12 May 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.

PRESIDENT TRUMP AND SHABBOS
Dear Vues Master:
President Donald Trump deserves tremendous hakaras hatov
for recognizing the extraordinary role that Jewish heritage, and
especially Shabbos, has played in shaping American society.
His proclamation for Jewish American Heritage Month was not
merely symbolic, it was a meaningful acknowledgment of the
Torah values that have positively influenced this country since
its earliest days. Chazal teach that Shabbos preserved the Jewish
People throughout history, but as the recent drasha so beautifully
explained, Shabbos also helped preserve the American People.
From the inscription on the Liberty Bell, “Proclaim Liberty

throughout all the Land,” drawn directly from the Torah’s con-
cept of Yovel, to the early legal battles protecting religious lib-
erty, the influence of Torah ideals on America is undeniable. Pres-
ident Trump’s decision to highlight these contributions reflects

an appreciation for emunah, family, faith, and the importance of
religious freedom.
Long before the modern five-day workweek became standard,
Shomer Shabbos Jews struggled tremendously to maintain their
observance while earning a livelihood. Their sacrifice helped

pave the way for labor protections and the concept that every per-
son deserves time for rest and family. In today’s world of constant

distraction, endless screens, and nonstop pressure, the message

of Shabbos is more relevant than ever. A day dedicated to dis-
connecting from work and reconnecting to Hashem, family, and

community is something America desperately needs.

It is no surprise that many outside the Jewish community are be-
ginning to appreciate the beauty and wisdom of a “digital Sab-
bath.” Whether one agrees with President Trump on every issue

is beside the point. In this instance, he chose to publicly honor
the values and traditions that have strengthened both the Jewish
community and American society. That deserves recognition and
appreciation. More than America kept Shabbos, Shabbos helped
keep America. — RWS
Vues Master Note: Although we may not agree with President
Trump on every issue or his values, we must recognize that he is
a friend to the Jewish people and Eretz Yisrael. We should all be
showing President Trump a tremendous Hakaras HaTov for that!

OUTSIDE SHUL PROTEST
Dear Vues Master:
As a concerned member of the community, I am writing with
a heavy heart about the recent protests taking place outside our
shuls when Israel-related real estate presentations are scheduled.
While we fully recognize and respect the right to peaceful protest

in a democratic society, there is deep discomfort in our communi-
ty when such demonstrations are positioned directly outside batei

tefillah, creating an environment that many mispallelim experi-
ence as tense and unsettling.

This past Monday night in Flatbush, outside the Young Israel of

Midwood, a situation escalated significantly, with disorder break-
ing out in a way that left many in the tzibbur shaken. Regardless

of one’s political views, there is broad agreement among ehrliche
yidden and fair-minded neighbors that shuls must remain places
of safety, tefillah, and achdus—not sites of confrontation. What
has added to the concern is the lack of clear and unequivocal
condemnation from Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Many in the community feel that the mayor should have a respon-
sibility to speak out strongly when protests appear to encroach

upon or intimidate those attending shuls. When such leadership

is not clearly expressed, it leaves a sense of unease and vulner-
ability among constituents. This is not about silencing anyone’s

voice or political opinion. Rather, it is about maintaining proper
boundaries and basic kavod for makom kadosh. There are many
appropriate public venues where views can be expressed without

placing shuls and their mispallelim at the center of political ten-
sion. We respectfully call upon all leaders to bring clarity, calm,

and a renewed sense of responsibility, ensuring that our batei
knesses remain safe, dignified, and protected for all. — RBS
Vues Master Note: Mamdani should clearly condemn disruptive
protests near shuls to ensure safety, dignity, and community trust,
and should not support or align with anti-Israel protests. We all
know he won’t.

THE AFFORDABILITY OF YOM TOV
Dear Vues Master:
As we prepare for the beautiful Yom Tov of Shavuos, many of
us are looking forward to the minhag Yisrael of serving milchigs
and, of course, the traditional cheesecake at our Yom Tov tables.

But this year, I believe many families are quietly feeling over-
whelmed by the soaring prices. A simple cheesecake that once

felt like an affordable Yom Tov treat now costs an amount that

honestly shocks people walking through the bakery aisles. Be-
tween the price of cream cheese, eggs, dairy products, and over-
all grocery inflation, even homemade cheesecakes are no longer

inexpensive.
For larger families, making multiple cakes for Yom Tov and

guests can become a real financial burden. Of course, we un-
derstand that bakeries and stores are also struggling with higher

costs, and no one is blaming hardworking business owners.

Still, it is difficult not to notice how expensive Yom Tov prepara-
tion has become for the average heimishe family. Every Yom Tov

brings its own expenses—clothing, meat, wine,
flowers, and entertaining guests—but this year the
cheesecake itself almost feels like a luxury item.
Perhaps this is also a reminder of what Shavuos
truly represents.

The simcha of receiving the Torah is not depen-
dent on extravagant desserts or picture-perfect

tables. The greatest centerpiece of our Yom Tov
remains the Torah learned around the table and the
kedusha in our homes. Wishing all Klal Yisrael a
freilichen and meaningful Yom Tov.
Vues Master Note: Perhaps this a gentle nudge
from Hashem to remind us that the essence of
Shavuos is not cheesecake and extravagance, but
rather matan Torah and the Ribono Shel Olam. We
should remember this for all aspects of our lives!

FREE SPEECH & PROFESSIONAL
CONDUCT
Dear Vues Master:
The reassignment of an NYPD captain after he

called Mayor Zohran Mamdani “an embarrass-
ment” should concern anyone who values free

speech and open debate. Whether people agree
with the captain’s opinion or not is beside the
point. Public officials, especially law enforcement

officers with years of service, should not face pun-
ishment simply for expressing political criticism

outside of their official duties. For years, Ameri-
cans have heard slogans like “No Kings,” meant

to stand against authoritarian behavior and abuse
of power.
But silencing opinions because they are politically
inconvenient is exactly the kind of behavior those
slogans are supposed to oppose. In a free society,

disagreement is not dangerous; suppressing dis-
agreement is. Mayor Mamdani and his supporters

often speak about tolerance and democracy, yet
criticism directed at him appears to be treated as
unacceptable. That double standard only deepens
public frustration and mistrust. Leaders should
welcome scrutiny, not punish those who challenge
them. The captain voiced what many New Yorkers
already feel: that city leadership is moving in the

wrong direction on public safety, policing, and ac-
countability. Instead of addressing those concerns

directly, officials chose to make an example out

of someone who spoke bluntly. New Yorkers de-
serve leaders confident enough to handle criticism

without retaliation. Freedom of speech cannot ap-
ply only to approved opinions. If we truly believe

in democratic values, then even harsh criticism of
elected officials must be protected, not punished.
— KT
Vues Master Note: Though Mamdani is not the

best example of tolerance and true democracy, de-
spite what he asserts, the broader dispute on hand

is a public employee’s First Amendment rights
versus their professional conduct while on duty

and representing the government. This same prin-
ciple would apply to Mamdani’s wife; although

she is not technically a government representa-
tive, does she in fact represent the government as

an extension of her husband’s position and there-
fore must be mindful of her public statements?

How about Mamdani himself? Does he have the
right to abstain from attending the Israeli Day
parade as a government official? Is this his first
amendment right or as a government official he
needs to support his constituency? This is a very
complicated issue.

MOTHER’S DAY AND THE JEWISH
PERSPECTIVE
Dear Vues Master:
While people celebrated Mother’s Day this past
Sunday, it is worthwhile for Torah-observant Jews
to reflect on the Torah’s view of honoring parents.

In Judaism, honoring one’s parents is not a once-
a-year occasion marked by cards, flowers, and

public displays. It is a constant obligation, every
single day of a person’s life. The Aseres Hadibros

place honoring parents alongside the most funda-
mental commandments in the Torah. Our sages

teach that the way a person treats his parents re-
flects his sense of gratitude and, ultimately, his re-
lationship with Hashem. A yid should not need the

outside world to remind him when to appreciate
his mother or father. Every day is Mother’s Day,
and every day is Father’s Day.
Unfortunately, society has turned these ideas into
commercialized holidays, where people who may
barely speak to their parents all year suddenly
make a grand gesture because the calendar tells
them to. That is not the Torah way. The Torah
way is consistency, speaking respectfully, helping
gladly, calling regularly, showing patience, and

caring for parents with dignity throughout the en-
tire year. This is not to say that expressing appre-
ciation is wrong. Certainly, gratitude is beautiful.

But for those striving to live according to Torah

values, the focus should not be on adopting secu-
lar observances. Our focus should be on sincerely

and consistently honoring our parents every day
Hashem gives us. — TB

Vues Master Note: I think Mother’s Day and Fa-
ther’s Day are extra special days to give thanks

and appreciation, in addition to all the kibud av
v’em we are doing year round!

REMOVAL OF NYC–ISRAEL
ECONOMIC TIES PAGE
Dear Vues Master:

The quiet removal of the official NYC govern-
ment webpage highlighting the city’s economic

and business ties with Israel is deeply troubling.
No announcement. No explanation. Just gone.
But not surprising. Mamdani is an antisemite who

hates Jews and Israel. This was not some forgot-
ten webpage collecting dust in a digital archive. It

represented decades of cooperation between New
York City and one of its closest economic and
democratic partners. Israel and New York share

deep connections in technology, medicine, educa-
tion, finance, tourism, and public safety.

Thousands of New Yorkers benefit directly from

those relationships. Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s ad-
ministration apparently decided the public no lon-
ger deserved access to that information. Why? If

this was an intentional policy change, New York-
ers deserve to hear the reasoning openly and hon-
estly. Quietly erasing public information without

discussion only fuels suspicion and division. The

deletion also cannot be viewed in isolation. It fol-
lows Mamdani’s earlier statement that he would

arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
if he entered the city.
The pattern is impossible to ignore. Actions are
speaking louder than words. New York has always
been a city that embraces global partnerships, not

one that selectively erases them for ideologi-
cal reasons. City government should focus on

strengthening economic opportunity and main-
taining transparency, not on making symbolic

political gestures that alienate communities and
undermine trust. — BT

Vues Master Note: These developments strength-
en concerns that Mamdani’s approach to Israel is

not merely critical, but increasingly antagonistic
in practice. They raise serious concern about the

future of Jewish life in New York City and wheth-
er the city’s leadership is fully attuned to the im-
plications of its current course.

IS ZIONISM JUDAISM?
Dear Vues Master:
It has become fashionable in certain circles to
claim that Zionism and Judaism are separate,

or even opposed. For a frum Jew rooted in To-
rah, mesorah, and Jewish history, such a claim is

impossible to accept. Zionism, in its most basic
sense, is the belief that the Jewish people have an
eternal bond with Eretz Yisroel and the right to
live there as a nation.

That belief did not begin in the nineteenth centu-
ry. It began with Avraham Avinu, was reaffirmed

throughout Tanach, and has been sustained in our
tefillos and mitzvos for thousands of years. Three
times a day we daven facing Yerushalayim. We
bentch and ask Hashem to rebuild Yerushalayim.
At every chasunah we break a glass to remember
the Churban. On Pesach we declare, “L’shanah
haba’ah b’Yerushalayim.” A Judaism detached
from Tzion is not the Judaism handed down
through the generations. Certainly, frum Jews

may disagree about politics, governments, or sec-
ular ideologies connected to the modern State of

Israel. Machlokes within Klal Yisroel is not new.

But to deny the Jewish connection to Eretz Yis-
roel, or to pretend that longing for Tzion is some-
how foreign to Judaism, is to deny explicit Torah,

Navi, and centuries of Jewish practice. After ga-
lus, persecution, expulsions, and the horrors en-
dured by our people, attachment to Eretz Yisroel

remains central to Jewish identity. Zionism and
Judaism are intertwined because the heart of the
Jewish people has always remained in Tzion. —
BT

Vues Master Note: What Jew does not view Is-
rael as central to Judaism in some form? The inter-
nal debate is not about whether Israel is central to

Judaism, but rather how to view the modern State

of Israel, particularly since it has a secular govern-
ment. In the external discourse, however, Zionism

is often treated as indistinguishable from Judaism

itself. In practice today, antisemitism is frequently

directed at both Jews and Zionists without mean-
ingful distinction.

RECOGNIZING A TRUE NES
Dear Vues Master:
I want to share a story of incredible siyata
d’shmaya. In September 2024, my mother-in-law
was diagnosed with an aggressive stomach tumor.
Treatments failed to shrink it, and her condition
worsened until surgery became the only option.

Doctors warned it could be very extensive—pos-
sibly removing at least 25% of her stomach and

potentially other affected organs. We prepared
with tefillah, teshuvah, and tzedakah, davening
for a refuah shleimah.
The surgery was expected to last 8–12 hours, but
after just 41⁄2 hours, the surgeon came out and said:
“It was a miracle. Everything went far better than

expected.” During surgery, they discovered some-
thing extraordinary.

Sixteen years earlier, she had a lap-band proce-
dure that had caused discomfort and was con-
sidered unsuccessful. But now they saw that the

tumor had grown completely inside and around
that band—almost like a barrier that contained it.
Because of this, the tumor did not spread to other
organs, and it was removed largely intact. Instead
of removing a large portion of her stomach, only
a very small section was needed. The doctors
were stunned and even documented the 131⁄2-inch

mass. Everyone saw clearly that this was a mir-
acle—Hashem had prepared the yeshua years in

advance. There is more.
Months earlier, at a major community gathering
about chizuk in kisui rosh, my mother-in-law
made a personal decision to cover her sheitel.
Shortly after, she began covering it with… a wide
band. A band for a band. A clear reminder of
Hashgacha Pratis—Hashem preparing salvation
long before we understand it. You can hear this

story told on Inspire by Wire: 718-906-6451 op-
tion 2; 1; #603. — G.S.

Vues Master Note: This is a true nes! It’s so im-
portant to recognize yad Hashem in everyday mo-
ments. Sometimes we wonder why Hashem has

made certain things happen at this particular time
or in a particular way and only later are we zoche
to understand His plan.

AN OUTCRY FOR KEVOD SHAMAYIM
Dear Vues Master:
I don’t know if the purpose of me writing this
is venting or a Jew’s obligation to protest when
something so horrific is going to take place. It’s
obviously not in my hands to change anything but
at least I could say I spoke up. The first week of
June scheduled to take place by the Dead Sea is
something so horrific that it can’t be described in

this paper. Let’s just say that it’s such an abomina-
tion and disgrace to Hashem that even Arabs are

upset about it, and when the enemy is the ones

giving the tochacha to the bnei yisrael it’s defi-
nitely not a good sign.

Nowhere in any of their lands would such an

event be allowed to take place, but for some rea-
son the holy land has to be all accepting of this

disgusting nonsense. We’re afraid of Arabs but
we’re not afraid of Heaven? I don’t know what

we are supposed to do, but I do know that it re-
quires just as much screaming as what you hear

by draft protests, if not more. We just finished
reading the Tochacha that describes what happens
when Hashem’s children turn away from him. I
don’t need to remind anyone what happened at
the last festival, it appears two and a half years
of suffering and anguish taught people nothing.
The Torah is not a bluff, Hashem is not a liberal
judge that decides “to look the other way”. Public
chilul Hashem and abomination brings dangerous
consequences with it, and unfortunately “but its
them and not us” is not always enough to cancel a
gezairah. Hopefully people wake up and wipe this
rishus out of the land once and for all. — KLMY
Vues Master Note: Just wondering… do you
live in Israel? If so, I can better understand why
you feel personally invested in what takes place

there. If not, I think it’s worth recognizing that Is-
rael today is, at least politically, a largely secular

state, and many of the tensions you’re describing
are part of that reality. Perhaps if more observant
Jews from outside Israel made aliyah, the culture
and policies of the country would look different.
At the same time, even within Orthodoxy there
are many shades and approaches, and some would
argue that increasing Ahavas Yisrael and inclusion
is more productive than public condemnation. I

was also troubled by the line, “I don’t need to re-
mind anyone what happened at the last festival.”

We should be very careful before implying that we
know why tragedies happen or what cheshbonos
Shamayim are. Chazal repeatedly warn against
assuming we understand Hashem’s calculations.
You asked whether writing this was venting or
a Jewish obligation to protest. That’s an honest
question. But it’s also worth asking whether this
style of protest increases kavod Shamayim and
Ahavas Torah, or whether it may simply deepen
division and anger. Ironically, before reading
your letter I had no idea such a festival existed.

By writing about it so passionately, you may un-
intentionally cause more people to look it up and

become curious about it, the opposite of what you
intended.

STRENGTHENING OUR SHABBOS
OBSERVANCE
Dear Vues Master:
This Shabbos is being touted by President Trump
as a “national Sabbath”

across America to com-
memorate 250 years

since the formation of a
country that allows Jews
to keep their faith openly.

As part of Jewish Heri-
tage Month, Trump is

encouraging all Jews to

keep Shabbos from sun-
down Friday till Motzei Shabbos. “This day will

recognize the sacred Jewish tradition of setting
aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude to the
Almighty,” said the President.
As a young boy, I recall marching down Kings
Highway with my father on Parshas Beshalach as

part of the Shabbos parade to encourage local busi-
nesses to be Shomer Shabbos. Singing, “Shabbos,

Shabbos, heilege Shabbos,” followed by a speech
by Rabbi Elizer Ginsburg in Sgt. Joyce Kilmer
Square, we did get some local business owners to
honor the Shabbos and keep it holy. This march,
hardly a hafganah, was meant to demonstrate with
joy, love and understanding, what our Day of Rest

is all about. Sgt. Joyce Kilmer, a New Jersey na-
tive who was shot and killed by a sniper’s rifle as

a National Guardsman during World War I, was
also a poet. He penned a line commemorating

those who “nobly fought and nobly died” defend-
ing the United States. L’havdil, Jews have been

moser nefesh to keep Shabbos, a reason we are
still here today.
The Shabbos parade included a local family whose
father made it out of Germany after Kristallnacht.
Indeed, out of the ashes of the Holocaust emerged
a family dedicated to keeping Hashem’s day holy.
As a chassid who was interviewed by a local
news broadcast after Shabbos stated: “When I sit
down with my family around the Shabbos table
it is a shtoch [diss] on Hitler” y”s. The Shabbos
candles still burn bright. There are those reading

this who might say, “I am already Shomer Shab-
bos; what’s the chiddush here?” However, we

need to take an accounting of ourselves: learn the
laws of and spread awareness of Shabbos. In this
week’s Parsha we read about the census that G-d
commanded Moshe to take of Bnei Yisroel. We
all count. Is your neighbor washing their car on
Shabbos? Does that person in shul have a meal? Is
your friend able to put food on their table? Let’s
spread Shabbos by including our fellow Jew in the
splendor and beauty of Shabbos. If the President
of the United States sees this how much more so
should we. — Chaim Yehuda Meyer
Vues Master Note: I commend your Shabbos

march! When an outsider urges us to keep Shab-
bos, it is a good reminder to strengthen ourselves

internally.

THE WEDDING ATMOSPHERE
Dear Vues Master:
The recent remarks of Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum
regarding the atmosphere and music at today’s

chasunos were not only timely, they were des-
perately needed. Many

people have been quietly
troubled for years by the
increasingly excessive
and inappropriate style

that has become normal-
ized at weddings, yet few

were willing to speak
publicly and clearly

about it. The Rebbe de-
serves tremendous

credit for addressing
an issue that affects the
spiritual fabric of Klal
Yisrael. A chasuna is
meant to be a sacred
occasion, a moment of
kedusha where a new
bayis ne’eman b’Yisrael is established. It should
be filled with simcha shel mitzvah, dignity, and
yiras Shamayim. Instead, many weddings today
resemble entertainment events more than holy

celebrations. Loud club-style music, wild danc-
ing, and behavior that would have been unthink-
able a generation ago have sadly become com-
mon, especially among younger crowds seeking

excitement rather than meaningful simcha.

The tragedy is that many no longer even recog-
nize how far things have drifted. When standards

decline slowly over time, people begin accepting
what once would have shocked them. That is why
strong leadership is so important. The Rebbe’s
words were a wake-up call reminding us what
a Yiddishe chasuna is supposed to look and feel
like. Klal Yisrael would be wise to listen carefully.
Protecting the kedusha of our simchos protects the
kedusha of our homes and future generations. —
MK
Vues Master Note: This is a great first step. I
think the idea of inappropriate music can extend
to the excessiveness of chasunas from flowers to

food to the 10 piece orchestras that have all be-
come normalized.

AT PEACE WITH A FLEISHIG
SHAVUOS
Dear Vues Master:
I would like to express my genuine excitement that
this year, Shavuos overlaps with Shabbos. While

many people focus on the scheduling complica-
tions or the longer Yom Tov preparations, I must

admit that in my home, this calendar arrangement

has brought an unusual sense of relief and opti-
mism. You see, my wife is a devoted enthusiast

of traditional milchig Shavuos meals. Every year
without fail, she prepares not one, not two, but
four full dairy meals over the course of Yom Tov.
Cheesecakes appear in endless varieties, blintzes
arrive in stacked formations, and lasagnas emerge
from the oven with alarming frequency. Now, let

me be clear: I appreciate her hard work and cu-
linary talent. But deep down, I remain a simple

man who believes that a proper Yom Tov seudah

should include meat, chicken, kugel, and the un-
mistakable satisfaction of bentching after a hearty

fleishig meal. This year, however, Providence has
smiled upon me. Since Shavuos flows directly

into Shabbos, Shabbos laws and customs practi-
cally guarantee at least two fleishig meals on the

table. For the first time in years, I can celebrate
Matan Torah while also enjoying roast chicken
and cholent instead of surviving exclusively on
baked ziti and cheesecake. For this alone, I say:
Gut Yom Tov and Gut Shabbos! — LT

Vues Master Note: It sounds
like you are really going to
enjoy Yom Tov this year, and
I’m so glad for you. On the
flipside, have you considered

the stress this heavenly or-
chestration may cause your

wife? I think you should buy
her an extra special gift this year so that she really
feels your appreciation. I’d suggest a unique piece
of jewelry and a thoughtful handwritten note!

EUROPE’S CHALLENGE TO BRIS
MILAH
Dear Vues Master:

Jews around the world are watching with grow-
ing fear as the battle against traditional Jewish

life becomes stronger throughout Europe. The
recent criminal complaint filed in Zurich against
several mohelim is not just another legal matter.

It is part of a disturbing pattern of increasing pres-
sure against one of the most basic and sacred Jew-
ish practices: bris milah. For thousands of years,

Jewish parents have had brissim, often under gov-
ernments and societies that were openly hostile

to Judaism. Yet today, in countries that proudly
speak about tolerance and human rights, mohelim
are being treated like criminals, religious practices
are being investigated by prosecutors, and frum
Jewish families are made to feel that their way of
life is unwelcome. No reasonable person opposes
proper hygiene or safety standards. Responsible

mohelim perform brissim with great care, pro-
fessionalism, and experience. But when activists

repeatedly target Jewish communities with law-
suits and criminal investigations, many Jews see a

much larger issue unfolding. These campaigns are
creating an atmosphere in which ancient religious
practices are portrayed as backward, dangerous,

or unacceptable in modern society. The develop-
ments in Antwerp and now Switzerland should

concern anyone who truly believes in religious

freedom. History has shown that attacks on Jew-
ish observance usually begin slowly, with regula-
tions, restrictions, legal pressure, and public criti-
cism, before becoming far more serious. A society

that cannot respect the right of Jews to practice

bris milah cannot honestly claim to protect reli-
gious liberty. Jewish communities everywhere

must speak out before these attacks spread even
further. — RPK
Vues Master Note: The recent developments in

Antwerp and Zurich should alarm not only Jew-
ish communities, but anyone who truly values

religious freedom. What begins as legal pressure
against bris milah in one country can quickly
spread to others, raising serious fears about which
country may be next to target longstanding Jewish
practices. No reasonable person opposes proper

safety standards, yet when ancient Jewish tradi-
tions are repeatedly singled out for legal scrutiny,

it creates the deeply troubling impression that
openly practicing Jewish life is becoming less
welcome in parts of modern Europe.