07 Jul SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER

Please note that the author of Speak Your Vues is in no way affiliated with the publisher of this paper.
The author of this column is an independent third party contributor. The views and opinions expressed by
this author may not reflect the views and opinions of the publishers. If one has any issues with any of the
views, please write a letter to the Vues Master.

VISITING DAY SHLEP
Dear Vues Master,
Is it just me, or is Visiting Day one of the most exhausting
days of the entire summer?
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love my daughter and
would do anything for her. Seeing how happy she is in
camp makes every sacrifice worthwhile. But that doesn’t
mean I have to enjoy the actual experience.
First comes the endless packing. Then the long drive to the
Catskills with traffic that seems to get worse every year.
Once you finally arrive, you’re walking from bunk to bunk,
carrying bags, trying to find a shady place to sit, standing
on long lunch lines, and somehow spending half the day
asking, “Where did we park the car?”
By the time the afternoon is over, you’re hot, tired, and
counting the minutes until you can get back on the road for
the long trip home. And, of course, the drive back seems
even longer than the drive up.

Still, the smile on my daughter’s face makes it all worth-
while, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I just wish there

was a way to enjoy the day without feeling completely
wiped out afterward.
One highlight of the trip, however, was picking up a copy of

the Country Vues. I hadn’t seen it in a while, and I was re-
minded why so many people look forward to it every week.

It’s packed with interesting articles, community news, and
fun features. We love the fun question page. It definitely
made the trip a little more enjoyable.
Now, if only someone could invent a five-minute drive to
camp!

A Tired Camp Parent

Vues Master’s Note: Sorry I can’t help with the schlep-
ping, but I’m glad you had good reading material for the

way home!

PIZZA PAIN
Dear Vues Master
I never thought I’d see the day when ordering a plain pizza

would feel like a luxury. For years, pizza was the go-to af-
fordable family dinner. If you didn’t feel like cooking, you

picked up a couple of pies, and everyone was happy. Those
days seem to be over.
This summer in the Country, many pizza shops are charging
over $30 for a plain pie. Thirty dollars! If you add a topping
or two, you’re getting close to $40 a pie. For a family that

needs two or three pies, dinner can easily cost close to $100.
At the same time, I do understand why prices are so high.
Most Catskills pizza shops are only open for about 10

weeks each summer, yet they have to pay rent, taxes, insur-
ance, utilities, and other expenses for the entire year. That’s

a difficult business model, and I certainly don’t envy the

owners. They have to make enough during a very short sea-
son to cover twelve months of expenses.

Still, it’s hard not to be shocked by the prices. Pizza used to
be the inexpensive meal that everyone could enjoy. It was
perfect for a busy night, a family gathering, or when guests
stopped by unexpectedly. Now, many families have to think
twice before placing an order.
I hope someday pizza becomes affordable again. Until then,
pizza night in the Catskills has become more of a special
occasion than the quick, inexpensive dinner it once was.
SF
Vues Master’s Note: The price of eggs has come down.
The price of gas has come down. Let’s hope pizza is next!

LOCH SHELDRAKE: WHERE GAS PRICES
TAKE A VACATION TOO
Dear Vues Master
I am writing in amazement and delight over something I
noticed last week while traveling through the Catskills area
in Loch Sheldrake.
The price of gas there was an astonishing $3.38 per gallon,
which, to my surprise, appears to be among the cheapest
in the entire Tri-State area at the moment. What made it
even more striking was that just a short distance away in
Hurleyville, the price was already up to $4.38 per gallon, a
full dollar more for the exact same fuel.
This kind of difference is almost unheard of, especially
when compared to prices in Brooklyn, Long Island, and

New Jersey, where gas remains significantly higher. It re-
ally puts into perspective how local competition can impact

the consumer in a very real way.
After speaking with a few people in the area, it seems this
sudden drop in price is largely due to a new gas station that
recently opened in Loch Sheldrake. The introduction of
competition has sparked what can only be described as a

healthy price war, and the biggest winners are the consum-
ers who are now paying far less at the pump.

In today’s economy, every dollar counts, and seeing prices

drop so significantly, even by an entire dol-
lar per gallon, is truly refreshing. It is a clear

example of how free market competition ben-
efits the public directly.

I hope other areas take note. When new busi-
nesses open and competition increases, ev-
eryone wins. For now, Loch Sheldrake driv-
ers are enjoying a rare and welcome break at

the pump.
BT
Vues Master’s Note: Leave it to the Catskills
to give us fresh air, beautiful scenery, and
now affordable fuel all in one place. Let’s
hope the price war continues and spreads to
Brooklyn, where we could certainly use a
break of our own!

2028 IS CALLING, BUT WHO’S
ANSWERING?
Dear Vues Master,
As a Jewish person, I am writing with deep
concern regarding reports that Vice President

Kamala Harris is engaging in political out-
reach to New York City Mayor Zohran Mam-
dani as part of early positioning for the 2028

presidential cycle.
At a time when so many in our community

are already feeling unsettled by rising polar-
ization in American public life and increas-
ingly charged rhetoric surrounding Israel and

global affairs, this development is particular-
ly troubling. While dialogue between elected

officials of different viewpoints is always part
of a functioning democracy, the perception

that such outreach is being used to consoli-
date a strongly ideological base raises seri-
ous concerns about the direction of national

leadership.
Mayor Mamdani has become a prominent

progressive voice, closely aligned with ac-
tivist movements that often frame complex

international issues in sharply divisive terms.
For many Jewish Americans, this rhetoric is
not abstract, it directly impacts how we feel
in our communities, in our schools, and in our
sense of belonging in public discourse.
Leadership at the national level should be

about bringing Americans together, not fur-
ther segmenting the electorate into ideologi-
cal camps ahead of an already heated election

cycle. The focus should be on unity, stability,

and lowering tensions, not on signaling align-
ment with the most polarizing elements of

any political movement.
As a Jew who cares deeply about the future
of this country and the safety and dignity of

all communities within it, I urge elected of-
ficials to exercise caution and responsibility.

The priority must be healing divisions, not
deepening them for political gain.
RNJ

Vues Master’s Note: It seems election sea-
son never truly ends anymore! We join your

hope that leaders of all parties will focus on

lowering tensions rather than deepening divi-
sions for political gain.

FAST DAY, SLOW ON
SENSITIVITY
Dear Vues Master
I am writing with sincere disappointment

about something I noticed this past Thurs-
day afternoon in Woodbourne, on Shivasar

B’Tamuz, a public fast day observed by Klal
Yisrael around the world.
While walking through town, I was shocked

to see a number of people going into local eat-
eries such as Dougie’s and Smash House, pur-
chasing food, and openly eating it in public

on the fast day. I want to be very clear, this is

not about judging individuals. There are cer-
tainly people who, for valid halachic or medi-
cal reasons, are not required or are not able to

fast. Illness, weakness, pregnancy, and other

legitimate concerns must always be taken se-
riously, and no one should ever feel pressured

to endanger their health.
However, what was difficult to witness was
not the fact that some people were not fasting,
but the casual and public manner in which it
was done. A fast day carries with it a sense of

seriousness and reflection. Even when some-
one is exempt from fasting, there is still a ba-
sic level of sensitivity and respect for the day

and for those who are observing it.
Woodbourne is a place where many Yidden

come during the summer months for rest, te-
fillah, and a break from the pressures of the

year. Seeing open eating in restaurants on a
day of communal mourning detracts from that
atmosphere and can be painful for others who
are trying to observe the fast properly.
We all share responsibility for maintaining the
tone of our community. Even when halachah
permits flexibility for individuals, awareness
and discretion in public spaces go a long way.
I respectfully urge greater sensitivity going

forward so that the spirit of the day is not di-
minished in our community.

BH
Vues Master’s Note: Thank you for raising

this concern with such care and without judg-
ment of individuals. It is worth remembering

that Woodbourne in the summer draws a wide
range of people, and not everyone walking
through town is frum or even aware of the

fast day. Your call for sensitivity is well tak-
en, though perhaps the best approach is gentle

awareness rather than expectation, since we

cannot know anyone’s circumstances or back-
ground from the outside.

WHERE IS YOUR FLAG?
Some put out flags for Israel
We’re proud to be a Jew
IT DOESN’T REALLY TAKE A LOT

TO thank America , we’ve not forgot
The country that has very well
Given us refuge from the hell
We suffered so
WHERE IS YOUR FLAG?
The Lebanese put out their flag
Islam displays theirs , as they brag
As does the murderous Hamas
They boast that soon it will replace
The flags of theirs in obvious view
Instead of ours- red white AND blue
WHERE IS YOUR FLAG?
Lets go on Amazon today
And buy a Flag
And let it stay
WHERE we can proudly say- “oh no!”
These other flags they all must go
And in our homes – proudly display
Our Flag On Independence day
WHERE IS YOUR FLAG?
Rachel Laufer Fischer
Vues Master’s Note: I noticed some flags
out this weekend that featured the Israeli flag
extending from the American flag. I thought
it was a beautiful combination of American
patriotism and a proud nod to our connection
to Israel.

WATER YOU GOING TO DO?
Dear Vues Master,
Like many residents in Sullivan County, I
was disappointed to hear that water service

had to be shut off overnight this past Sun-
day for emergency repairs affecting Meadow

Estates, Tribeca, Hidden Ridge, Fallsview,
Timber Hill, Friendship, Cutlers, and Alpine

Acres. Losing water, even during the late-
night hours, is never convenient. Families

depend on running water for countless daily
needs, and any interruption creates stress and
uncertainty.
That being said, I also believe it’s important
to recognize when our local officials respond
quickly and communicate openly with the

public. From what was explained, the out-
age was caused by a series of NYSEG-related

power failures that damaged multiple wells.
Emergencies like this are not always within
the Town’s control, and sometimes immediate
repairs are simply unavoidable.

I appreciate that Town of Fallsburg Supervi-
sor Nathan Steingart and Deputy Supervisor

Jeff Weiner notified residents in advance,
scheduled the work during overnight hours
to minimize inconvenience, and provided an

estimated restoration time. That kind of com-
munication makes a difficult situation much

easier for residents to understand and prepare
for.
What I am especially encouraged by is the
Town’s commitment to preventing similar
problems in the future by installing backup

generators. Rather than simply repairing the
damage and moving on, they appear to be
taking proactive steps to strengthen the water
system and make it more reliable.

No one enjoys losing water service, espe-
cially on Fridays Erev Shabbos and I hope we

don’t have to experience this again anytime
soon. But I am grateful that the Town acted

quickly, kept residents informed, and is work-
ing to ensure that future outages become far

less likely.
RYP
Vues Master’s Note: It is easy to complain
when services go down, but far less common
to acknowledge when officials communicate
well and act responsibly. Thank you for the
important reminder that we always need to
express hakaras hatov.

AN EGG-CELLENT PRICE
Dear Vues Master
For the past two years, buying eggs felt like
buying gold. Something that had always been

one of the most affordable staples in the su-
permarket suddenly became unbelievably

expensive. I remember walking into the gro-
cery store and seeing prices that were hard

to believe. A dozen eggs that once cost well
under two dollars climbed to five, six, and

even seven dollars in some places. It was ab-
solutely crazy.

Thankfully, over the past few months, prices
have finally started coming back down. Many
stores are once again selling eggs for 99 cents
a dozen, or even less, and that has been a huge
relief for families already struggling with the
high cost of groceries.

We are now learning that three of the coun-
try’s largest egg producers have agreed to

pay millions of dollars and donate millions
of eggs to settle allegations that they worked
together to drive up egg prices. Whether or
not the allegations are ultimately proven, it is
frustrating to think that consumers may have
paid far more than they should have.
I also want to thank President Donald Trump
for making lower grocery prices a priority.
Whatever the reasons for the recent drop in

egg prices, it is nice to finally walk into a su-
permarket and not feel like you have to think

twice before buying a dozen eggs.
I hope these lower prices are here to stay.

Eggs are a basic item that nearly every fam-
ily buys, and they should remain affordable.

After what consumers have gone through
over the past two years, paying 99 cents for
a dozen eggs almost feels like a celebration.
Sincerely,
A Happy Shopper
Vues Master’s Note: Watching eggs go from

pantry staple to luxury item was hard to swal-
low, and the news of the settlement makes

it even more frustrating for consumers who

paid the price. Perhaps the US could take a

page from Israel’s playbook, where the gov-
ernment caps prices on basic staples like dairy

and eggs so families are never priced out of
breakfast. Until then, here’s hoping 99 cents
a dozen becomes the norm, and that the only
thing scrambled going forward is breakfast!

DAZZLING DANGER
Dear Vues Master

I’ve always loved fireworks. There is some-
thing special about looking up at the night

sky and seeing the bright colors, hearing the
loud booms, and watching families gather
together to celebrate. This year seemed even
more exciting because America celebrated its

250th birthday, and there were fireworks ev-
erywhere.

It wasn’t just on the Fourth of July. There
were extra displays on Friday night, more
fireworks after Shabbos on Motzei Shabbos,
and even some on Sunday night. Everywhere
you went, it felt like another celebration was

taking place. Kids were thrilled, adults en-
joyed the shows, and the atmosphere was fes-
tive all weekend long.

At the same time, all these celebrations
should remind us that fireworks can also be
very dangerous. The news that part of the
Brooklyn Bridge briefly caught fire during
the Macy’s fireworks display was a wake-up
call. Thankfully, the fire was quickly brought

under control, but it shows how easily some-
thing meant to bring joy can become a serious

safety hazard.
Whether it is a large professional display or
backyard fireworks, safety has to come first.
We should all leave the big fireworks to
trained professionals and make sure children
stay a safe distance away. A few moments of
excitement are never worth risking someone’s
life or damaging property.
I hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th
weekend. Fireworks are a beautiful American
tradition, especially during such a historic
year, but let’s enjoy them responsibly so they
remain a source of happiness for many years
to come.
JP
Vues Master’s Note: A good reminder to

leave the big shows to the pros and keep the
little ones at a safe distance!

DAF YOMI — THE BIRDS AND THE
BUSYBODIES
Dear Vues Master
In a discussion on which birds are kosher

and which are not, in the page of the Tal-
mud studied around the world, in Chulin 63,

Rabbi Abahu notes that the aya is also called
the ra’ah. Why is it called ra’ah? Since it
sees (ra’ah) most vividly. Citing the book of
Iyov 28: 7. “That path no bird of prey knows,
neither has the eye of the ayah seen it.” And
an unidentified sage in the Talmud observed
that the ra’ah can stand in Babylonia and see
a nevela (carcass) in Eretz Yisrael. What can
we derive from this? That even if an animal is
gifted with exceptional vision – as are hawks
and vultures, but possibly even more so the
ra-ah – that is not a path to kashrut. If a bird

is not kosher, no matter how special and dis-
cerning it may be, it is still not kosher.

Rabbi Shalom Rosner cited Rav Sorotzkin
in the Aznayim l’Torah as having noted that
even if a person has the amazing ability to see
from afar, this is not a life changer. A person
who stands in Babylonia – or America – has
no right to criticize what goes on in Israel if
he is not there. If a person makes aliah, and
becomes a part of the Jewish community, he

or she has the right to criticize the govern-
ment. Criticizing from afar is traif. It won’t

make a bird kosher. A bird that is not kosher
in Babylonia is still not kosher even if it can
see into Israel.
Right now, a lot of politicians from abroad
are criticizing Israel for the defensive actions
it is taking, and a lot of would-be politicians
are standing on a soap box and criticizing the
Israelis, but that soap box does not cleanse
their criticism. The Pirkei Avos famously
advises “Do not judge your friend until you
have reached his place” (2:5). “Friend” has
been translated as “fellow.” This applies

widely, especially if you truly view your fel-
low as a friend and want to maintain your

friendship. Others have expressed this senti-
ment in other ways – following similar paths?

“Never judge someone until you have walked

a mile in his (or her) shoes (or moc-
casins).” (The comedian Emo Philips

may have achieved immortality with
the follow-up quip: “That way, when
you do judge him, you’re a mile away
and you have his shoes.”)
And by the way, in response to when
Bilam in the Bible was asked to curse
the Jews and ended up blessing them,
at the instruction of G-d, the rabbis
famously commented, “Not from
your honey and not from your sting.”

In Israel’s case, although Israel has been
forced to do more to protect itself than any
other country in history, it is not without its
huge costs, and Israel can still use the help to

protect itself from heavily armed and moti-
vated enemies shooting missiles from nearly

every direction, but Israel doesn’t necessarily
need everyone’s advice, especially when it
can be counterproductive.
Rabbi Shalom Rosner notes that the Chief
Rabbi of “Palestine” (now Israel) called
his commentary on the Aggadah Ein Ayah,
the eye of the bird with the amazing vision,

which also happens to be short for Rav Avra-
ham Yitzchak Hakohen (Ayah) referring to

the positive way the bird could discern what
others could not, which was his intention in
the study of Aggadah on a higher level,
And now, for the trifecta. In this same page
in the Talmud (still within Chullin 63), Rav
Huna says that Rav says, and some say that
Rav Huna says that Rav says in the name of
Rabbi Meir: A person should always teach his
student in a concise manner, just as the Torah
is concise in its language
Citing Rabbi Rosner for the third time on this
page, citing the Meiri this time, The Meiro
brings a novel meaning to the classic opening
paragraph in the Pirkei Avos, “Make a fence
around the Torah” (Avos 1:1) which generally
is interpreted to mean a person should create
an extra layer of insulating protection or a
boundary to ensure one will not accidentally
violate a basic Biblical commandment.
The Meiri takes this as a lesson to teachers
to make an enclosed fence around their word
count (not the language of the Meiri or the
contemporary rabbi just quoted) and get right
to the point (closer to their point) so that what

the teachers say will be simple and under-
standable. This writer doesn’t claim to be a

pedagogue, but will take this advice — at least

this once — by bringing this article to a con-
clusion with fewer words – at least as submit-
ted — than many of his other articles on the

daf yomi and current events!
Rabbi Aaron I. Reichel, Esq.
Vues Master’s Note: May we all be zoche to

soon live in Israel and have the right to criti-
cize its politics!

MISSING A GOOD SUMMER
READ
Dear Vues Master
I wanted to write and let you know how much
my family missed receiving the Jewish Vues
last week. Of course, I completely understand
that everyone deserves a well-earned break
from time to time, and I appreciate all the
hard work that goes into producing the paper

each week. Still, its absence was truly notice-
able in our home.

Reading the Jewish Vues has become one of
our family’s cherished Shabbos traditions.

Every week, we eagerly look forward to pick-
ing it up and reading it from cover to cover.

There is something for everyone in our family
to enjoy, from the news and insightful opinion
pieces to the community stories, interviews,
and features. It has become an important part
of our Shabbos experience and often sparks
meaningful conversations around our table.
Since so many families in Brooklyn and the

Five Towns enjoy the publication, I was won-
dering whether it might be possible to distrib-
ute the Country Vues in those areas during

weeks when the Jewish Vues is on hiatus. It

would certainly help fill the gap and give loy-
al readers something familiar and enjoyable

to read until the Jewish Vues returns.
Please accept this letter as both a compliment
and a testament to how much your publication

means to its readers. Sometimes you don’t re-
alize how much you value something until it

isn’t there. Thank you for all that you do for
the community, and we look forward to many
more issues in the weeks and months ahead.
RA
Vues Master’s Note: Thank you for being so

understanding. We will certainly take your re-
quest under consideration.

BE CAREFUL
Dear Vues Master,
Last week the weather was brutal. It has been
extremely hot outside. I would like to remind
everyone never to leave a child unattended in
a car, even for a single minute.
Unfortunately, last summer, several infants
have been left in unattended vehicles and

have suffered cardiac arrest. By the time Hat-
zolah arrived at the scene, the children were

no longer alive.
This is an extremely serious matter. Please
take every precaution to ensure that this never
happens to your family.

Vues Master’s Note: Thank you for the im-
portant reminder!

VISITING DAY
Dear Vues Master,
This past Sunday was the first major visiting
day of the summer of 2026. I traveled upstate
to visit my children at two different camps,
and I was amazed by how many Yidden spend
their summers in the Catskills.
I picked up a copy of the Country Vues and
was surprised to see that there are more than
50 restaurants operating upstate this summer.
Everywhere I went was bustling with people.

It was wonderful to see such a vibrant sum-
mer community.

Vues Master’s Note: Now you know why the
city feels so empty during the summer!