated in a
number of public attacks on Israel.
In 2014, when Israel struck back at Hamas ter-
rorists in Gaza, Rossinow joined an open letter
denouncing Israel for “the ongoing carnage in
Gaza” and “killing and wounding so many Pal-
estinian children.” Rossinow and company also
called for halting U.S. military aid to Israel.
In 2016, Rossinow signed a petition to the
American Historical Association, falsely accus-
ing Israel of “impeding instruction at Palestinian
institutions of higher learning.” (They were re-
ferring to the fact that Israel has security check-
points through which potential suicide bombers
have to pass on their way to campus. So incon-
venient!)
Rossinow seems to have some kind of obses-
sion with AIPAC, which is noteworthy since his
talk for the Birkbeck Institute on December 3
will be dealing with American Zionists.
In two articles that he authored in 2018, Rossi-
now denigrated the “swaggering” AIPAC, de-
claring it was “born of violence and conflict”
and “born in awful knowledge.” He wrote that
AIPAC was “formed to spin positive PR after Is-
raeli atrocities” and “to deny, obscure, or down-
play the piercing impact” of Israeli actions. And
he added this vicious comment: “Violence by
the Israeli state against Palestinians…lies like
a hard stone gnarled in the roots of the Israel
lobby.”
Rossinow’s upcoming talk isn’t the first time
that the Birkbeck Institute has turned to a harsh
critic of Israel to lecture about Israel. Last June,
it organized a seminar by Harvard professor
Derek Penslar, who has publicly accused Israel
of “ethnic cleansing,” “apartheid,” and “Jewish
supremacism.” Penslar was the person Birkbeck
decided would be most qualified to lecture on
Israel’s 1948 War of Independence.
The Birkbeck Institute’s mission statement says
that its work “contributes to public debate on an-
tisemitism” and provides “expertise and advice
to a wide range of institutions.”
I don’t see how hosting Israel-bashers consti-
tutes a contribution to meaningful public discus-
sion of antisemitism. And I can’t imagine how
what Rossinow has to say can be regarded as
“expertise” on the subject of Israel or Zion-
ism. Having a radical opinion, and expressing
it in extreme language again and again, does not
make one an “expert.”
Whenever anybody criticizes Israel-bashing
academics, inevitably he or she is accused of
“censorship.” So let me be very clear: I am not
proposing that Doug Rossinow or other attack-
ers of Israel be censored. I am saying that insti-
tutions which sponsor such individuals to speak
about Israel or Zionism should be honest about
whom they are inviting. It’s the old principle of
truth in advertising.
The leaders of the Birkbeck Institute should not
pretend that someone who regularly denounces
Israel, such as Rossinow, is an objective scholar
who can speak about Israel or Zionism in a non-
partisan way. Rossinow’s record shows that he
is an extreme partisan, with deeply-held views
that are consistently unfriendly toward Israel.
I’m sure the directors of the Birkbeck Institute
would be very interested to hear what the Jew-
ish public thinks about this latest development.
Those who care to share their opinions can
reach them at: bisa@bbk.ac.uk
Moshe Philips
Vues Master’s Note: Seems like one thing is
constant and that is Anti-Semitism!
WHO GUARDS WHOM?
Dear Vues Master:
A teacher in a Chareidi school got a special
call from an emotional woman who said she
does not observe the Torah and mitzvot who
lives in Jerusalem and shared this with him:
I went into the neighborhood grocery store to
buy bread and milk and among the products
and the shelves I see a little boy looking for
something, I looked at him and saw a small but
noticeable “tag” on his shirt. I am a very curi-
ous woman by nature, I continue to ask the boy
what is this “tag”? The sweet boy answers with
a shy face and a special purity, this is my sol-
dier!!! what??? What do you mean? I asked…
This is the soldier I am responsible for, that he
will return home to his mother at the end of
the war… How are you responsible for him? I
continued… and the boy answered: I daven for
him all day long, study for him, read Shma in
bed for him and so through the prayers he will
return home. Because he guards me near Gaza,
I guard him from Jerusalem.
AE
Vues Master’s Note: Wow! Heartwarming. May
we all be zoche to bring back all the soldiers
beshalom!
RSVP
Dear Vues Master:
New immigrants to the United States received
a wedding invitation which stated RSVP. They
were at a loss to figure out what it meant.
Thinking about it for a few moments, the hus-
band said “It is strange, but I think it means
“Remember. Send Vedding Present.” BN
Vues Master’s Note: What does it stand for?!
RECLINING ON A PLANE
Dear Vues Master
A viral clip online showed a furious plane pas-
senger that sparked a fierce debate after getting
into a screaming match with a fellow traveler
when she accused them of ‘PUSHING her seat
repeatedly’ when she reclined it. As a frequent
flier this has always bothered me. I’m a tall guy
& I have no idea why they have seats on a plane
with the recline position. By having it, obvi-
ously people are going to use it and in this day
& age there is no room anymore on airplanes to
move an inch.
KP
Vues Master’s Note: Airlines fault! They should
have a sign that says no reclining or yes reclin-
ing. If they don’t, people will continue to argue
about this topic.
REMEMBERING
SHEYA MENDLOWITZ Z”L
Dear Vues Master
I just wanted to give you guys a big yasher ko-
ach for last week’s edition on Sheya. Wherever
I went this past weekend people were talking
about Sheya. He was a great music producer
but even a better person. He will be missed!
Vues Master’s Note: We love compliments.
Thank you! He definitely will be missed. Yehi
zichro baruch.
MISER
Dear Vues Master:
At the funeral of a קמצן גביר, his wife and sons
cried bitter tears. But his son-in-law was calm,
as if nothing occurred. It was only as they were
walking out of the chapel and were met by
צדקה תציל ממות saying and קופות rattling עניים
that the son-in-law broke down and began to
cry. Afterwards, he explained: “During the
הספדים I still didn’t believe that my father-in-
law was really dead. It was only when I saw the
עניים asking for tzedakah and he wasn’t run-
ning away that it finally sank in that he was re-
ally dead.”
KJ
Vues Master’s Note: Poor guy!
NUMBER GAME
Dear Vues Master:
An elderly woman is sitting in the hospital
waiting room, waiting while her daughter-in-
law gives birth. A while later, a doctor comes
out. “Mrs. Goldburg, I have wonderful news!
Your daughter-in-law just gave birth to twins!
A boy in a girl, they are perfectly healthy! Ma-
zel Tov!” Mrs. Goldburg turns to Mrs. Ruben-
stein, who is seated next to her. “Isn’t it won-
derful? And look at that, my daughter-in-law
just gave birth to twins, and my son works in
the Twin Cities!” said Mrs. Goldburg. A while
later, another doctor comes out and walks over
to Mrs. Rubenstein, another woman waiting
for her daughter-in-law to give birth. “Mrs. Ru-
benstein, Mazel Tov! Your daughter-in-law just
gave birth to triplets! They are beautiful and
healthy, and your daughter-in-law is fine.” Mrs.
Rubenstein turns to Mrs. Cohen who is seated
next to her. Mrs. Rubenstein says, “Can you be-
lieve it? My daughter-in-law just had triplets,
and my son works at Triple-A!” Mrs. Cohen
gets up and begins to gather her things. “I have
to get out of here! My son works at Seven-Up!”
FD
Vues Master’s Note: At least it is not a baseball
team!
HOSTAGES
Dear Vues Master:
Every community needs to hear from them
now! We all feel the pain of our brothers and
sisters in Eretz Yisroel; families are mourn-
ing; people are missing; and the emotional
trauma of those who were rescued is beyond
comprehension. In sum, the physical and psy-
chological wounds have hardly healed. Worse
yet, our enemies around the world are using
October 7th as a sword and a shield: they sup-
port Hamas and make us look like the agitators
when we defend ourselves.
Out of the great sorrow of the one-year plus
since the horrific Simchas Torah attacks has
come renewed hope: so much good and unity
has emerged from our community. People are
casting differences aside to work together in
helping in whatever way we can. The dona-
tions, supplies, volunteerism and davening
are truly beyond compare. Additionally, the
lawsuits, stories and of course, kiruv that have
emerged have cast light over the darkness.
People are connecting more to their Jewish
roots. Let’s help them learn about the people
and events of October 7th!
In light of the above, why then have not some
of the more chassidesh and yeshivesh commu-
nities brought in soldiers, family members of
hostages or even some of the rescued hostages
themselves to come and speak? Of course, I
wish “kol hakavod” for those who have. I un-
derstand there are varying opinions about the
State of Israel, rallies and protests, but where
does it say a rescued hostage can’t speak at
your shul or school?
I was privileged and enlightened to attend a
number of lectures featuring soldiers, hostage
families and rabbonim speaking about October
7th: their experiences, the intricate halachos in-
volved, and what they are doing to ensure this
never happens again, rachmona latzlon. These
voices should be amplified in more neighbor-
hoods. No one township has a monopoly on
such events. And those that have hosted, have
seen a broad cloth of Jews who were moved
and inspired by attending. Why not you? Why
not now? None of the events I attended were
held close to home: I walked or drove for
miles. Each word hit close to home!
While any program would have to accom-
modate the sensitivities of a particular locale,
I’m sure the same individuals who were brave
enough to go to the press, shuls and events can
come to your community as well. If a certain
topic or video it can be taken off the table. Ad-
ditionally, separate events can be held for men
and women. Despite varying schedules, costs
and logistics, there is someone out there who
can speak to your group. Perhaps a reservist
from your neighborhood is back home from the
war. A community member might be related to
a hostage. It could very well be that the person
next to you brought a lawsuit over post-Octo-
ber 7th antisemitism.
It is important to raise awareness of the current
matzav, bring forth hope based on the good
work being done on behalf of acheinu kol beis
yisroel, and to raise the scepter of Hashem’s
crowning glory through achdus. In this way,
the hostages will b’ezras Hashem be rescued
soon, their wounds healed, and all of us will
be reunited with the coming of Mashiach soon.
(Halevai, I should have the wherewithal to be
the driving force to have more speeches hosted.
May it not be needed. I do not have any con-
nections, but if anyone wants to take the first
step, reach out to me via Yeshiva World News
and I’ll try to put you in touch with organizers
of previous events. There can be a shliach ev-
ery step of the way. Be a part of it. Bring them
home!)
Enlightened in Flatbush
Vues Master’s Note: We need Moshiach now!
JEWS GET A GUN!
Dear Vues Master:
The Jews of Germany never thought Germans
would kill them. The Jews of The Tree of Life
Synagogue never thought an American would
kill them The Jews of the South never thought
the Palestinians of Gaza would break through
the fence and kill them. They were all wrong.
Antisemites, whether they are Arabs, white su-
premacist, or any other hater, they are coming
to kill the Jews. They might not be able to kill
all of us but they’re going to kill some of us.
1,400 of us were just killed because they were
Jews. Whether you live in Israel, America, Eu-
rope or some small city in Russia you’ve never
heard of before, they’re coming to kill you, me,
all of us. Those with the means to protect them-
selves will hopefully survive the next attack,
those without the means to protect themselves
have little chance of being spared. Many people
that had a gun in their homes in the South were
able to protect themselves when Palestinian
terrorists came to their town and house. Those
without a gun had little chance. Guns are muk-
tzeh on Shabbat. I’ve carried a gun for the past
five years on Shabbat, both within the Eruv and
outside of it. In the back of my mind I doubted
whether I was doing the right thing by carrying
my gun on Shabbat. After the “Simchat Torah
Massacre” I am no longer in doubt. Ask your-
self this question, if antisemites came into your
home and you have a gun, you can save your-
self and your family, if you don’t have a gun
your last thoughts will be regretting not having
bought a gun for whatever excuse you’re tell-
ing yourself now for not buying a gun. Don’t
be irresponsible. Buy a gun, take lessons and
be ready for when the Jew haters come for you.
RUP
Vues Master’s Note: Ein lanu al mi lehishaein
ela al avinu shebashamayim!