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    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.

    AGUDAH
    Dear Vues Master:
    I would like to take a moment to publicly express how truly beautiful
    and uplifting the 40th anniversary Melaveh Malka of Agudah Beis
    Binyamin on Avenue L was this past Motzaei Shabbos.
    Despite the cold weather, there was a very impressive turnout, which
    spoke volumes about the warmth and unity of the kehilla. It was
    inspiring to see so many people come out to celebrate four decades

    of dedication, growth, and Torah life. The atmosphere was welcom-
    ing, dignified, and filled with genuine simcha, making the evening

    memorable for everyone who attended.
    The event was exceptionally well organized, from the setting to the
    program, and every detail reflected the care and commitment of those
    who worked so hard behind the scenes. It was clear that this was not
    just a celebration of an anniversary, but a celebration of community.
    Special recognition is certainly due to the Morah D’Asra, Rabbi
    Lieff, whose leadership and warmth are felt throughout the shul
    year-round. The kehilla is truly fortunate to have such a devoted and
    inspiring Rav guiding it.

    In addition, the special guest speaker, Rabbi Farhi, spoke beauti-
    fully and meaningfully. His words were thoughtful, engaging, and

    perfectly suited to the occasion, adding depth and inspiration to an
    already special night.

    Agudah Beis Binyamin should be very proud of reaching this mile-
    stone, and I wish them continued hatzlacha for many years to come.

    Sincerely, A grateful community member
    Vues Master’s Note: Amein v’Amein!

    PARKING
    Dear Vues Master:
    Since the snowstorm nearly two weeks ago, finding parking in

    Brooklyn has become nearly impossible. The bitter cold has pre-
    vented the snow from melting, leaving streets clogged with mounds

    of ice and snow. I personally dug my car out from the spot in front of
    my house, only to find that almost immediately, someone else parked
    there. What was once a simple routine, finding a spot near home, has
    turned into a daily struggle.
    I’ve noticed neighbors placing orange cones in front of their houses
    to “reserve” parking spots. I understand the frustration; after hours
    of shoveling, it’s tempting to protect the space you worked so hard to
    clear. But it’s important to remember that placing cones or any object
    to claim a public street spot is illegal. Doing so only adds to tension
    among neighbors and creates an unsafe environment for drivers who
    already have limited options.
    City services are stretched thin, and snow removal has been slow,
    which is understandable. But residents should be reminded that the
    streets belong to everyone. Encouraging cooperation rather than
    claiming spots could ease frustration. Simple solutions, like rotating
    parking or checking in with neighbors, might help until the streets

    are fully cleared.

    We all want safe, accessible streets and parking, especially in chal-
    lenging weather. Patience, mutual respect, and adherence to the law

    are crucial as we navigate the lingering effects of this storm. Let’s
    work together to keep our community safe and our streets fair.
    BR

    Vues Master’s Note: What about sanitation giving tickets for gar-
    bage not in cans? All a money grab!

    RENEWAL SHABBATON
    Dear Vues Master

    I would like to share how profoundly beautiful and uplifting the re-
    cent Renewal Shabbaton was this past Shabbos. From beginning to

    end, the entire weekend was infused with warmth, inspiration, and a
    deep sense of achdus that is hard to put into words.
    Every detail of the Shabbaton reflected thoughtfulness and care. The
    tefillos were moving, the atmosphere was electric, and the sense of

    shared purpose among the participants was palpable. Being sur-
    rounded by so many men and women who genuinely enjoy doing

    chesed for others was both humbling and inspiring. These are true
    mitzvah people, whose dedication and kindness elevate everyone
    around them.
    The undeniable highlight of the weekend was the Melave Malka
    on Motzei Shabbos. It was an emotional and unforgettable moment
    when Rabbi Yaakov Trump met his kidney recipient for the very first

    time. There was not a dry eye in the room as the reality of this in-
    credible act of selflessness sank in. The room then filled with joy

    as everyone rose to dance together, celebrating life, generosity, and
    miracles.
    Adding to the magic of the night, Lipa’s singing lifted the crowd
    even higher. The music, the dancing, and the overwhelming feeling
    of gratitude created an atmosphere that will stay with attendees for
    a very long time.
    This Shabbaton was more than a weekend away, it was a powerful
    reminder of what our community can achieve when chesed, unity,
    and simcha are at the center of everything we do.
    LG

    Vues Master’s Note: Helping another person in this way is a tremen-
    dous mitzvah and a true reflection of chesed at its finest.

    SHAM
    Dear Vues Master:
    I am writing out of deep concern and anger over Mayor Zohran
    Mamdani’s decision to remove Moshe Davis as executive director
    of New York City’s Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism. Davis
    is a dedicated public servant who did his job extremely well, and his
    ouster sends a disturbing message to Jewish New Yorkers at a time
    when antisemitism is clearly on the rise.

    Moshe Davis spent more than three years working in the office be-
    fore becoming executive director, and his record speaks for itself.

    He understood that combating antisemitism requires
    honesty about what it looks like today. That meant
    confronting the BDS movement, opposing protests
    that target Jewish communities, and building real

    systems to keep Jewish New Yorkers safe. He ap-
    proached this work seriously and unapologetically

    as a proud Jew who does not hide his identity or his

    belief in the Jewish people’s right to self-determi-
    nation.

    Mayor Mamdani’s decision to replace Davis with a

    left-wing activist who has publicly condemned Is-
    rael’s defensive actions and dismissed core aspects

    of Jewish life is deeply troubling. This move follows

    a pattern: scrapping the IHRA definition of antisemi-
    tism, refusing to clearly condemn extremist rhetoric,

    and surrounding himself with advisers who have ex-
    pressed hostility toward Israel and, in some cases,

    Jews themselves.
    The Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism should
    exist to protect Jews, not to redefine antisemitism to
    suit an ideological agenda. Removing Moshe Davis
    was not about performance or qualifications; it was

    about politics. Jewish New Yorkers deserve leader-
    ship that takes antisemitism seriously, not leadership

    that excuses or enables it.
    MT
    Vues Master’s Note: It is all a show and tell, show

    everyone you are combating antisemitism while tell-
    ing everyone you are an antisemite!

    SOCIAL MEDIA
    Dear Vues Master:

    As opening arguments begin this week in Los An-
    geles County Superior Court, the nation is confront-
    ing a long-overdue question: What responsibility do

    social media companies bear for the harm their plat-
    forms cause, especially to children?

    The case against Meta and Google’s YouTube al-
    leges that these companies deliberately designed

    addictive products that worsen depression, anxiety,
    and suicidal thoughts in young users. At the heart of
    the trial is a young woman who claims that her early
    exposure to social media led to serious mental health
    struggles. Her story echoes what parents across the
    country are witnessing firsthand.
    This issue cuts across every community, including
    the frum world. Social media use within Orthodox

    Jewish communities has grown rapidly, often out-
    pacing our ability to protect children from its effects.

    Platforms built to maximize engagement undermine

    values of modesty, focus, derech eretz, and emo-
    tional well-being. They fracture attention, normalize

    harmful content, and expose children to influences

    completely at odds with the ideals of Klal Yisrael.

    These harms are not accidental. The lawsuit de-
    scribes design features modeled after the gambling

    and tobacco industries, endless scrolling, algorith-
    mic reinforcement, and engineered dependency, all

    implemented to drive profits, not healthy develop-
    ment.

    While tech companies insist teen mental health is

    complex, complexity does not absolve responsibil-
    ity. When corporations knowingly push addictive

    products onto children, safeguards and good inten-
    tions are not enough.

    Just as the Big Tobacco trials reshaped public aware-
    ness and accountability, these cases may finally

    force change. Our children, across all communities,
    deserve better than platforms that profit from their
    vulnerability.
    MW

    Vues Master’s Note: They are culpable and respon-
    sible for all the evils in this world!

    JEWS
    Dear Vues Master:
    I wanted to take a moment to express how much
    I enjoyed last week’s edition of The Jewish Vues,
    especially the feature on Robert Kraft. It was a
    thoughtful and engaging article that highlighted his
    impact, philanthropy, and connection to the Jewish
    community in a way that felt both respectful and
    relevant. I found myself genuinely interested from
    start to finish.
    I also want to commend you on your editorial choice
    for the cover. Not placing a rabbi in the main cover
    box, something readers have grown accustomed to
    seeing almost every week, was both refreshing and
    meaningful. Featuring Robert Kraft, who is not
    frum, sent an important message about inclusivity

    and perspective. It showed that your paper recog-
    nizes and values the full spectrum of Jewish life and

    leadership, not just one visible segment of it.
    That decision spoke volumes. Too often, Jewish
    publications unintentionally narrow the definition of
    who represents our people. By putting Kraft on the
    cover, you demonstrated that Klal Yisrael is broad,
    diverse, and multifaceted, encompassing people
    with different levels of observance, backgrounds,
    and expressions of Jewish identity. Robert Kraft is
    not a perfect man, but he is a man of chesed who

    does a great deal for Klal Yisrael, and it was encour-
    aging to see that reflected so clearly.

    This is exactly the kind of editorial balance that
    strengthens a community publication and broadens
    its appeal. I hope to see more issues like this in the
    future, ones that continue to represent all
    of Klal Yisrael, not only those who wear
    black hats.
    Thank you for an excellent edition and for

    continuing to spark thoughtful conversa-
    tion within our community.

    AG

    Vues Master’s Note: Sad that we are look-
    ing up to a non-religious person because

    he has a lot of money!

    HAPPINESS
    Dear Vues Master:
    A single, throwaway line from Elon Musk
    recently exposed a truth many people
    spend their lives running from: “Whoever

    said money can’t buy happiness really knew what
    they were talking about.” It was met with sarcasm,
    mockery, and predictable eye-rolling. “Cry me a

    river,” people said. But beneath the snark was some-
    thing deeply uncomfortable, and that’s exactly why

    it struck a nerve.
    Here is the wealthiest man in the world, with more
    money than kings once imagined, more access than

    entire nations, and more power than most govern-
    ments, openly admitting that it didn’t deliver what

    it promised. Not in a lecture. Not in a memoir. Just
    one blunt sentence and a sad emoji. And instead of
    listening, we laughed.
    Because if he isn’t happy, the fantasy collapses. If
    money doesn’t fix the emptiness at the very top, then
    maybe the problem isn’t “not enough.” Maybe the
    problem is believing that more will finally quiet the
    noise inside.
    We’ve trained ourselves to think unhappiness is a
    financial problem — that peace arrives with the next
    raise or the next win. But fulfillment doesn’t scale
    with net worth. Meaning, menuchas hanefesh, and
    happiness come from something far quieter: being
    satisfied with what we have and living with hakaras
    hatov, a genuine gratitude for the blessings already
    in our lives.

    Money solves real problems, and no one is romanti-
    cizing poverty. But the secret to happiness has never

    been accumulation. It’s appreciation. And perhaps
    the saddest part isn’t that a billionaire admitted he
    isn’t happy, it’s how desperately we want him to be
    wrong.
    VT
    Vues Master’s Note: I guess some people are happy
    when other people are unhappy!
    TRIP
    Dear Vues Master:
    Yossi and Leah went on a around-the-world cruise
    one winter. The next year, Leah said she wanted to
    go somewhere else. Yossi responded, “The kitchen?”
    LP
    Vues Master’s Note: Dangerous joke in this day and
    age!

    FIGHT
    Dear Vues Master:
    One evening, after a bitter marital spat, the wife
    heard her husband sigh, “Oh, if only women would

    be as understanding as men, life would be truly won-
    derful.” Angry, she prepared a tough old rooster for

    dinner, with meat as tough as leather. The husband
    managed to eat the meal without complaining, not
    wanting to start another fight.

    The following day, however, she served a well-ten-
    dered, juicy young hen, which her surprised husband

    enjoyed immensely. “I did that for a reason,” said
    his wife. “This proves that the female is better than
    the male.”
    “I suppose you’re right,” the husband replied, “but
    only after she’s been tenderized for a few hours.”
    MK
    Vues Master’s Note: Another joke I would not touch
    with a ten-foot pole!

    IDEOLOGY
    Dear Vues Master:

    I think last week’s paper went a little too far in giv-
    ing such great honor to football. Never mind that

    pretty much all the rabbanim featured in the paper

    would disapprove of watching it entirely, but to com-
    pletely glorify a non-shomer Shabbos individual on

    the cover who “gave his Yiddishe neshama to create
    a football empire” goes beyond all limits of a Torah
    paper.
    That is not something to be proud of, no matter how

    nice of a person he may be. This is not what we glo-
    rify and respect. Nobody should be giving their soul

    to something secular and then receiving applause
    from bnei Torah.
    The paper also featured huge ads for food for the
    game, which seriously compromises the hashkafa
    of a frum newspaper. Back in the day, even if there
    were boys in yeshiva who were going to watch it,
    they kept it quiet and to themselves. They didn’t brag
    or show off their plans. There was a certain humility
    in knowing they were doing something contrary to
    yeshiva standards, and it wasn’t something to shout
    from the rooftops.
    It’s the same thing here. We all know who sells
    chicken poppers and wings. Does it have to be
    splashed across every page of the paper so everyone

    knows there is such a large crowd of people compro-
    mising on tznius, lashon nekiyah, chukas hagoyim,

    and bitul Torah? No. It’s not something we want ev-
    eryone to know — especially the holy rabbanim who

    write for this paper, who must be truly embarrassed.
    Content should be more carefully monitored. The
    next time I see a Yiddishe neshama who “gave his
    life” to something, I would prefer it to be a real Yirei
    Shamayim I can actually look up to.
    KLMY
    Vues Master’s Note: Nu! Did your team win or lose?
    What was your party? It’s all about ads, if no one
    were interested, no one would advertise! This paper
    is distributed for free because of the ads. If you don’t
    like the Super Bowl, don’t pick it up that week!

    ZORAN DREK
    Dear Vues Master:
    This is getting worse by the minute.
    New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has openly
    suggested that businesses should be barred from
    leaving the city due to high taxes, fined aggressively
    if they try, or even seized and operated by the city

    itself. That is not bold leadership, it is a startling em-
    brace of coercion.

    Businesses do not flee New York out of spite. They
    leave because taxes, regulations, and operating costs
    make it increasingly impossible to survive. When the

    response from City Hall is not reform but punish-
    ment, it sends a chilling message to every employer,

    investor, and worker still here: compliance matters
    more than consent.
    Making it illegal to leave is not economic policy; it
    is an admission of failure. Cities compete every day
    for jobs and talent. Successful ones ask why people
    are leaving and fix the problem. Failing ones try to
    trap them.
    Government ownership of private enterprise has
    been tried before, both abroad and at home, and the
    results are always the same — inefficiency, political

    favoritism, declining services, and fewer jobs. Work-
    ers suffer first, despite rhetoric claiming to protect

    them.
    New York became great because people chose it,
    entrepreneurs, immigrants, artists, and builders all
    taking risks by choice, not by force. A city that must

    threaten its businesses to keep them has already lost
    its way.
    If the mayor wants companies to stay, the solution
    is simple but difficult: lower the burden, streamline
    regulation, and make New York competitive again.

    Threats and takeovers will only accelerate the exo-
    dus.

    VT

    Vues Master’s Note: This is communists and social-
    ists!

    MAMZERDANI
    Dear Vues Master:

    Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s first major test was sup-
    posed to be simple: show New York’s Jewish com-
    munity that City Hall understands the fear they are

    living with and is serious about confronting anti-
    semitism. His decision to appoint Phylisa Wisdom

    to head the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism
    instead raises troubling questions about judgment
    and priorities.
    Antisemitic hate crimes have surged dramatically

    in recent months. Jews are being harassed and at-
    tacked in public, shuls are fortifying their entrances,

    and many families are modifying how visibly Jewish

    they are in daily life. Against this backdrop, the may-
    or selected a figure whose public record suggests a

    consistent tendency to minimize Jewish concerns
    when they conflict with political ideology.
    Wisdom’s past social media comments making light
    of missing Yom Kippur may seem inconsequential

    to some. But for a role centered on protecting a vul-
    nerable community, such casual public humor about

    Judaism reflects a lack of sensitivity to how seri-
    ously many Jews hold their traditions and identity,

    especially in times of rising hostility.
    More concerning is her reaction during the 2021

    Hamas rocket attacks on Israeli civilians. While oth-
    ers focused on condemning terrorism and civilian

    deaths, Wisdom instead expressed outrage at politi-
    cians who voiced support for Israel. That response,

    prioritizing political positioning over empathy for
    Jewish victims, mirrors the very dynamic many Jews
    experience as abandonment.
    Criticism of Israeli policy is legitimate. But leading
    the fight against antisemitism requires unmistakable

    moral clarity when Jews are targeted. This appoint-
    ment suggests ideological alignment mattered more

    than trust-building, leaving a frightened community
    feeling unheard when reassurance was most needed.
    NT
    Vues Master’s Note: He is the biggest antisemite of
    them all!

    GAMBLING
    Dear Vues Master:
    I am writing out of deep concern about a trend that

    is quietly but rapidly growing within our commu-
    nity: the normalization of

    gambling among Jewish

    high school and college stu-
    dents. What once may have

    been seen as an occasional,

    harmless diversion has in-
    creasingly become a regular

    habit, fueled by online plat-
    forms, sports betting apps,

    and a broader culture that

    treats wagering as entertain-
    ment. This is especially troubling because gambling

    is clearly asur, and its consequences—financial,
    emotional, and spiritual, are anything but trivial.
    Just last week, ahead of the Super Bowl, Rabbi Aryeh
    Lebowitz delivered a powerful mussar shmooze to

    Yeshiva University students addressing this very is-
    sue. He spoke candidly about how gambling under-
    mines core Torah values such as bitachon, self-con-
    trol, and integrity. He reminded students that even

    when money is “won,” it often comes at the expense

    of yiras Shamayim and long-term stability. The tim-
    ing of his message was no coincidence. Major sport-
    ing events have become gateways through which

    gambling enters the lives of young people who may
    not yet appreciate the risks involved.
    It is also critical to recognize that help exists within
    our own community. Frum organizations such as

    OHEL are already dealing with the realities of gam-
    bling addiction, providing professional support,

    guidance, and confidential resources to individuals
    and families in need. These organizations understand
    the cultural and religious sensitivities involved and
    are equipped to help in a responsible, Torah-aligned
    way. Frum community members should not hesitate
    to reach out to them, early intervention can make a
    profound difference.

    We cannot afford to be complacent. Parents, educa-
    tors, and communal leaders must address this issue

    openly and proactively. Our youth deserve compas-
    sionate but firm guidance, and our community must

    ensure that Torah values, not destructive habits,
    shape their future. FYT

    Vues Master’s Note: This is one of the biggest sick-
    nesses out there, especially now that it has been le-
    galized.

    ELI COHEN’S REMAINS
    Dear Vues Master
    In December 2025, many news outlets reported that,
    following the fall of Assad and the Ba’athist Party,
    Israel began searching for the remains of Mossad
    agent Eli Cohen, who was executed in Syria in 1965.
    Now with the recovery of Staff Sergeant Major Ran

    Gvili’s remains, 843 days after the Hamas-led in-
    vasion of Israel, it is well past time to demand that

    Syria’s leaders return Eli Cohen’s body.

    Israeli President Isaac Herzog tweeted on X, for-
    merly Twitter: “Ran Gvili, the hero, returns to his

    homeland …” Eli Cohen is a hero too and more needs
    to be done to bring his body back from Syria and
    bury him in Israel where he belongs.

    The story of Eli Cohen’s life should be recalled to-
    day even if he had never gone undercover for Israel

    in Syria.

    When Eli Cohen was publicly executed by the gov-
    ernment of Syria on May 18, 1965, it was clear to

    Israelis and Syrians that he had succeeded in becom-
    ing a friend of the

    president of Syria,
    and had penetrated
    the innermost Syrian
    government circles.
    What was not yet
    known, however,

    was that he had gath-
    ered the intelligence

    that would later save
    the State of Israel

    from being destroyed.

    More than any other one man, Eli Cohen, an Egyp-
    tian-born Jew, earned the Mossad its reputation as

    one of the best intelligence services in the world, and
    paved the way for Israel to win on the Golan front in
    the Six-Day War in June 1967.
    He was deeply moved as a young man in Cairo by
    the 1944 trial of two members of the Stern Group
    (the LEHI), Eliahu Bet-Zouri and Eliahu Hakim.

    Hakim and Bet-Zouri were the assassins of the anti-
    Semitic British High Commissioner of the Middle

    East, Lord Moyne.
    The young Cohen helped to organize demonstrations

    in support of Bet-Zouri and Hakim. The demonstra-
    tions proved fruitless. The men were sentenced to

    hang, but on the scaffold they maintained their dig-
    nity and self respect, and sang Israel’s national an-
    them, “Hatikvah.” It has been said that thoughts of

    Bet-Zouri and Hakim bolstered Cohen as he himself
    was led to be executed.
    Later, Cohen was instrumental in establishing an
    “Underground Railroad” that smuggled Egyptian

    Jews to Israel. In the early 1950s, Cohen was re-
    cruited by the Mossad to participate in an espionage

    operation that spied on Nasser’s ex-Nazi scientists,
    who were attempting to build rockets; reportedly,
    Cohen also engaged in sabotage.
    After the Mossad activities in Egypt were discovered
    and most members were rounded up, Cohen moved
    to Israel in 1956. After a brief time adjusting to life
    in Israel and his service in the Israel Defense Forces,
    Cohen was approached to become an information
    analyst for the Mossad.
    The Mossad eventually accepted Cohen’s request for
    field duty.
    Cohen adopted the persona of a rich Arab merchant
    who had emigrated to Argentina and then returned to
    his Syrian homeland, calling himself Kamal Amin
    Taabes. Under this cover, Cohen gained access to
    the most influential sectors of Damascus society, and
    joined the revolutionary Arab Socialist Ba’ath Party.

    Cohen became very active in the party, and friend-
    ly with its leaders. After a coup d’etat, the Ba’ath

    Party came to power — and remains in power until
    today. Among the men Cohen had befriended, many
    became officials in the new government and were
    high-ranking military officers — including the head

    of intelligence, Colonel Ahmad Suweidani, and Syr-
    ian President Amin al-Hafiz.

    Cohen was among the only civilians to ever inspect
    Syrian installations on the Golan Heights. He was
    able to send photographs and sketches of the entire
    Syrian front-lines back to the Mossad. In one case,
    he was able to warn Israel of an impending attempt
    by Syrian commandos to cross the border.

    In addition to his espionage work, Cohen was as-
    signed to assassinate escaped Nazi war criminal

    Franz Rademacher, who was living in a Syrian col-
    ony of ex-Nazis. The 1962 attempt on Rademacher

    failed. Alois Brunner, Adolf Eichmann’s right-hand
    man, was another Nazi who was offered refuge by
    Syria. Cohen participated in an attempt to target
    Brunner as well. This part of Syrian history is well
    worth reflecting on today: even before Assad came
    to power the Syrian government hated Jews so much
    that it offered a haven to Nazi war criminals. Famed
    Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal labeled Brunner as

    “doubtless the worst…living criminal of the Third
    Reich” in 1988.

    When Cohen was finally discovered, quite by ac-
    cident when his radio equipment was detected by

    KGB agents, he was being seriously considered to

    become either Syria’s Minister of Defense or Assis-
    tant Foreign Minister.

    After two lengthy trials, Eli Cohen was finally sen-
    tenced to death by hanging. Cohen was 40 years old,

    and left a widow, three daughters, and a son. In his
    final letter to his wife, he wrote “I beg of you not to

    waste time crying for me. Always think of the fu-
    ture.”

    Cohen left advice for future leaders of Israel. He
    once said, “Against the Arab you mustn’t defend
    yourself. You must attack…”

    Eli Cohen’s advice was adhered to by the late Me-
    nachem Begin in 1981, when he was prime minis-
    ter and ordered the Israeli Air Force to destroy the

    Iraqi nuclear plant at Osirak. The strike on Osirak

    established the Begin Doctrine, which uncondition-
    ally declared that the surprise raid was not a one

    time thing, but, as Begin himself explained a June
    15 interview on CBS’s Face the Nation “This attack
    will be a precedent for every future government in
    Israel. … Every future Israeli prime minister will act,
    in similar circumstances, in the same way.”
    The doctrine could have just as easily been called the
    Eli Cohen Doctrine.
    Let us hope that the doctrine is not ever forgotten.
    One way to make sure of that is for a sustained
    campaign to demand that Eli Cohen’s remains be
    returned.
    Moshe Phillips, national chairman of Americans For
    A Safe Israel, AFSI
    Vues Master’s Note: Great question!

    COMPROMISE
    Dear Vues Master:

    Parashas Mishpatim is the first parsha after the giv-
    ing of the Torah at Har Sinai. Most of the parsha

    deals with the laws of Choshen Mishpat, monetary
    law, damages, and disputes between two parties.
    Why, then, did the Tur and the Beit Yosef place
    Choshen Mishpat last among the four sections of the
    Shulchan Aruch?

    The Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum, zt”l, an-
    swered that since Choshen Mishpat begins with the

    laws of judges (Hilchot Dayanus), which state that a

    Beit Din must inform litigants that they have the op-
    tion to be judged either according to strict law (din)

    or by compromise (pesharah), and that a court which
    frequently rules by compromise is praiseworthy.
    Therefore, Choshen Mishpat was not placed at the
    beginning, so that one should not mistakenly think
    that the rest of the Shulchan Aruch follows the same
    principle of compromise.

    Compromise is appropriate only between two dis-
    puting parties, but not in the rest of the laws of

    the Shulchan Aruch, where compromise is neither
    praiseworthy nor appropriate.
    The Rebbe continued: “Now we can understand why
    the laws of ribis and the laws of charity (tzedakah),
    which are also monetary laws, were not placed in
    Choshen Mishpat but rather in Yoreh De’ah, since
    these laws are not subject to compromise.” MF
    Vues Master’s Note: The Satmar Rebbe had the
    sharpest lines!