26 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.
A BETTER SHAVUOS LEARNING
Dear Vues Master
I am writing to express my appreciation for a noticeable and mean-
ingful change taking place in many shuls across the Tri-State area
this year on Shavuos. Traditionally, much emphasis has been placed
on learning throughout the first night, with many staying up late
immersed in study.
While that custom is inspiring, it has often been followed by a
rushed Shacharis, exhaustion, and then a Yom Tov experience that
can feel fragmented between sleeping and eating. This year, how-
ever, I have been encouraged to see that many shuls are intention-
ally extending the spirit of learning into the second night of Shavuos
as well.
By organizing shiurim, learning programs, and community study
sessions on the second night, they are helping to create a more bal-
anced and sustained atmosphere of Torah engagement. This shift
feels important. It recognizes that the value of Shavuos is not only
in a single intense night of study, but in building a Yom Tov where
learning is central throughout its entirety.
It also allows people who may not manage to stay up all night on
the first night to still participate meaningfully in learning during the
Yom Tov. I hope this trend continues and grows, as it enriches the
overall experience of Shavuos and strengthens communal connec-
tion to learning in a more accessible and enduring way.
It is my hope that more communities will adopt similar initiatives
in years to come, elevating the sanctity and joy of the Yom Tov for
everyone involved. KT
Vues Master’s Note: For some, all night learning certainly works.
For others, this is a better alternative. I’m glad that shuls are diver-
sifying their options.
THE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS DEBATE
Dear Vues Master
For frum communities, the proposal to adopt permanent Daylight
Saving Time raises a practical and serious concern that has not
received enough attention: the impact on davening times for sha-
chais, which are scheduled according to sunrise. If winter sunrise is
pushed to 8 or even 9 a.m. under year-round Daylight Saving Time,
many people would face a daily conflict between davening on time,
meeting work obligations, and getting children to yeshiva. A shift
of this magnitude would make that balance significantly more dif-
ficult to maintain.
A major push to eliminate America’s twice-a-year clock changes
advanced this week after the House Energy and Commerce Com-
mittee voted 48–1 to approve the Sunshine Protection Act, a pro-
posal that would keep Daylight Saving Time in place year-round.
The measure is expected to be attached to a broader five-year trans-
portation package as it moves forward in Congress.
President Donald Trump praised the committee’s action, arguing it
is “time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’” and criti-
cizing the “twice yearly production” of changing time. Supporters
of the bill, including Rep. Vern Buchanan and Rep. Frank Pallone,
say permanent daylight saving time would reduce sleep disruption,
lower accident rates, and boost economic activity tied to longer eve-
ning daylight. Under the proposal, however, states would retain the
option to opt out.
Despite the strong committee vote, the bill still faces obstacles in
the full House and Senate, where Sen. Tom Cotton and others have
raised concerns about dangerously dark winter mornings, particu-
larly for schoolchildren commuting before sunrise.
While advocates point to benefits such as safer evenings and eco-
nomic gains, the potential disruption to religious practice, family
routines, and morning safety deserves careful scrutiny.
The debate over permanent daylight saving time is not merely about
convenience, but about how national policy intersects with the reali-
ties of diverse communities across the country. BT
Vues Master’s Note: Thank you for bringing this point to “light.”
This change (or non-change, as the case may be) can cause serious
issues for the frum world!
TRUMP VISITS ROCKLAND COUNTY
Dear Vues Master
I am writing to express my deep disappointment that President Don-
ald Trump visited New York this past Friday in Rockland County
alongside Representative Mike Lawler and Bruce Blakeman during
Shavuos. As a resident who would have greatly valued the opportu-
nity to be present, I was unable to attend due to it being on the Yom
Tov of Shavuos.
While I recognize the importance of high-profile political visits and
the attention they bring to our region, the timing of this event on
a major Jewish holiday left me and many others in the Orthodox
Jewish community feeling overlooked and excluded. Shavuos is a
sacred time dedicated to davening and learning, during which travel
and participation in public political events are not appropriate for
frum Jews.
For a large Orthodox population in Rockland County and surround-
ing areas, this was not a minor inconvenience but a genuine loss
of opportunity to engage with elected officials and visiting leaders
in person. The result was a feeling that our community’s religious
commitments were not adequately taken into account when plan-
ning an event of this significance.
I do want to note that I am a supporter and fan of President Trump,
Representative Lawler, and Bruce Blakeman, and I appreciate the
work they do on behalf of our communities. My concern is solely
about fairness and inclusivity, and about ensuring
that frum Jewish residents are not unintentionally
excluded from civic participation due to scheduling
conflicts with major religious observances.
I respectfully ask that in the future, greater care and
sensitivity be given to the Jewish calendar when
planning public events in areas with large Orthodox
communities. Doing so would help ensure that all
residents have an equal opportunity to participate
fully in civic life without compromising deeply held
religious practice. RFW
Vues Master’s Note: Being that there are so many
frum supporters of President Trump, perhaps this
visit was planned as a way to meet with non-reli-
gious and non-Jewish constituents.
PARSHA CONFUSION
Dear Vues Master
I am writing to express how confusing it can be
when the weekly parsha differs between Chutz
LaAretz and Eretz Yisrael. While both follow the
same annual cycle, there are times when the sched-
ules fall out of sync, creating practical confusion.
This past Shabbos, communities in Eretz Yisrael
read Parshas Naso. In contrast, in Chutz LaAretz,
Parshas Naso will only be read this coming Shab-
bos. As a result, this week Chutz LaAretz is read-
ing Parshas Naso, while Eretz Yisrael has already
moved on to Parshas B’haaloscha. Although the
two cycles typically realign within a few weeks, this
temporary divergence can be disorienting.
For those who travel between Eretz Yisrael and
Chutz LaAretz, or who follow discussions and di-
vrei Torah from both communities, this discrepancy
can lead to confusion about which parsha is being
read at any given time. YR
Vues Master’s Note: Yet another reason why we
need Mashiach to come!
THE POISON IN YOUR NEIGHBOR’S
YARD
Dear Vues Master
Every spring, the trucks return. The tanks, the hoses,
the leaf blowers. A fine aerosol mist settles across
our swing sets, our patio furniture, our vegetable
gardens, our children’s hands and faces and open
mouths.
We breathe it in. We feel safer.
The U.S. EPA classifies permethrin — the primary
active ingredient used by Mosquito Shield, Mos-
quito Joe, Mosquito Squad, and their competi-
tors — as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans.”
Bifenthrin and deltamethrin, also commonly used,
are classified as possible human carcinogens. These
are the conclusions of the same regulatory agency
that approved the chemicals for use. And the EPA’s
own risk assessments flag toddlers as the most vul-
nerable population, specifically because children’s
neurological systems are still developing — and
pyrethroids have been studied for associations with
developmental delays and neurotoxic effects in
early childhood.
Look around our community. We all know some-
one whose child wasn’t speaking at three. Someone
whose daughter can’t carry a pregnancy. Some-
one diagnosed with cancer at forty-two who never
smoked, never drank, ate carefully, davened every
day. We shake our heads. We say Tehillim. We say
it’s everywhere now. And then we call the truck
back in May.
Yes, the world is toxic. Yes, there are many sources
of harm we cannot control — the food supply, the
plastics, the air. But that is an argument for doing
more to protect ourselves from what we can control,
not less. When something is in your yard, blown
through your windows, settling on your children’s
toys — that is not an abstraction. That is a choice.
And it is one we are making, cheerfully, on a sub-
scription basis, six months a year.
What makes this worse: it barely works. Studies
show these sprays reduce mosquito populations
temporarily by around 70–80% — while neighbor-
ing untreated yards continuously replenish the local
population within days. You are accepting known
carcinogenic exposure to your family, your home,
and your neighbors in exchange for partial, short-
lived relief.
The application method makes this worse than most
people realize. This is not a targeted treatment. It
is dispersed by blower across an entire yard, and
aerosol mist does not stop at property lines. It drifts
into the homes of neighbors who never agreed to
be exposed — who have no legal recourse, no no-
tification, no warning. Once applied, bifenthrin has
a half-life of approximately eight months. When
these companies claim their product is “safe once
dry” while promising three weeks of protection —
they cannot have it both ways.
For those with cats: pyrethroids are acutely toxic to
them. Cats lack the liver enzyme that breaks down
these chemicals. A cat who walks across a treated
lawn and grooms her paws can suffer tremors, sei-
zures, and death. This is not rare. It is documented,
it is veterinary fact, and the companies applying the
spray are not telling you.
As Orthodox Jews, we are people who read la-
bels. We interrogate ingredients. We will not eat a
food without knowing precisely what it contains.
מְאֹד לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם :explicitly us commands Torah The
םֶּתְרַמְׁשִנְו” —You shall very greatly guard your-
selves” (Devarim 4:15). The Rambam codifies this
as law: a person must distance himself from things
that harm the body.
Some will respond: everything causes cancer. But
this is not emunah — it is avoidance. The concept
of hishtadlus cuts both ways. We are obligated to
act through natural means to bring about good out-
comes. Hashem runs the world through teva. If we
are actively and repeatedly choosing to broadcast
known neurotoxins across our homes for six months
a year, we cannot then stand dumbfounded at rising
rates of cancer, infertility, and developmental disor-
ders in our community — and we cannot call what
follows a mystery, or a decree, or simply the way
of the world. We made this choice. We made it on
a subscription basis. Natural consequences do not
require a miracle to arrive.
We are a people with a mesorah of being scrupu-
lous about what enters our homes, our mouths, our
bodies. And yet somehow we don’t bat an eye at
the chemical fog our neighbors pump through our
bedroom windows every week.
There are real alternatives: removing standing water
costs nothing and eliminates breeding grounds; BTi
mosquito dunks kill larvae without harming pets or
people; CO2
traps capture adults with no chemical
application at all.
The worker who comes to spray your yard wears
gloves and a mask.
Our children wear nothing.
your Guard .yourselves Guard וְנִשְׁמַרְתֶּם מְאֹד לְנַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם.
families. And consider that your subscription is not
only yours to pay.
Rivkah Cohen
Vues Master’s Note: Thank you for bringing this
matter to the attention of our community. You may
also want to contact the New York State Depart-
ment of Environmental Conservation to express
your concerns.
FOCUSING DURING DAVENING
Dear Vues Master
I am writing regarding the current atmosphere of
our Tefillah Btzibur. While many have noted the
noise level, there appears to be another significant
concern: a lack of engagement during davening.
It seems that some find the Tefillah too long or dif-
ficult to focus on, as we frequently see individuals
opening a sefer to learn during davening. While
learning Torah is essential, Chazal teach us that Te-
fillah requires dedicated kavanah. There is a proper
time for learning and a proper time for davening.
We are privileged to participate in three tefillot each
day, providing us the opportunity to speak to Hash-
em both as individuals and as a community to ask
for health, parnassah, and peace. Tefillah Btzibur
requires our full concentration.
I encourage us all to use the opportunity of Tefillah
Btzibur to focus with complete dedication, making
our tefillot more meaningful for everyone. Dovid
Vues Master’s Note: Your words are inspiration-
al! However, because a long tefilah is difficult for
many, I would think that the practice of learning in
between davening (such as when one has finished
his own private tefilah and is waiting for the tzibur
to finish) is far better than talking or going on one’s
phone while waiting. In fact, learning may help
some people better concentrate during davening and
can be looked at as a praiseworthy activity instead
of something troublesome.
MORE PARSHA CONFUSION
Dear Vues Master
I am writing to express how confusing it can be
when the weekly Torah portion differs between
Chutz LaAretz and Eretz Yisrael. This past Shabbos
in Eretz Yisrael they read Parshas Naso, while in
Chutz LaAretz we will be reading Naso only this
coming Shabbos. Although the communities do
catch up within a few weeks, the difference often
creates confusion for people who travel between
the two communities. Someone who leaves Chutz
LaAretz after Shabbos may arrive in Eretz Yisrael
and find that a different parsha is being read that
week. It would be helpful if there were more aware-
ness of this difference, especially for travelers and
families visiting Eretz Yisrael. Even though the cal-
endars realign soon, the temporary mismatch is still
disorienting for many people in practice. I have no-
ticed this issue particularly among students, visitors,
and families who try to follow the reading cycle
while moving between countries. Greater coordina-
tion or at least clearer public explanation each year
could help reduce the confusion for those observing
both communities. A brief reminder in shul calen-
dars ahead of Shabbos could also be very helpful
for travelers. While the difference between Chutz
LaAretz and Eretz Yisrael in the Torah reading cycle
is rooted in historical practice and scheduling reali-
ties, it still affects everyday religious life in a very
practical way, especially for those who move back
and forth or maintain strong connections in both
places, making communication and awareness in-
creasingly important for communities today as well.
DT
Vues Master’s Note: For those who travel between
Eretz Yisrael and Chutz La’Aretz, this issue re-
quires especially careful attention. Yom Tov itself
often causes confusion, so uncertainty about which
parsha is being read may not be unique to travelers
alone.
MAMADANI A NO-SHOW AT ISRAELI
DAY PARADE
Dear Vues Master
Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s decision to skip New
York’s Israel Day Parade is disappointing, divisive,
and emblematic of the ideological rigidity that in-
creasingly dominates far-left politics. For decades,
mayors from both parties attended this event as a
gesture of unity and support for one of New York’s
largest and most vibrant Jewish communities. Mam-
dani, however, chose absence over engagement.
His office cited “scheduling conflicts,” but many
New Yorkers see a deeper problem: a political
movement so obsessed with ideological purity that
it cannot participate in events celebrating coexis-
tence if Israel is involved. That is not leadership.
Leadership means showing up, even when not ev-
eryone agrees with you.
New Yorkers are exhausted by performative activ-
ism replacing practical governance. While residents
worry about affordability, crime, business closures,
and quality of life, City Hall too often appears con-
sumed by symbolic political gestures designed to
satisfy online activists rather than everyday citizens.
The irony is impossible to ignore. Progressives
constantly preach inclusion and diversity, yet some
seem unwilling to stand beside Jewish organiza-
tions, moderates, or anyone outside their narrow
political framework. If a parade that brings together
multiple ethnic and religious communities is con-
sidered unacceptable, what exactly does “unity”
mean anymore?
New York deserves leaders who unite people in-
stead of retreating into ideological bubbles. It’s time
for voters to demand better leadership from City
Hall. TY
Vues Master’s Note: I guarantee you that if this
was a march for Palestine, Mamdani’s office would
have gladly rescheduled the conflicting engagement
so he could attend.
A NECESSARY CONVERSATION
ABOUT POWER AND POLITICS
Dear Vues Master,
Like many Americans, I am watching the growing
public feud between Elon Musk and George Soros
with enormous interest. For years, Soros has been
one of the most influential political donors in the
world, supporting progressive causes, activist or-
ganizations, and candidates who have dramatically
shaped public debate in the United States. Elon
Musk, meanwhile, has emerged as one of the few
high-profile figures willing to openly challenge that
influence on a global stage.
Whether people agree with Musk or not, his com-
ments have sparked a conversation that many Amer-
icans feel has been avoided for too long: how much
power billionaires and private money should have
in politics. Musk’s willingness to confront powerful
political networks and speak directly about election
spending, ideological activism, and media influence
has clearly resonated with millions of citizens who
feel unheard by traditional institutions.
This clash is about more than two wealthy men ex-
changing insults. It represents a broader cultural and
political divide over the future direction of America,
free speech, and the role of elite influence in demo-
cratic systems. Some will cheer Soros, others will
support Musk, but almost everyone will be paying
attention.
I, for one, am looking forward to seeing this debate
unfold in public rather than behind closed doors.
Americans deserve open discussion about political
influence, wealth, and accountability—regardless of
which side ultimately prevails. NT
Vues Master’s Note: This letter raises an important
point about transparency and influence in modern
politics. Regardless of where one stands politically,
public debate about the role of wealthy donors, me-
dia influence, and corporate power is healthy for a
democratic society. At the same time, these conver-
sations should remain focused on facts, policy, and
accountability rather than personal attacks. Ameri-
cans benefit when difficult political questions are
discussed openly and thoughtfully.
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME REVISITED
Dear Vues Master:
The Sunshine Protection Act is proposed federal
legislation that would make daylight saving time
permanent throughout the year, eliminating the
longstanding practice of turning clocks forward in
the spring and back
again in the fall. Sup-
porters argue that
ending the twice-a-
year clock changes
would improve sleep,
reduce accidents, and
provide more usable
daylight in the eve-
nings. I am generally
in favor of this effort,
as many families find the constant switching disrup-
tive and unnecessary.
At the same time, from the perspective of the Ortho-
dox Jewish community, permanent daylight saving
time would create certain challenges that lawmak-
ers and the public may not fully appreciate. Our
daily lives revolve around precise halachic times,
zmanim, especially for Shacharis, Krias Shema, and
other tefillos tied to sunrise and sunset. During the
winter months, a permanently delayed sunrise could
push sof zman Krias Shema and sof zman tefillah
much later into the morning, while many people
would still need to begin work or school early.
For yeshiva students, working commuters, and par-
ents trying to balance minyanim with their sched-
ules, this could become increasingly complicated.
In many communities, early Shacharis minyanim
may become difficult to arrange in a way that allows
people to daven properly within the correct zmanim
before heading to work.
Still, despite these concerns, I believe the overall
benefits of eliminating the confusing and disruptive
clock changes outweigh the drawbacks. The adjust-
ment may require communities to rethink winter
schedules and minyan times, but Torah communi-
ties have always adapted responsibly to changing
realities while remaining faithful to halachah. FT
Vues Master’s Note: This is just one small example
of what it means to live in Chutz La’Aretz and adapt
to a non-Jewish government. I would much rather
deal with this issue than with bans on bris milah.
PRAISE FOR SENATOR TED CRUZ
Dear Vues Master:
Senator Ted Cruz deserves tremendous credit for
standing firmly with both America and Israel dur-
ing the ongoing negotiations with Iran. At a time
when weak leadership and dangerous compromises
threaten stability in the Middle East, Cruz has con-
sistently defended our allies and warned against em-
powering one of the world’s leading state sponsors
of terrorism.
Cruz is absolutely right to sound the alarm about
any agreement that allows Iran to continue enrich-
ing uranium while remaining under the control of
radical Islamist leaders. Iran’s regime has repeat-
edly threatened Israel’s existence, funded terrorist
groups across the region, and promoted hatred to-
ward both Americans and Jews. Giving that regime
billions of dollars while trusting it to honor a nucle-
ar agreement would be reckless.
What I especially admire about Senator Cruz is
his unwavering support for the Jewish community
and the State of Israel. He has consistently stood
up against antisemitism, de-
fended Israel’s right to protect
itself, and opposed efforts to
weaken the U.S.-Israel alli-
ance. In a world where Israel
faces growing hostility at the
United Nations and on college
campuses, Cruz has remained
a strong and dependable voice
for the Jewish people.
I also appreciate Cruz’s
praise for President Trump’s strong military actions
against Iran. Peace is only possible when America
projects strength and our enemies understand there
are consequences for aggression.
Senator Cruz is showing the kind of courage and
moral clarity that Americans should expect from
their leaders. His commitment to America’s security
and Israel’s safety deserves recognition and support.
NP
Vues Master’s Note: Senator Cruz is a friend of Is-
rael and a friend of the Jews. We are lucky to have
him on our side.
WILL THE NATIONAL GUARD HELP
PROTECT THE ISRAELI DAY PARADE
Dear Vues Master:
I strongly agree with Dov Hikind’s call for Gover-
nor Kathy Hochul to deploy the National Guard to
assist the NYPD during the upcoming Israel Day
Parade in New York City. The disturbing rise in
antisemitic incidents across our city and country
makes this a necessary and responsible step.
Jewish New Yorkers should be able to celebrate
their heritage, culture, and support for Israel with-
out fear of intimidation, harassment, or violence.
Unfortunately, recent events have shown that indi-
viduals openly displaying Israeli flags or wearing
pro-Israel clothing have increasingly become tar-
gets for hateful attacks. In this climate, additional
security measures are not an overreaction, they are
common sense.
Dov made clear that he supports the NYPD, and I
do as well. Mamdani is a disgrace and he is the first
mayor in New York not to march in the Israeli Day
Parade in 61 years. Our police officers work tire-
lessly to protect large public gatherings, but given
the heightened tensions and the size of the parade,
extra support from the National Guard would pro-
vide another layer of safety and reassurance for
marchers, families, and spectators.
Protecting citizens exercising their First Amend-
ment rights should never be controversial. The Is-
rael Day Parade is a celebration of unity and pride,
and no one should feel unsafe attending it. Governor
Hochul has an obligation to take every reasonable
precaution to ensure that the event remains
peaceful and secure.
The Jewish community deserves to know
that New York stands firmly against anti-
semitism and violence in all forms. SH
Vues Master’s Note: With the rise in an-
tisemitism, we need more protection than
ever. Davening for the safety of all of Klal
Yisrael.
WHAT WOULD RABBI MEIR
KAHANE DO?
Dear Vues Master
Your question asking, “What Would Rabbi
Meir Kahane Do?” highlights the great
void left by Rabbi Meir Kahane zt”l and
the JDL. It also reflects the growing con-
cern over antisemitism and the feeling
among many Jews that stronger commu-
nity protection and solidarity are urgently
needed today. I appreciated your willingness to ad-
dress an issue that so many people are increasingly
worried about.
There is currently an individual attempting to orga-
nize a group called “JDL613,” with the stated goal
of helping protect Jewish communities, combat
antisemitism, confront antisemites, and encourage
young Jewish men to become involved in commu-
nity safety, awareness, and mutual support. From
what I understand, the effort is intended to focus on
community protection, public awareness, and stand-
ing up against hatred directed at Jews.
Given the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in re-
cent years, many people feel there is a real need
for organized, responsible, community-based ini-
tiatives that help Jews feel safer and less isolated.
Whether through volunteer patrols, security aware-
ness, self-defense training, or educational outreach,
these types of efforts can help strengthen communal
confidence and resilience. Many believe antisemites
should think twice before entering Jewish neighbor-
hoods, knowing that Jews are organized, vigilant,
and prepared to protect their communities — much
like during the era when Rabbi Kahane led the JDL.
I would respectfully ask that you consider giving
this initiative some public attention or allowing its
founder an opportunity to present his vision to your
readers. Even a brief mention could help connect
concerned members of the community with an ef-
fort they may wish to support or learn more about.
Thank you again for addressing the serious issue of
antisemitism and for giving voice to concerns that
many in the Jewish community share today.
Contact Information: The founder of JDL613 is Yis-
rael Yaacob Ben Avraham. He is putting his heart
and soul into this effort and deserves all the support
we can give him.
JDL613BROTHERHOOD@GMAIL.COM
https://www.instagram.com/JDL.613.brotherhood
https://jdl-613-brotherhood-shop.fourthwall.com/
en-usd
Sincerely, JB
Vues Master’s Note: Rabbi Meir Kahane is deeply
missed, and many people now realize how right he
truly was.