22 Jul 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.

THEY CAUGHT THEM
Dear Vues Master

I am very pleased to hear that the three individuals respon-
sible for the disturbing incidents along Route 42 in South

Fallsburg have been taken into custody. It is reassuring to
know that Jessica Hoek, 22, Ryan Hoek, 21, and Steele

Dolan, 18, have been identified and charged with harass-
ment and criminal tampering following their alleged actions

of pelting Jewish vehicles, pedestrians, and road signs with
eggs.
The series of events, which began shortly before midnight

on June 29, were troubling. First, the Town of Fallsburg Po-
lice received a report of eggs being thrown at a parked car

on Route 42 near South Fallsburg from a moving vehicle
headed toward Woodbourne. Soon after, a second complaint
came in about pedestrians on Route 42 in Woodbourne also
being targeted.

Thanks to the diligent work of investigators and patrol of-
ficers who reviewed surveillance footage, the car involved

was tracked down, revealing that the egg-throwing spree

stretched from the Town of Thompson all the way to Wood-
bourne, with multiple vehicles and road signs targeted along

the way.
It is good to see justice beginning to take its course, with the

suspects arraigned and now awaiting further court appear-
ances. Acts like these are unacceptable, and it is comforting

to know the authorities are actively addressing such behav-
ior to keep our community safe.

Vues Master’s Note: Thank you to the Sullivan County
Sheriff, Mike Schiff & the local police department for their
great work! -AR

THE FIFTEEN-SECOND DRASHA
Dear Vues Master:
This Shabbos marks the 25th yahrtzeit of Rabbi Shlomo
Halberstam, the Bobover Rebbe.

Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein relates that Rabbi Shlomo Hal-
berstam, the previous Bobover Rebbe, was a wellspring of

sensitivity toward all Jews. He had an extraordinary abil-
ity to overcome feelings of anger and hurt in order to pur-
sue peace. His efforts during and after World War II saved

countless Jews—both physically and spiritually. Yet, as is

often the case with great individuals, he also had his detrac-
tors—people driven by envy and a thirst for recognition.

Shortly after the Bobover Rebbe arrived in America, a lo-
cal rabbi—who felt threatened by the Rebbe’s activism on

behalf of global Jewry—publicly criticized him and person-
ally attacked his character. The Rebbe chose not to respond.

As the slander grew increasingly humiliating, the Rebbe

summoned all of his chassidim to gather in his Beis Me-
drash. The large shul was filled to capacity. Everyone had

crowded in, eager to hear how the Rebbe would respond to
the attacks.
The Bobover Rebbe entered the Beis Medrash, ascended to
the front of the Holy Ark where the Torah scrolls are kept,

kissed the outer curtain, and turned to address the congrega-
tion. He said:

“I am declaring to everyone assembled here, as I stand
before the Holy Ark, that I absolutely forbid anyone from
fighting on my behalf! My honor is my honor, and it will
remain my honor—but only if everyone acts appropriately
and refrains from taking sides. Anyone who disobeys me has
no place in my Beis Medrash!”
Having spoken for just fifteen seconds, the Rebbe stepped
down from the podium and left the shul.
A few hours later, the Rebbe asked his attendant to take him
to the home of the rabbi who had attacked him. By that time,
word of the Rebbe’s extraordinary response had already
spread throughout the community.
When the Rebbe arrived and knocked on the rabbi’s door,
the rabbi answered—and turned pale upon seeing who stood
before him. The Bobover Rebbe understood that words were
unnecessary. Action was needed. He embraced the rabbi,
hugged him, and kissed him on the cheek.
He then said,
“Dear Rabbi, you may ask any one of my chassidim—they
will tell you I hold no ill feelings toward you whatsoever.
Just as we were once friends, we will continue to be friends.”
That encounter deeply affected the rabbi, and the attacks
stopped. The Bobover Rebbe had corrected the situation not
through anger or retaliation, but through love for a fellow
Jew—even when he had every reason to be angry.

Rav Zilberstein notes that Rabbi Shlomo of Bobov’s yahrtz-
eit falls on Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av—the same yahrtz-
eit as Aharon HaKohen, the brother of Moshe Rabbeinu and

the first High Priest. This is significant, as both Aharon and
the Bobover Rebbe exemplified the teaching of Hillel the
Elder (Avos 1:12): “Love peace and pursue peace…” Both
possessed a deep love for all Jews and a profound desire to
promote peace and unity within Klal Yisrael.
– PF
Vues Master’s Note: Very apropos for this season. Ahavas
Chinam not Sinas chinam. Thanks for sharing!

WHO ARE WE BECOMING?
Dear Vues Master
This Shabbos begins the Nine Days. A time for
mourning, yes—but also for honest reflection.
A time to ask not just “What did we lose?” but
“Who are we becoming?”
Somewhere along the way, we forgot how to
be decent. We stopped expressing gratitude.

We stopped seeing each other. We stopped be-
ing mentchen.

If I pause to let you merge in traffic— Is a
quick wave too much?

If I hold the door while juggling kids and gro-
ceries— Is a thank you really so hard?

If I donate—even a dollar— Is a nod of appre-
ciation too much to expect?

This isn’t about ego. It’s about derech eretz. A

culture of appreciation. A society where we ac-
knowledge each other’s efforts—big or small.

And we need to talk about what’s happening in

our shuls. People are in the middle of Shem-
oneh Esrei, pouring out their hearts—and sud-
denly a hand is shoved in their face for tzeda-
kah. It’s jarring. It’s disruptive. It’s not kavod

ha’tefillah, and it’s not derech eretz.
Tzedakah is a mitzvah. But so is respect. So is
timing. So is sensitivity.

If my child picks up your child’s fallen yar-
mulke—thank him. If I make space for you in

shul—acknowledge it. If I let you go first in

line—recognize it’s a courtesy, not an entitle-
ment.

If someone responds to your email late at night,
helps you at the store, or holds a door— Don’t
act like it’s owed to you. Say thank you.
If a bus driver pulls closer for your stroller, or a
teen gives up their seat—thank them.

We’re drowning in chesed, but starving for ba-
sic middos. Gratitude isn’t optional. It’s a core

part of who we’re meant to be.
This Nine Days, don’t just mourn. Change.
Don’t just restrict your food—expand your
character. Don’t just remember the Beis
HaMikdash—start rebuilding it through your
behavior.
I’m tired of kindness being met with silence.
I’m tired of decency going unnoticed.

We must do better. For ourselves. For our chil-
dren. For what we hope to merit.

Say thank you. Wave. Smile. Acknowledge.
It costs nothing. And it means everything.
MY
Vues Master’s Note: Derech Eretz Kadma
L’Torah

BOWLING
Dear Vues Master:
It’s exciting to see a bowling alley back in
Sullivan County! For years, Kiamesha Lanes
and Liberty Lanes were beloved spots where

families, locals, and summer camps could en-
joy good, clean

fun—espe –
cially on rainy
days. Their
closing left a
real void in our
community.
Now, with a
new alley open

again, it’s won-
derful to see

that tradition
being revived.
It’s more than
just a place to
bowl—they’ve
added pizza
and an arcade,
making it a full

family experi-
ence. Even bet-
ter, it’s owned

by a Chasidic
businessman
who is clearly
working hard
to maintain a
w h o l e s o m e ,

family-friend-
ly atmosphere,

rather than al-
lowing it to

become just a
hangout spot.

In a time when it’s harder and harder to find
entertainment options that are welcoming to

families and youth alike, this new bowling al-
ley brings back a much-needed, nostalgic part

of summer in the Catskills. We’re lucky to have
it and should support it so it thrives for years to
come. —MN

Vues Master’s Note: Now let me see some-
one beat Y. Brazil’s record of three 300-point

games in a row!

DEEP STATE
Dear Vues Master:
The recent declassification of documents by

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gab-
bard confirms a troubling truth: President

Obama’s administration actively manipulated
intelligence to falsely implicate Donald Trump
in the so-called “Russian collusion.” This
wasn’t a mistake—it was a deliberate political
hit job, designed to undermine a duly elected
president before he even took office.
The December 8, 2016, Presidential Daily
Brief clearly stated there was no evidence of

Russian interference with U.S. election infra-
structure. Yet, rather than accept that truth, the

Obama team buried it, spun a false narrative,
and unleashed the full force of the intelligence
community to smear Trump. This wasn’t just
political gamesmanship—it was a direct attack
on democratic integrity.
For years, conservatives warned of a “deep

state.” Now, those warnings have been vindi-
cated. From Brennan to Comey, top Obama-era

officials weaponized intelligence for partisan
purposes. The damage done to public trust in
our institutions is incalculable.
President Obama promised transparency and

unity. Instead, he left behind a legacy of decep-
tion and division. What we now see is not just

the unraveling of a hoax—it is the exposure of

a coordinated abuse of power that makes Wa-
tergate look tame by comparison.

The American people deserve answers—and
consequences. Accountability isn’t optional;
it’s essential to restore faith in our democracy.
—LY
Vues Master’s Note: Don’t worry—the leftists
will claim the same is happening under Trump!

SHIDDUCHIM
Dear Vues Master,
Men in shidduchim need to hear this clearly:
Do not marry a single mother. It’s not worth
the emotional baggage, financial
risk, or inevitable complications.
Here’s why:

First, you’ll never be her top prior-
ity—her children will always come

first. That’s reality, and it won’t

change. Second, you’ll end up rais-
ing another man’s children—kids

who don’t share your last name,
your DNA, or your legacy. If the
biological father is still involved,

expect awkward encounters, co-
parenting drama, and another man’s chaos en-
tering your life.

You’ll be expected to take on the role of a father

without the authority of one. And if the mar-
riage ends, there’s even a chance you could be

ordered to pay child support for children who
aren’t biologically yours. On top of that, many
single mothers refuse to take responsibility for
the decisions that brought them to this point.
They blame their exes, but become defensive
when asked why they married those men in the
first place.
To any single mother who feels offended by
this, consider one simple question: If your
son had the choice between marrying a single

woman or a single mom, which would you ad-
vise him to choose—and why?

And to the men reading this: if she were truly
such a great catch, why did her first husband
leave?
—Captain Avious

Vues Master’s Note: One person’s trash is an-
other’s treasure. You must have had a bad ex-
perience.

AI
Dear Vues Master,

I read with interest the newly released guide-
lines from the Karlin-Stolin Chassidus re-
garding the use of artificial intelligence by

bochurim and girls. While some may view
these restrictions as overly cautious, I believe

the committee’s measured and thoughtful ap-
proach deserves recognition.

Artificial intelligence platforms—while pow-
erful and often helpful—are not neutral. They

are built upon vast datasets from across the in-
ternet, which contain not only knowledge but

also biases, misinformation, and values that

may conflict with Torah principles. The Sto-
liner Rebbe and the Va’ad Bechol Derachecha

Daeihu are rightly concerned with the spiritual
well-being of youth who may be ill-equipped
to navigate this complex landscape without
guidance.

The emphasis on content filtering, proper su-
pervision, and limited usage reflects a respon-
sible, proactive stance in a time when digital

tools can easily dominate a young person’s
time and attention. Most crucial is the strong

warning against using AI for halachic deci-
sions. AI may simulate scholarship, but it lacks

da’as Torah, context, and accountability. Even

when answers appear well-sourced, they can
be dangerously misleading.
This is not a ban on technology—it’s a call for
careful discernment. Encouraging responsible

use, under supervision and with spiritual prior-
ities intact, is the only way forward in a digital

world. The Stoliner leadership has once again
shown foresight by addressing not just the
tools themselves, but the mindset with which
they must be approached. LT
Vues Master’s Note: Try paskening with AI—

you’ll see it says things that are nisht geshto-
gen un nisht gefloigen!

ULTRA ORTHODOX
Dear Vues Master,
I was wrong. Well, not exactly—but kinda.

I’ve spoken extensively about the Chareidi is-
sue, the Ultra-Orthodox, and their exemption

from the IDF draft. To summarize my opinion:
I said that if someone is not sitting and learning

Torah, they need to be drafted. Period. If some-
one is dedicating their life to Torah—to pre-
serving our heritage and our tradition—then

the Jewish state should facilitate that.
I’ve spent many hours defending that position.
I have no intention of getting into that debate
again. But I do want to say something: I was
wrong.

You see, in the Torah there are 613 command-
ments, all equal in importance. Davening, for

example, is no more important than giving tze-
daka. Keeping Shabbos is no more important

than avoiding slander. Sure, there are com-
mandments that are more lifestyle-based—like

Shabbat or keeping kosher—but no single

commandment is more important than the oth-
ers.

I simply cannot wrap my head around the fact

that these Ultra-Orthodox Jews are doing ev-
erything in their power to bring down the Is-
raeli government during an existential war.

In the name of Torah??? Have they lost their
freakin’ minds?!
There is absolutely no justification whatsoever
for behaving this way.
And when I say there’s no justification, I don’t
just mean politically—I mean from a Judaism
perspective. They’ve lost the plot. Toppling the
government mid-war?
The list of Jewish principles that contradict
what the Chareidi parties are doing is long.
For starters, this is what’s called a Milchemet
Mitzvah—a war that is a direct fulfillment of
a Torah commandment. A war for the survival
of our home? There’s nothing holier than that.
Not participating in and not supporting this

war—both by refusing to draft and by under-
mining the government—is not a Torah mitz-
vah, it’s a Torah violation.

And what about Pikuach Nefesh—the princi-
ple that preserving life overrides nearly every

other commandment?
For example, in life-and-death situations, not
only is it permitted to violate Shabbat—it’s a

mitzvah to do so!
Leaving the government now will absolutely

cause political instability, and that instabil-
ity will directly harm our ability to fight this

war and protect our soldiers. This isn’t just bad
politics—it’s bad Judaism.
I still hope the government doesn’t fall, but
to leave the coalition in the name of Torah?
That’s the opposite of Torah. But this is part
of a larger issue. We all pick and choose. We
all have our strengths and weaknesses. Some
people find prayer easier; others find it easier
to keep Shabbat.
But the goal of every Jew should be to strive

to fulfill all of the Torah—not to pick one com-
mandment and glorify it while disregarding

the rest. What they’re doing is elevating one
mitzvah—Torah learning—to such a level that
everything else falls by the wayside. And it’s
not just Torah learning.
They do the same with modesty—specifically,
how women dress. Some of them (admittedly
a small minority) literally spit at women, curse
at them, even throw stones—just because a

woman walked through a Chareidi neighbor-
hood dressed differently. Again, this is a mi-
nority—but I’m talking about the principle, not

just the behavior.
That’s Judaism?? What kind of Judaism is
that? It’s not my Judaism. Throwing a rock at
someone? Are you kidding me? It’s the same
core issue.
Of course Torah and Torah study are important.
But is it more important than the survival of the
Jewish people and the Jewish state?

I read something today that gave me a new per-
spective.

The Chareidim think they’re protecting Torah

by refusing to draft and by toppling the gov-
ernment?

You know who protects the Torah?
The State of Israel. The Government of Israel.

Thanks to this state, there is more Torah learn-
ing happening today than ever before in Jewish

history.
The Chareidim shouldn’t draft because they’re
forced to—they should want to draft, to serve

and protect the very country that’s safeguard-
ing the Torah they claim to value so deeply.

The fact that the Chareidi parties are trying—

and might succeed—in toppling the govern-
ment is antithetical to Judaism.

It’s disgusting. It’s selfish. It’s disgraceful.
Alongside the enemies of the Jewish people,

the Chareidi political parties will be remem-
bered in the history books as causing irrepa-
rable harm to the State of Israel at the moment

we needed unity the most.
We needed strength and unity—and all they
brought was weakness and division.
A disgrace.

I’ve spent a lot of time defending the Cha-
reidim when friends, family, and colleagues

spoke badly about them. Well… I was wrong.

The fact that the Chareidi parties left the gov-
ernment on the instruction of their rabbis—

specifically Rabbi Dov Landau—proves it.
They’ve lost the plot. This move to bring down
the government in the middle of a war? An
absolute travesty of historic proportions. Just
terrible. There is no defense or justification for
this awful, awful decision.
This isn’t Torah. It’s the opposite of Torah.
– Hillel Fuld

ARMY SERVICE
Dear Vues Master,
I know I’ve probably written about this once or
twice before, but sometimes a matter calls for

continued reiteration. After reading a very dis-
turbing piece last week by a well-known Jew-
ish writer and entrepreneur, I feel compelled to

address this again.
Yes, the topic of army service—and what the

religious parties in the government are cur-
rently facing—stirs up emotional responses.

But let me be clear: no matter your personal
opinion, it never justifies disrespect or slander
against any Gedolei Yisrael. They are fully
aware of the concepts of Milchemes Mitzvah
and Pikuach Nefesh. Yet the unanimous psak

from the Chareidi world is to keep their bo-
churim in the beis medrash. Who dares to stand

up and speak against them?
If your personal feelings don’t allow you to

accept their ruling—perhaps due to the envi-
ronments you frequent or the podcasts you lis-
ten to, which may have clouded your spiritual

judgment—then at the very least, refrain from
writing public columns undermining the Gadol
Hador. To suggest he is going against the Torah
is absolutely despicable.
Let me remind you: Rav Landau is a tzaddik

and a gaon who has been learning and teach-
ing Torah for over nine decades. Beyond his

position as rosh yeshiva of a prestigious insti-
tution, he is also a leader of the Moetzes Gedo-
lei HaTorah. No decision he makes is without

deep thought and consultation with the other
Gedolei Hador. The political leadership of the
Torah world is far safer in their hands than in
ours.
Given today’s political climate, it’s clear why
they are distancing themselves from such a
hostile government. The constant antagonism
toward the Chareidi community—through
sanctions and threats—is unrelenting, while
the Arab population, including even terrorists,
receives better treatment. I would guess the
government spends more on terrorists than on
yeshiva bochurim on any given day.
The rabbanim have now made it clear: it’s
time to step back from this circus. Yet people
with kippot and tzitzis continue to shame our

gedolim on social media. There is never a jus-
tification to trample on a tzaddik’s honor or

denigrate his rulings. Ever. Such acts consti-
tute a tremendous chilul Hashem, and Hashem

is known to intervene directly to protect their
honor.
Korach fell, despite his intentions—and he’s
still paying for it. I understand that concern for
soldiers and the land may be motivating some
of these misguided posts, but intentions don’t
justify rebellion against our gedolim.
When you see a holy person being trampled,
that’s your only sign that the writer is wrong—
and guilty of a grievous sin. We must protect

ourselves and our families from such mislead-
ing voices, even if they appear in religious

publications or write compelling Divrei Torah.
Once a person shows such disrespect, you can
no longer trust anything they write.
I hope I haven’t come across as too harsh,
but this is something the Torah requires us to

speak up about. Silence can be just as danger-
ous. Let’s show our support and express ha-
karas hatov to Rav Landau—a true friend of

Hashem. KLMY

TIGHT FISTED
Dear Vues Master,
A maggid once approached a wealthy man for
a charitable donation, but the man refused. The
maggid remarked, “It’s a shame you weren’t
around in the times of the Tannaim. If you had
been, non-Jewish milk (chalav akum) would
have been permitted because of you.”

Perplexed, the rich man asked for an explana-
tion.

The maggid replied, “Why was chalav akum
prohibited? It was a gezera due to the concern
that milk from a non-kosher animal might be

mixed in. But you are living proof that a non-
kosher animal can’t be milked at all!”

KW
Vues Master’s Note: Wait until he has to deal
with the IRS!

HISTORY
Dear Vues Master:
A man went to a fish restaurant for dinner.
When the waiter came to take his order, he
asked whether the fish were fresh. The waiter
assured him that they were.
Shortly after the waiter brought him his meal,
the man placed his face close to the fish and
whispered to them. He stopped and whispered
again. Then he stopped and whispered once
more. Naturally, the diners all stared at him and
wondered what was going on.
The waiter came over and politely asked him
what he was doing.
“I’m speaking with the fish,” he said. “I asked
them how things were in their world, and they
responded that all was well. They said they
were swimming in butter and cream. I then
asked them where they came from, and they
said they came from the Atlantic. So I asked
them what’s new in the Atlantic. They told me

they don’t know what the latest news is be-
cause they left the Atlantic three weeks ago.”

—MN
Vues Master’s Note: Another story with the
talking fish!