25 Nov 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
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PROTESTS
Dear Vues Master
I am writing as a deeply concerned New Yorker in response
to the disturbing events that unfolded outside Park East Syna-
gogue during the Nefesh B’Nefesh program last week, and to
the troubling public statements that followed.
Reports describe protesters shouting incendiary, dehumaniz-
ing chants, some even calling for intimidation and celebrating
violence. No matter one’s views on Israeli policy, there is no
excuse for language that targets Jewish New Yorkers or seeks
to frighten people as they enter a house of worship. Such be-
havior crosses every moral and civic line. It is hateful, danger-
ous, and corrosive to the social fabric of our city.
Equally troubling is Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s decision
to issue a statement that both discourages extreme rhetoric
and, at the same time, places blame on the shul for allegedly
“promoting activities” that violate international law. Whatever
one thinks about Israeli settlements, implying that a Manhattan
shul bears responsibility for the violent rhetoric shouted out-
side its doors is an irresponsible and deeply unsettling message
to send, especially at a moment of rising antisemitism.
Houses of worship must be safe for all New Yorkers. They
should not become battlegrounds where congregants are ha-
rassed or made to fear for their safety. Governor Hochul was
right to condemn the incident clearly and unequivocally.
New York cannot allow political disagreements about events
overseas to justify intimidation here at home. Our leaders must
model courage and clarity: hatred and harassment of any reli-
gious community are unacceptable, full stop. I urge the Mayor-
elect to make that message unmistakable moving forward.
IW
Vues Master’s Note: We are in Golus!
TOAMEHA
Dear Vues Master
Last week, Rabbi Bender released a video in which he lament-
ed the ongoing, misguided saga of what Toameha has become.
In case anyone isn’t familiar, it originally started as a mitzvah:
tasting the food one is preparing for Shabbos to ensure it is
good. We are far from that original intent, which is somewhat
humorous when you read the actual definition.
The Rav rightly called out the sad state it has reached today.
Large groups of men gather on Friday afternoons for what
amounts to a hot buffet seudah, often accompanied by ex-
cessive alcohol consumption. Never mind that it is actually
against halacha to eat a large meal on Friday afternoon and
spoil one’s appetite for the Shabbos meal, which someone has
worked hard to prepare.
The excessive drinking has led many to enter Shabbos tipsy or
even drunk. One doesn’t really need a Rav to point out what’s
wrong here—kalus rosh and chilul Hashem are widely under-
stood concepts. But this ongoing distortion of custom is not
only halachically wrong; it also sets a terrible example for chil-
dren. A person is supposed to be at his best for the Friday-night
meal: enjoying family company, hearing what the children
learned in school, teaching them zemiros, and so on.
It is the Rav’s job to speak up when something has gone awry,
and this clearly has gotten out of hand.
There is another point I would like to highlight. When an es-
teemed rosh yeshiva and community leader speaks from the
heart, it is not anyone’s place to pick apart his words. Whether
you agree with him or not, it is inappropriate to share your
disagreements with everyone you know after the fact. Nobody
needs to hear personal theories about where the “real root of
the problem” lies, or why he “addressed this but didn’t say
anything about that.” He does not need your approval, there is
a reason everyone knows his name.
Feel free to write about other concerns you may have, but it
is highly disrespectful to undermine the words of a reputable
Rav. Let him be the mann d’amar.
KLMY
Vues Master’s Note: Huge problem, but I am afraid that if
things are banned, it gets worse as people love doing things
that are banned!
NO GAS
Dear Vues Master
Amidst all the doom and gloom in the news this past week, a
ray of hope emerged for New York Jews with the announce-
ment that the State Senate agreed to pause the All-Electric
Building Act pending the outcome of a lawsuit brought by
unions and trade groups. The Act would have required all new
building construction to run on electricity rather than “fossil
fuels.” Specifically, gas appliances would have been banned
in newly built buildings. This would have been disastrous for
our community, as we rely on gas ovens for Shabbos and Yom
Tov; the bill also would have made it impossible for new mat-
zah bakeries to operate. (The law would not have applied to
existing buildings.)
Do you think the government cares about our seudos or mat-
zos? Of course not! Yet when community advocates raised
concerns about the strain on affordable housing construction,
the electric grid, and rising building costs, Governor Kathy
Hochul backed down. The Governor claims the Act is being
delayed pending an appeal of the Court’s ruling.
This victory, even if only temporary, demon-
strates the importance of forming alliances with
groups who may support our position for any
number of reasons. Each person or organiza-
tion might hold disparate political views, but we
share the same desired outcome. In this case, the
official reason given by building trade groups
and unions for bringing suit was that the fossil
fuel ban was preempted by federal law. While a
federal court in New York ruled in favor of the
electric building mandate, Hochul asserts that
enforcement is being paused while the case is
appealed. This is an easy way out for big govern-
ment, which faced criticism from groups across
the political spectrum regarding the green energy
bill.
As Assemblyman Ari Brown stated, practicality
must come before ideology. Perhaps next time
Albany will consult the construction industry
and other stakeholders: costs need to be evalu-
ated, the practicality of mandates addressed, and
the impact on people who want to have hot food
on Shabbos or Yom Tov (and bake matzah) con-
sidered. We seem to have won this time, but the
nanny state won’t give up.
Now, with Mamdani coming into office, gov-
ernment overreach may only worsen. We need
to ally with the Democrats’ favored groups and
emphasize their talking points: affordable hous-
ing, lack of work for union laborers, and lack of
public input—all valid reasons why a bill needs
reconsideration. In turn, our religious practices
will be respected.
We must find common ground. We must advo-
cate firmly and zealously. And, of course, we
must daven.
Chaim Yehuda Meyer
Vues Master’s Note: Government intruding on
freedom of religion!
TRUMP
Dear Vues Master,
New York City’s political landscape experienced
a stunning shift on November 21, 2025, when
Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, once a vo-
cal critic of President Donald Trump, publicly
pledged to collaborate with him. While the meet-
ing appeared cordial, sources indicate that the
real negotiations occurred behind closed doors,
where Trump reportedly exercised sig-
nificant leverage to secure Mamdani’s
cooperation.
According to an insider who spoke to
CBS News, Trump drew on his famed
“Art of the Deal” strategy, negotiat-
ing terms that would effectively po-
sition him as a major influence over
New York’s future policy decisions.
Mamdani, meanwhile, has emerged
as a cooperative partner in advancing
Trump’s vision for Republican-led re-
forms aimed at revitalizing the city.
The source also claimed that Trump
holds sensitive information related to
Mamdani’s family, including alleged
financial improprieties and interna-
tional connections, giving the former president
considerable leverage. This alleged arrange-
ment echoes Trump’s broader pattern of forming
strategic alliances, such as with Saudi Arabia’s
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, by con-
solidating loyalty through opportunity and the
potential threat of exposure.
Democrats and their supporters, who once relied
on Mamdani’s criticism to challenge Trump’s
influence, now find themselves politically side-
lined. What began as fiery opposition has trans-
formed into a public display of cooperation,
highlighting Trump’s aptitude for negotiation
and power consolidation.
Whether viewed as masterful strategy or coer-
cive politics, this episode illustrates Trump’s
ability to turn adversaries into allies while re-
shaping the city’s political dynamics in ways
few anticipated.
BT
Vues Master’s Note: Time will tell!
NAME OF HASHEM
Dear Vues Master
In the Aseres Hadibros, it is clear: “Thou shalt
not take the Name of Hashem in vain.” But what
happens when Hashem’s name lines up at wide
receiver? For Jewish football fans in New York,
this question is no longer hypothetical. The Jets
recently acquired a second-year wideout named
Adonai Mitchell.
“Adonai” is one of the sacred names of G-d in
Hebrew, traditionally reserved for davening and
ritual. Jewish law strictly forbids using it casu-
ally. Now, every time Mitchell makes a spec-
tacular catch, or drops a crucial pass, fans face
a dilemma: can they cheer, curse, or even mutter
his name without violating a commandment?
Last week, Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz of Yeshiva
University addressed the question. He consulted
Rav Hershel Schachter shlita, who reportedly
ruled that there is no halachic issue in this con-
text. The consensus seems to be that when refer-
ring to a person whose legal name happens to
be a sacred word, no transgression occurs. Yet
the situation remains both amusing and thought-
provoking.
PW
Vues Master’s Note: It is all in the name. Name
withheld to protect the named!
TRUMP AND MAMDANI
Dear Vues Master
I can only imagine what it must have been like
inside the Oval Office last Friday as President
Donald Trump and Mayor-elect Zohran Mamda-
ni sat down together for their much-anticipated
meeting. After months of public sparring, sharp
words, and seemingly incompatible political
identities, the two of them finally facing each
other across that historic desk must have been a
moment worth witnessing. I would have loved to
be a fly on the wall, not only to hear their words,
but to catch the tone, the body language, and the
subtle signs of whether cooperation is truly pos-
sible.
From what we know, the meeting was surpris-
ingly cordial and productive, centered on af-
fordability, cost of living, and the day-to-day
struggles of New Yorkers. For two men who
have criticized each other so strongly in the past,
the ability to sit down and talk seriously about
real issues is no small achievement. It made me
wonder whether this might be the beginning of a
working relationship that, despite all odds, could
become genuinely constructive.
Looking ahead, I find myself imagining what
another meeting between them might look like
three years from now. By then, Mayor Mam-
dani will have had time to put his policies into
practice, and President Trump, if still in office,
will have plenty to evaluate. Would the tension
of first impressions be gone? Would they meet
as rivals, as reluctant partners, or perhaps as two
leaders who have found unexpected common
ground?
Whatever the case, I’d love nothing more than to
be that fly in the room once again.
BY
Vues Master’s Note: It is all talk. Let’s see when
Netanyahu comes to visit!
LOUD
Dear Vues Master
I know that this topic has been raised multiple
times in the Jewish Vues “Speak Your Vues”
section, but I feel compelled to add my own
experience. I just attended a chasuna this past
week, and the music was insanely loud. The or-
chestra was so overpowering that my ears
were ringing for hours afterward, and I
could barely hear anyone speaking to me
throughout the event.
These simchas are meant to be joyous cel-
ebrations, yet the volume levels at some of
these events are not only uncomfortable
but potentially harmful. When the music is
this loud, it prevents meaningful conversa-
tion and connection among attendees, and
it can even pose a risk to long-term hear-
ing health. It’s difficult to enjoy a wedding
or bar mitzvah when you feel like you’re
shouting just to be heard.
Someone really needs to address this is-
sue, ideally the orchestras themselves, but
the rabbanim should take a clear stance as
well. It would go a long way if they set guide-
lines or encouraged families to ensure that the
music remains celebratory without being physi-
cally overwhelming. Simchas should bring peo-
ple together, not leave them with ringing ears
and frustration.
I hope that future discussions in this column and
within our communities will lead to more rea-
sonable volume standards at celebrations. After
all, joy is best experienced when everyone can
actually hear it.
EG
Vues Master’s Note: It is true as I get older, I
seem to remember the old people complaining
about loud music; now I am one of them. Scary
how time flies!
ADAMS
Dear Vues Master
I write today with a sense of relief and, frankly,
satisfaction that Mayor Adams is finally giving
Mayor-elect Mamdani a hard time. For months,
we have heard lofty promises about transform-
ing every inch of New York into a staging
ground for new housing projects, including the
beloved Elizabeth Street Garden. Yet when it
came down to it, Mamdani’s vision seemed far
more eager to bulldoze community spaces than
to build consensus.
Adams’s decision to pivot away from replacing
the garden with affordable housing and instead
move toward designating it as city parkland was
not only reasonable but responsible. In a city
starved for green space and increasingly shaped
by top-down declarations, protecting an estab-
lished garden is hardly sabotage. It is steward-
ship. If this makes it “nearly impossible” for
Mamdani to push forward with his plan, then
perhaps the plan wasn’t as thoughtfully con-
structed as he insists.
Mamdani claims Adams’s actions undermine the
city’s “urgent need for housing,” especially for
seniors. But urgency should not be an excuse
to steamroll neighborhoods or erase the small
pockets of beauty and calm that residents cher-
ish. Adams, in his final weeks, is right to ensure
that any transition of power includes account-
ability, not blind deference.
If this rocky start prevents rash decisions and
encourages Mamdani to rethink the balance
between development and preservation, then
Adams has done the city a favor. A new mayor
should be challenged, not coddled. And in this
instance, Adams’s resistance is exactly what
New York needs.
NP
Vues Master’s Note: Good for Adams — his last
licks!
CHAREIDIM
Dear Vues Master
The debate over drafting the Charedim has re-
vealed a painful truth about Israeli leadership:
real leaders must distinguish between what is
essential and what is merely infuriating. During
the war, it was tempting to confront Charedi re-
fusal to serve, especially as reservists and their
families carried a crushing burden. But such a
confrontation would have toppled the govern-
ment and jeopardized the war effort, a hollow
“victory” that risked national defeat.
Now that the war is over, however, preserving
the current system is equally dangerous. Isra-
el’s economic and security foundations cannot
survive if large sectors are incentivized not to
serve and not to work. The proposed “Bismuth
Law,” which the government claims will bring
thousands more Charedim into the IDF, is built
on illusions. Its actual thresholds mirror today’s
recruitment levels, while the strongest sanctions
have been removed. In exchange, the govern-
ment has surrendered the only real leverage it
ever held over Charedi leadership.
This outcome is not accidental. The Charedi
parties, which sustain the coalition, have no
long-term plan for governing a state their own
economic model depends on exploiting. And the
current government, dependent on their support,
is incapable of passing a genuine draft law.
Israel is approaching a demographic and strate-
gic cliff. Without structural reform to incentives,
service, and work, the burden on those who do
serve, and on the economy as a whole, will be-
come unsustainable. Buying time for a fading
coalition is not a national strategy. The next
government must face this challenge honestly,
before it is too late.
AS
Vues Master’s Note: Nothing ever changes. As
much as things change, they stay the same!
MY RULES OF CHESS
Dear Vues Master
Always think three moves ahead Things aren’t
what they seem Guard each pawn — one never
knows Which one becomes a queen Concentrate
with all your might Focus without lapse For if
you fail — your best defense Will crumble and
collapse Don’t rush into a hasty move That’s too
good to believe That poison pawn is just a trap
Placed there to deceive Danger lurks at every
turn But don’t let him see you sweat You’ve also
got a trick or two You’ll outmaneuver him yet
Take your time, observe the board Think twice
then think again For if a move is bad, beware
The penalty is pain If you’re white — you must
attack If you’re black — lay back Wait for op-
portunity Search till you find a crack If you’re on
the run – don’t fret Opportunities abound You’d
be surprised how one good move Can turn the
game around Castles, knights and bishops All
will play a role Each will serve their master As
they try to reach their goal But keep in mind the
iron rule That governs everything Each piece
must be sacrificed In service of the king So re-
member son, protect your king No matter what
the cost For if perchance your king shall fall In-
deed, the game is lost! And when you lose as
we all must And your king lies on the board Just
lift him up and start again Hallelujah, praise the
Lord!
Country Yossi Toiv
Vues Master’s Note: CheckMate Mandani won.
SATMAR REBBE IN ISRAEL
& THE DA
Dear Vues Master,
Spoiler alert: Despite the title of this article, the
Satmar Rebbe did not appear in the Daf Yomi
this week, nor did any other contemporary rabbi.
In fact, daf 68 in Zevachim has nothing in par-
ticular to do with the Satmar Rebbe or with his
highly publicized trip to Israel this week. But
one thing leads to another, and studying the daf
can, in its own way, lead to an appreciation of
the Satmar Rebbe. If this seems far-fetched, it
is — but bear with me.
This particular daf includes an association —
made by Rabbi Yehoshua — that may seem
even more far-fetched, perhaps as indirect as
possible. Yet it lends itself to a connection that,
while indirect, might be even more meaningful.
The Gemara discusses a situation in which a
woman made a neder to sacrifice certain birds.
Due to a mix-up, there was confusion about
whether the birds designated for sacrifice were
correct. To cover all possibilities and enable her
to fulfill her vow, seven birds had to be sacri-
ficed.
Somehow, Rabbi Yehoshua said this reminded
him, or perhaps served as a parable, of what
people say about a ram (or sheep): when it is
alive, it makes one sound, but when it is dead,
it produces seven sounds. Rashi elaborates: its
two horns become chatzotzros (trumpets), its
two shinbones become flutes, its skin becomes
a drumhead, its large intestines become harp
strings, and its small intestines become lyre
strings.
This leads to a discussion about whether the
chatzotzros had to be made of silver rather
than of animal horn. One explanation is that in
Moshe’s generation they had to be silver; later,
animal horns sufficed. Another view is that the
Kohanim blew silver chatzotzros, while the
Leviyim could blow from animal horns.
Now we approach the point of this article and
the connection to the Satmar Rebbe. Rabbi
Shalom Rosner notes that chatzotzros must
be created anew in each generation. Their
function is to inspire the people dramatical-
ly, and each generation responds differently
to inspiration. Rosner illustrates: there was
a time when orators inspired with fire and
brimstone — loud, pompous exhortations,
arms flailing. Today, speakers influence peo-
ple conversationally, while demonstrators use
chants — hopefully without curses or violence.
Different times, different methods.
And now we come to the Satmar Rebbe. He in-
spires people in his own unique way, as we saw
in Israel this week.
P.S. Rabbi Norman Lamm, when he was presi-
dent and rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva University,
once eulogized one of the few maggidei shiur on
his staff known for his sharp extremism, espe-
cially by YU standards. Lamm referenced a Ge-
mara in Haro’eh about someone seeing a drum
in a dream, using the imagery to illustrate that
different leaders “march to the beat of a different
drummer”, not the same drum Rashi mentioned.
It has been said: Yiftach b’doro k’Shmuel b’doro
— Yiftach in his generation is like Shmuel in
his generation. Each generation merits tzad-
dikim suited to its own needs — and perhaps
defined by its own standards. While many of us
hold strong opinions, and some may appear “ex-
treme,” it may not be for us to judge who is right
or who is too far to the right.
May our leaders continue to inspire in ways suit-
ed to our generation, and may they inspire the
wider world to recognize goodness and reject
evil. Rabbi Aaron I. Reichel, Esq.
Vues Master’s Note: I guess you and I won’t see
eye to eye!
THE POPE’S KAYAK—A LESSON
FOR THE JEWS
Dear Vues Master
It took a century, but the Vatican has finally
agreed to return a kayak and other cultural ar-
tifacts stolen from Indigenous Canadian tribes
for use in Pope Pius XI’s “Vatican Missionary
Exposition” in 1925.
Members of the Inuvialuit Nation are under-
standably upset that Pope Leo XIV, in announc-
ing the return, referred to the kayak as a “gift”
from the Vatican. “It’s not the Pope’s kayak,”
said a spokesperson for the Inuvialuit.
This raises a broader question: Is the Vatican
also holding Jewish property? Over the years,
questions have surfaced about whether the Vati-
can possesses sacred Jewish artifacts looted by
the Romans from the Second Temple in Jerusa-
lem in 70 CE. The Vatican denies this, though
some eyewitness accounts suggest otherwise.
Depictions of the menorah and other treasures
being carried off appear on the Arch of Titus in
Rome, the ancient equivalent of photographic
evidence.
Regardless, another government has indisput-
ably seized large amounts of Jewish property in
recent history, the government of Jordan. During
its illegal occupation of parts of Jerusalem from
1948 to 1967, Jordan stole, destroyed, or dese-
crated an estimated 38,000 gravestones from the
Mount of Olives cemetery, the oldest and larg-
est Jewish cemetery in the world. Among those
buried there are the biblical prophets Haggai,
Malachi, Zechariah, and Hulda; Talmudic sages;
modern rabbinic leaders such as Rabbi Chaim
ibn Attar (the Or Ha-Chaim) and Chief Rabbi
Avraham Yitzhak Hakohen Kook; as well as fig-
ures like Prime Minister Menachem Begin and
Hadassah founder Henrietta Szold.
On July 5, 1967, weeks after the Six-Day War
and the liberation of Jerusalem, the Jewish Tele-
graphic Agency reported the discovery of what
it called “one of the most shocking episodes”
of Jordan’s 19-year occupation of the cemetery.
Israeli officials found that tombstones had been
used in the construction of an Arab Legion camp
near Jericho, including for parade grounds,
roads, buildings, and even lavatories. Inscrip-
tions were still visible on some of the desecrated
stones.
American journalist Trude Weiss-Rosmarin,
who visited the cemetery later that year, report-
ed that the Jordanians’ “full fury was unleashed
upon the dead.” Tombstones were carted away,
repurposed for construction or ground into
gravel, and large sections of the cemetery were
plowed under. Among the tombs completely
obliterated was that of Henrietta Szold.
It is time for Jordan to provide a full accounting
of the gravestones it removed from the Mount
of Olives, some of which may still be in its pos-
session. Jordan must also pay restitution to the
families affected and issue a public apology for
these crimes.
There is ample precedent for restitution for
damaged Jewish cemeteries. In 2014, Warsaw
returned and restored about 1,000 gravestones
stolen from the Brodno Jewish cemetery during
the Holocaust. In 2022, Jewish tombstones re-
purposed as church steps in Vilnius, Lithuania,
were returned to a nearby cemetery. Earlier this
year, hundreds of gravestone fragments were re-
turned to a cemetery in Brest, Belarus. Germany
and Austria also contribute to the maintenance
of Jewish cemeteries in Central Europe as com-
pensation for their roles in Holocaust-era de-
struction, including a $1.1 million annual fund
to guard these cemeteries.
Jewish leaders have consistently pressed for
restitution, even when progress is slow. Swiss
banks, for instance, refused to compensate
families whose accounts were seized during the
Holocaust until 1999, after decades of pressure.
France returned only a few dozen stolen Jewish-
owned paintings in the first fifty years after the
Holocaust, and it took until 2013 for a formal
commission to address the problem. Efforts
continue in Poland and Lithuania to secure full
restitution for property seized during the Holo-
caust.
The desecration and theft of gravestones from
Jerusalem must not be forgotten. Seventy-six
years is a long time for an injustice to go un-
resolved, but it is still less than the century it
took the Vatican to return a stolen kayak. Jew-
ish leaders should be as persistent as Indigenous
Canadian tribes in seeking justice.
Dr. Rafael Medoff
Vues Master’s Note: Kind of too little too late!