29 Apr SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER
BEN GVIR EATS DINNER AT ESSEN DELI
Dear Vues Master:
Last Thursday night was absolutely electric on Avenue J as
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir made a
surprise visit to Essen Deli! The excitement was through the
roof—almost a thousand people gathered outside just to catch a
glimpse of him! The energy in the crowd was unbelievable, with
people cheering, waving flags, and snapping photos like it was
a concert! Inside Essen, the atmosphere was buzzing—everyone
wanted to shake his hand, say hello, or just be near him. It felt
like a historic moment for the community, and no one wanted to
miss it. What a night to remember! EL
Vues Master’s Note: Rumor has it that Ben Gvir came into
America just to get a deli sandwich at Essen!
Yom HaZikaron
A day to remember
Not that we ever forget
Throughout the years
A history of wars And why?
We are Jews
THAT’s their “because “
No matter how many innovations,
Contributions for the betterment of the world Incitement and
hatred
Towards us is hurled
This year is particularly difficult
We’ve lost so many more
So many have fallen as we fight This latest war.
So many young lives were cut short
They had so much more to give
A whole generation of young people
Deprived of the right to live
And then, there are the fathers
Leaving behind families to mourn
A generation of widows and orphans
Sadly were born
On this day of remembrance
We remember them all
With heavy hearts we remember
Those who answered the call
Karen Skoorka Kripor 4.28.25
TRUMP SUPPORTERS GRAPPLE WITH
ECONOMIC FALLOUT
Dear Vues Master Many Trump supporters, especially those
who admired his strong stance on Israel, are now feeling disil-
lusioned. Recent tariffs and escalating trade tensions have un-
settled the stock market, affecting retirement accounts and small
businesses. Supporters who once praised his bold foreign policy
are beginning to question the economic consequences at home.
As market uncertainty grows, even longtime loyalists are ex-
pressing frustration, wondering whether the financial cost of his
policies is worth the ideological alignment they once celebrated.
YC Vues Master’s Note: Turns out “America First” also meant
our wallets—first to feel the pain, last to recover!
A NOTE ABOUT MY DAUGHTER
Dear Vues Master,
I just wanted to take a moment to share something personal
that’s meant a lot to me lately.
My teenage daughter has been such a remarkable presence in
my life, especially in recent weeks. She eagerly steps in to help,
whether it’s something small like finding a book I’ve misplaced
or something more involved, like helping me organize my
thoughts before a deadline. She does all of this without being
asked and without expecting anything in return.
Her support, calmness, and natural instinct to step in wherever
she’s needed have made a real difference for me. It’s easy to
overlook these quiet, everyday acts of kindness, but they’ve re-
minded me just how lucky I am.
Thanks for letting me share that.
Warmly, A Proud Dad
Vues Master’s Note: You’re very lucky to have a daughter who
does things without hesitation! I have to ask my daughter to do
things twenty times before she does it. What’s your secret?
COMMERCE
Dear Vues Master,
With the growing wave of e-commerce, new shailos continue to
arise. As we know, earning money on Shabbos is a topic that re-
quires its own in-depth study. There are various halachic frame-
works that permit it in specific cases—such as for a baal koreh,
tutor, babysitter, or Rav—but for those with online stores (e.g.,
Amazon), where revenue is generated automatically on Shab-
bos, the issue becomes much more complex.
A commonly accepted solution is to set up a business partner-
ship with a non-Jewish partner who “co-owns” the business on
Shabbos and is entitled to the profits earned during that time.
Ideally, one would find a way to pause operations entirely on
Shabbos, but that isn’t always feasible.
It’s important for anyone with such a business to consult their
Rav, who may need to draw up a proper shtar to formalize the
arrangement in accordance with halacha.
Guarding the sanctity of Shabbos isn’t limited to avoiding the
39 melachos—it also includes the mitzvah of shvisa, allowing
our possessions and businesses to rest as well. It
is taught that keeping Shabbos properly is equiv-
alent to observing all 613 mitzvos, a powerful
merit especially in a time when many of those
mitzvos are not applicable.
KLMY
Vues Master’s Note: This means that my business
is your business—so yes, you’re allowed to give
mussar!
STEPH CURRY’S MOTHER IS
KICKED OUT OF A FERRARI STORE
Dear Vues Master,
She walked in to buy her son a Ferrari. She
walked out humiliated. What Stephen Curry did
next—away from cameras—didn’t just make
headlines. It changed everything. This wasn’t just
about a car. It was about justice.
On a bright spring afternoon, sunlight gleamed
off the polished steel and glass exterior of one of
the city’s most prestigious Ferrari dealerships. In-
side, salesmen in tailored suits glided across mar-
ble floors, greeting customers with smooth charm.
Among the hum of whispered negotiations and
admiring glances at luxury vehicles, one elegant
woman stood alone—Sonia Curry.
She wasn’t there for attention. She wasn’t there
for status. She was there for one reason: to sur-
prise her son, NBA superstar Stephen Curry, with
a car he had long admired—a Ferrari Roma. Sleek
and meticulously designed, it was a model Steph
had casually mentioned on multiple occasions.
Sonia had done her homework, selected the exact
configuration, and came prepared to pay in full
that day.
What happened next, she never saw coming.
Despite her poised appearance, designer purse,
and confident demeanor, Sonia was met with
skepticism. Dismissed. Ignored. And ultimately,
insulted.
The sales staff subtly, yet unmistakably, ques-
tioned her legitimacy. One offered her a tour of
the pre-owned inventory, suggesting “something
more accessible.” Another—identified only as
Mr. Keller—coldly informed her the dealership
was closing early for a “private event,” even
though it was mid-afternoon and the showroom
remained open.
When Sonia calmly explained her purpose—to
purchase a Ferrari Roma for her son, Stephen
Curry—the response was chilling:
“We’d appreciate if you didn’t invent celebrity
connections. We’re very busy with serious cus-
tomers today.”
Stunned but dignified, Sonia walked out in si-
lence.
She didn’t remain alone for long.
Within hours, her son—one of the most recogniz-
able athletes in the world—was informed. But
Steph didn’t erupt. He didn’t post online rants. He
didn’t threaten lawsuits or send in a PR team.
He chose something far more powerful.
He investigated.
Steph quietly launched a multi-pronged inquiry.
He wanted facts, not outrage. Within days, he ar-
ranged for multiple individuals to visit the same
dealership—some white, some Black; some
wealthy, others dressed down. The pattern was
clear: differential treatment based on race and
perceived status.
The final straw came when even a respected
Black neurosurgeon was subtly steered toward
“alternative options” after expressing interest in
a new Roma.
What Steph discovered wasn’t just a personal in-
sult to his mother—it was a glimpse into some-
thing systemic.
And so, he took action.
In collaboration with civil rights attorneys, brand
strategists, and leaders at Under Armour—his
most influential brand partner—Steph launched a
campaign that sent shockwaves through the luxu-
ry retail world: “Respect in Every Space.”
This wasn’t a hashtag. It was a movement.
Mandatory training on unconscious bias. Secret
shopper programs to track real customer experi-
ences. Public accountability dashboards. Anony-
mous feedback systems. And, above all, zero tol-
erance for discrimination—no matter how subtle.
Steph took the blueprint straight to the dealership
that had mistreated his mother.
Their first reaction? Panic. Their second? Pleas
for silence.
Steph didn’t cave.
“I’m not interested in boycotts or headlines,” he
told them. “I’m interested in changing how peo-
ple are treated. Not just here—everywhere.”
Over the next few months, the initiative grew.
More than 200 luxury retailers signed on to adopt
the Respect in Every Space protocols. Early data
showed a 47% drop in discrimination complaints
and a 31% increase in diverse clientele—without
any loss in revenue.
Then came the full-circle moment.
Steph returned to the same Ferrari dealership—
this time with his mother by his side. She was
greeted with flowers and a sincere apology from
a newly diverse leadership team. But she wasn’t
there to buy a car.
She was there to lead a training seminar for their
staff.
Steph, always thinking ahead, had already en-
tered the next phase: a partnership between his
Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation and Ferrari to fund
youth engineering and design programs in under-
represented communities. Because for him, this
was never just about one moment—it was about
building a future.
At the press conference launching the initiative,
Steph said:
“This started with disrespect. But we turned it
into an opportunity—not just for my family, but
for thousands of others who deserve to walk into
any space and be treated with dignity.”
Back home, at a quiet family dinner in Atherton,
Sonia Curry raised a toast.
“You could have used your influence to get even,”
she said. “Instead, you used it to build bridges.”
Steph smiled.
Because championship rings fade. Highlights
dim. But real, lasting change? That’s a legacy
worth fighting for.
– LP
Vues Master’s Note: Now maybe he can teach
them how to treat Jews, too!
HYPOCRISY
Dear Vues Master:
French President Emmanuel Macron’s announce-
ment in April that France will recognize a Pales-
tinian state by June is deeply disappointing. This
decision reflects a troubling inconsistency in Eu-
rope’s approach to Israel — one that is both mor-
ally and strategically flawed.
Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza is a
direct response to the horrific October 7 attacks
by Hamas. The goal is clear: to eliminate Hamas’s
capacity to launch terrorist attacks against Israeli
civilians and to secure the release of hostages.
Over 1,700 Israelis have been killed since that
day.
France, as a member of the European Union, of-
ficially designated Hamas as a terrorist organiza-
tion in 2003. That makes Macron’s current stance
all the more baffling.
What will arise from the so-called “Palestinian
Authority” is not a democratic state but a PLO-
dominated regime steeped in terror — regardless
of whether Mahmoud Abbas or any other PLO
figure holds the title of chairman, president, or
prime minister. A Palestinian state, under current
conditions, poses a danger
not only to Israel but to re-
gional and global security.
A Palestinian state is un-
safe at any size and under
any leadership be it PLO
or Hamas.
Recognising and/or creat-
ing a Palestinian state is
wrong not only because
it threatens Israel’s secu-
rity, but because it would
signal a broader victory for international terror-
ism — particularly Islamic extremist groups. A
Palestinian state would quickly become a hub
for state-sponsored terror, emboldening radicals
worldwide.
The PLO’s long history of cooperation with
global terror networks — from the Japanese Red
Army and Red Army Faction to elements of the
IRA — is well documented. It has also collabo-
rated with every major state sponsor of terrorism
in the last 30 years. Recognizing a PLO-led Pal-
estinian state would be perceived as a reward for
decades of international terrorism.
Mahmoud Abbas is now entering the 20th year
of his original four-year presidential term. His
likely successors, Hussein al-Sheikh and Rawhi
Fattouh, are deeply problematic figures. Fattouh,
nominated in November 2024 to assume the pres-
idency should Abbas become incapacitated, is a
bombastic figure who makes even Yasser Arafat
seem urbane. In June 2023, Fattouh bizarrely
claimed: “We say that we have been here for more
than 1.5 million years.” The oldest known human
fossils, for reference, are estimated to be about
300,000 years old.
Abbas also recently signaled that Hussein al-
Sheikh is his preferred successor by appointing
him vice president of the PLO. Al-Sheikh’s re-
cord is deeply troubling. At a 2023 event hon-
oring “Palestinian Martyrs’ Day,” he declared:
“Even if we have one penny left, it will be spent
on the families of the martyrs and prisoners…
They are our purest, most permanent, loftiest, and
most precious jewel.”
Macron’s aggressive push for recognition of Pal-
estinian statehood illustrates a dangerous refusal
to confront the reality: a Palestinian state, east of
the Jordan River, under PA leadership, is an exis-
tential threat to Israel. Any agreements made by a
Palestinian Authority “statelet” would be quickly
undermined by Hamas when it seeks to claim
power as experts have said that it will.. Believing
that Abbas or his successors can restrain Hamas
is a dangerous illusion. They could not in Gaza
in 2007 and we are now living with their failure.
Indeed, Hamas official Ghazi Hamad has already
warned that the October 7 massacre was “just the
first time,” promising a second, third, and fourth
wave of attacks, saying, “The existence of Israel
is illogical.”
Every proposed map of a two-state solution de-
mands that Israel return to the pre-1967 borders,
reducing it to a mere nine miles wide at its center.
PA controlled cities like Tulkarm and Qalqilya,
which the PA would never relinquish at a nego-
tiating table, are within easy rocket range of Is-
rael’s major population centers.
What would Israel’s fate have been on October 7,
2023, if it were confined to those narrow borders?
Such a configuration would leave Israel’s strate-
gic heartland indefensible. Major cities, including
Tel Aviv, and critical infrastructure like Ben-Gu-
rion Airport would fall within immediate range of
rocket fire from across the border.
If the Israeli army were then forced to cross into
“Palestine” to defend their citizens, the interna-
tional backlash would be swift. The EU, led by
figures like Macron, and the United Nations,
would almost certainly threaten sanctions.
And who would stop “Palestine” from importing
Iranian missiles or “volunteer” Houthi fighters
from Yemen?
Macron — and those who share his view — must
come to terms with the new geopolitical reality.
The U.S. has recognized the inherent risks in
establishing a Palestinian state. The European
Union would do well to follow suit. A two-state
solution would expose Israel to an October 7 sce-
nario every single day.
No rational nation would accept that future. Nei-
ther should Israel. -Moshe Phillips
Vues Master’s Note: They need to learn a new
song!
NADLER & LANDER CONSTANTLY
TURN THEIR BACKS ON ISRAEL
Dear Vues Master,
Jerry Nadler, the aging political relic, and Brad
Lander, New York’s radical and loudmouthed
comptroller, have once again shown that their
loyalties lie more with fringe activism than with
responsible international diplomacy. Their pro-
test against Israeli Minister Itamar Ben Gvir—a
strong, unapologetic advocate for Israeli secu-
rity—was nothing more than a pitiful display of
virtue signaling and cowardice.
Instead of engaging in open dialogue, they chose
to grandstand and cater to anti-Israel extrem-
ists. In doing so, they undermined the principles
of democratic discourse and weakened the vital
U.S.-Israel alliance. Nadler and Lander don’t
speak for New Yorkers—they speak only for the
hollow echo chambers they inhabit. —DH
Vues Master’s Note: I hope he was wearing his
diapers!
APPRECIATING MY WIFE
Dear Vues Master,
I want to take a moment to share a little about
someone who makes everything in my life bet-
ter—my wife.
She is, without a doubt, the most selfless and
steady presence I know. Her days are always full,
yet she consistently puts our family first, often in
ways that go unnoticed. She gives without hesita-
tion, listens without judgment, and supports me
in both practical and profound ways.
And then there are the dinners. Somehow, even
after long, demanding days, she still manages
to prepare the most delicious meals—each one
made with care and love. I’ve told her more than
once that my favorite dinner is the one with those
frozen string beans she somehow makes taste
incredible. I only wish she’d make them more
often, though I know she has a thousand other
things on her plate (pun intended).
She truly is the heart of our home, and I’m end-
lessly grateful for my eishes chayal.
Warmly, A Lucky Husband
Vues Master’s Note: You truly are a lucky hus-
band. We only get fresh string beans in our house!
NO CHOICE
Dear Vues Master,
During the funeral procession of Rabbi Morde-
chai Rakover, while everyone was walking sol-
emnly, Rabbi Bunim of Peshischa suddenly burst
out in laughter. Shocked, the people asked him
how he could laugh at such a time. Rabbi Bunim
explained:
“Rabbi Mordechai just told a joke on his way to
Heaven. An angel asked him for his name, and he
replied, ‘Eliezer.’ The angel said, ‘But your name
is Mordechai?’ The tzaddik responded, ‘If you
know, then why are you asking?’
The angel then brought him before the Heavenly
Court to be judged for his actions in this world.
But before the questioning began, Rabbi Morde-
chai said he had some questions and complaints
of his own. The angels were stunned by his bold-
ness, but allowed him to speak.
‘Do you remember, 72 years ago, when my soul
stood before the Heavenly Throne?’ he asked.
‘What could be greater than that? Then I was sent
into this dark, small world, and I was told that
Pirkei Avot teaches: “Against your will, you are
formed.” Not long after, when I was born, I was
told: “Against your will, you are born.” When I
responded that I had no livelihood or angels help-
ing me, I was told: “You have no choice.” And
now, once again, as I’m taken from this world,
I’m told: “Against your will, you die.” So I gave
in on three instances of ‘against your will.’ Now
it’s your turn to let go of one: “Against your will,
you will give judgment and reckoning!”’ —DS
Vues Master’s Note: Don’t we wish it were that
simple?
THE NAZI SKELETONS
Dear Vues Master,
The president of Wesleyan University recently
claimed in a New York Times op-ed that the
Trump administration and the Republican Party
are full of secret or aspiring Nazis.
But what was Wesleyan’s own record
when it came to actual Nazis and
Nazi supporters on its campus in the
1930s?
In February 1934, Wesleyan invited
Dr. Friedrich Auhagen, a represen-
tative of Nazi Germany’s consulate
in New York, to speak to students.
This was more than a year after Hit-
ler came to power—a year already
filled with boycotts of Jewish busi-
nesses, book burnings, university purges, mass
firings of Jewish professionals, and antisemitic
violence. Still, Wesleyan welcomed a Nazi offi-
cial to campus. Auhagen used his speech to de-
nounce “excessive Jewish control” in Germany,
claim reports of antisemitism were exaggerated,
and suggest that Jews should move to Russia if
they didn’t like Nazism.
Wesleyan had Hitler supporters on its own fac-
ulty, most notably Professor Paul H. Curts, a
German language professor. As early as 1932—
months before Hitler became chancellor—Curts
described Nazi supporters as “staid, sober Ger-
mans.” After Hitler took power, Curts became his
chief apologist at Wesleyan, repeatedly visiting
Nazi Germany and returning with praise. Af-
ter a 1934 trip, he told students that Hitler was
“the only man who could offer Germany what it
needed.”
Curts even justified the 1934 “Night of the Long
Knives,” in which Hitler executed political oppo-
nents, saying it was necessary to present a united
front. He dismissed American media coverage
of Nazi atrocities as exaggerated, defended Nazi
social programs, and described Nazi policies to-
ward Jews as either justified or not truly discrimi-
natory. In 1936, he became head of Wesleyan’s
Publications Board.
Curts wasn’t alone. His colleague, Professor John
Blankenagel, spent the 1938-1939 academic year
in Nazi Germany and, after Kristallnacht and the
invasion of Poland, returned to praise Nazi ac-
complishments like eliminating unemployment
and building highways.
Wesleyan also actively participated in student ex-
change programs with Nazi universities, even as
those institutions purged Jews and burned books.
Nazi officials described these exchange students
as “political soldiers of the Reich,” but that didn’t
stop Wesleyan from cooperating.
In 1936, a Nazi-affiliated German exchange
student, Paul Jahn, gave a talk comparing Nazi
student life to that of Wesleyan fraternities. An-
other German exchange student was Gerhard
Hess, nephew of Rudolf Hess. He gave lectures
at Wesleyan and later wrote that he was “serv-
ing his country”—possibly in Nazi fifth-column
operations.
American students also spread Nazi propaganda.
In 1933, The Wesleyan Argus printed a front-page
letter from students in Berlin denying any Jewish
persecution. The paper even ran Nazi-sponsored
ads promoting student travel to Germany—ad-
vertising continued through 1938.
And what about Wesleyan’s president at the time,
James L. McConaughy? He did nothing to stop
any of this. In fact, he actively discouraged Jew-
ish students from pursuing medicine, claiming
there were too many Jews in medical schools and
warning that it would be hard to place “Jewish
graduates.”
Wesleyan was not alone—Harvard, Columbia,
and others were similarly complicit, as Stephen
Norwood documented in The Third Reich in the
Ivory Tower. But that doesn’t excuse Wesleyan’s
record.
Today, President Michael Roth accuses U.S. of-
ficials of Nazi sympathies, yet he was silent when
pro-Hamas students disrupted campus life for
weeks, vandalized property, and were rewarded
with influence over university policy. As the An-
ti-Defamation League warned, such appeasement
only encourages more extremism.
Roth has championed the preservation of the Be-
man Triangle, an important African-American
neighborhood—commendable, despite Wes-
leyan’s history of whites-only admissions and
support for Black resettlement in Africa. Now,
he should show the same respect to the Jewish
community.
President Roth should publicly acknowledge that
Wesleyan was wrong to host Nazi representa-
tives, tolerate pro-Nazi propaganda on campus,
and maintain friendly relations with Nazi Ger-
many.
—RM
Vues Master’s Note: History sure has a way of
repeating itself—including in this editor’s re-
sponse!
LUCKY
Dear Vues Master,
Mrs. Goldberg came to shul one Shabbat wear-
ing a flawless 12-carat diamond ring. The women
around her were amazed and kept complimenting
it. She smiled and said, “Yes, it’s beautiful—but
it comes with a curse.” “What’s the curse?” they
asked. She answered, “Mr. Goldberg.”—JH
Vues Master’s Note: Count your blessings!!
BREAK IT DOWN
Dear Vues Master,
“Michael, why did you break the window?” a
neighbor asked. “What? You think I broke the
window?” Michael replied. “Of course,” the
neighbor said. “I have five people who saw you
do it.” Michael calmly responded, “So what? I
can bring a hundred people who didn’t see me
do it.” —BN
Vues Master’s Note: No way he broke it!
BEN GVIR DAVENING AT HAR
HABAYIS
Dear Vues Master
I don’t understand why so many people in Israel
criticize Itamar Ben Gvir for visiting the Har
Habayis. His decision to go there and daven is a
powerful affirmation of Jewish rights at the holi-
est site in Judaism. By peacefully exercising his
right to worship, he upholds the principle of reli-
gious freedom and reinforces Israeli sovereignty.
Despite the backlash, Ben Gvir’s actions are
rooted in principle—not provocation. The Har
Habayis is central to Jewish identity, and his pres-
ence there sends a clear message: Jewish prayer
must never be treated as a crime in the heart of
Yerushalayim. -LY
Vues Master’s Note: His visit’s about religious
freedom… or maybe he just wanted a little ex-
tra attention on his way to the holiest hotspot in
town!