25 Aug 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 TRAFFIC BREAK
Dear Vues Master,
I haven’t lived in Brooklyn for very long, but I’m amazed
by the phenomenon of Jews going upstate or to New Jersey
for the summer.
Traffic is so much better without you guys! If you love it
upstate so much, why not do us all a favor and move up
there?
AB
Vues Master’s Note: The best part is being able to find
parking in Boro Park on an Erev Shabbos!
TO LEIN OR NOT TO LEIN
Dear Vues Master,
A lot of yeshivas these days are telling bar mitzvah boys not
to lein their parshas. They believe it causes too much anxi-
ety for the child and isn’t necessary.
I disagree. I think every boy should at least try to lein his
parsha. If it’s too hard, let him just lein an aliyah or do the
haftarah.
If we don’t push these boys to lein, we may miss out on
discovering many talented future leiners.
BL
Vues Master’s Note: There seems to be a lot of anxiety out
there in this world, especially for children. Perhaps if we
reframe leining from being an obligation to being a privi-
lege, more boys would see leining as a zechus and not anx-
iety-provoking.
MAZEL TOV, COUNTRY VUES!
Dear Vues Master,
Just wanted to wish the entire staff at The Country Vues a
big mazel tov on your 43rd anniversary!
Our entire family looks forward to the Country Vues every
week throughout the summer. We really enjoy your colum-
nists, advertisements, fun questions and jokes.
Keep up the great work!
YJ
Vues Master’s Note: Thank YOU!!! We appreciate our
readers and advertisers very much!
E-BIKES AND YESHIVAS
Dear Vues Master,
I am very happy to see that many yeshivas are starting to
prohibit students from riding e-bikes and other electric ve-
hicles to and from school. I strongly support this policy.
Just look at how many Hatzalah calls involve children who
have been injured in e-bike and electric scooter accidents.
Our Hatzalah volunteers are constantly responding to
crashes involving young riders. Unfortunately, these are not
always minor injuries. We are talking about broken bones,
serious head injuries, hospitalizations and, tragically,
deaths.
We have reached a point where e-bikes are simply too dan-
gerous for young teenagers. Many of these vehicles are in-
credibly powerful and can travel at speeds that are difficult
for young riders to control. Add busy streets, distracted
drivers, pedestrians and teenagers who may not always
make the best decisions, and you have a dangerous combi-
nation.
Some people will say that responsible kids should be al-
lowed to ride them. I understand that argument, but a ye-
shiva has a responsibility to protect its talmidim. If a school
can eliminate one major source of danger, why wouldn’t it?
There are plenty of other ways for children to get to school.
It may be less convenient for parents, but safety has to come
first.
Parents also need to support these policies rather than look-
ing for ways around them.
Our children are precious. No ride to school is worth risking
a child’s life or health.
Let’s be proactive instead of waiting for a tragedy to hap-
pen, chas v’shalom.
Concerned Parent
Vues Master’s Note: A recent analysis found that children
went from essentially 0% of e-bike injuries in 2017 to 13%
in 2022. You definitely have reason to be concerned!
OUR GOOD FRIEND MIKE HUCKABEE
Dear Vues Master:
I have to say, it is hard not to be impressed by U.S. Ambas-
sador to Israel Mike Huckabee. We all loved David Fried-
man, who was a tremendous ambassador and a true friend
of Israel and the Jewish people. But Huckabee has brought
something different to the job — and, in many ways, some-
thing even better.
Ambassador Huckabee is not Jewish, yet he speaks about
Israel and the Jewish people with a passion and understand-
ing that many people could only wish for. His support for
Israel is not based on personal or family connections. It
comes from a deep conviction that Israel has the right to
exist, defend itself, and live in security.
A perfect example was his recent visit to Beit
HaRav Kook in Yerushalayim on the yahrtzeit
of Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook.
Huckabee attended the opening of an exhibit
highlighting historic visits by Israel’s chief
rabbis to the White House. Seeing an Ameri-
can ambassador participate in an event so
connected to Rav Kook and the Torah world
was something special.
Huckabee doesn’t just talk about being a
friend of Israel, he shows it. He has a way of
making the Jewish community feel that the
United States has someone in Israel who truly
understands the importance of the U.S.-Israel
relationship.
David Friedman set the bar very high. But
Mike Huckabee is showing that the bar can go
even higher.
CY
Vues Master’s Note: Many thanks to Ambas-
sador Huckabee for his support and friend-
ship.
MAZEL TOV, AMAR’E!
Dear Vues Master
What a beautiful Kiddush Hashem it was to
see Amar’e Stoudemire inducted into the Nai-
smith Basketball Hall of Fame and, even
more importantly, to see him attend and de-
liver his speech Motzei Shabbos.
For someone who has become increasingly
connected to Yiddishkeit and has publicly
spoken about his obser-
vance of Shabbos, this was
incredibly meaningful.
The ceremony was sched-
uled for Saturday, but
Amar’e did not have to
compromise his Shabbos
to participate in one of the
greatest honors of his bas-
ketball career.
He waited until Shabbos
was over and then took
part in the ceremony. To
me, that sends a powerful
message. He was being
honored on one of the big-
gest stages in sports, sur-
rounded by some of the
greatest basketball players
and personalities in the
world, yet Shabbos re-
mained important.
It would have been easy to
say, “This is the Hall of
Fame. It only happens
once. I have to be there.”
Instead, he was able to find
a way to make it work
while respecting Shabbos.
That is something our en-
tire community should ap-
preciate.
Amar’e has had an incredible basketball ca-
reer, but seeing a professional athlete proudly
embrace Yiddishkeit and make accommoda-
tions for Shabbos is something that goes far
beyond basketball.
What a Kiddush Hashem!
Mazel Tov, Amar’e! You earned your place in
the Basketball Hall of Fame with your ac-
complishments on the court, but walking into
that ceremony Motzei Shabbos made the mo-
ment even more special.
DT
Vues Master’s Note: Mazel Tov, Amar’e on
your tremendous accomplishment and the
kiddush Hashem that you made.
ELUL ANXIETY
Dear Vues Master
Every year, as summer begins winding down
and Elul arrives, I find myself getting very
nervous. There is something about this time
of year that brings a tremendous amount of
pressure. Summer is coming to an end, school
is starting again, and before we know it, we
are preparing for the Yomim Tovim.
There is so much to think about. Getting the
kids ready for school, buying clothing and
supplies, getting back into a regular schedule,
and then dealing with everything that comes
with preparing for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kip-
pur, Sukkos, and all the Yom Tov expenses. It
can feel overwhelming.
And then there is Elul itself. We are supposed
to use this month to prepare spiritually and
think about where we are holding. But some-
times, instead of feeling inspired, I feel anx-
ious. There is almost a sense that the clock is
ticking and I have to accomplish so much be-
fore Rosh Hashanah.
I know that Elul is supposed to be a time of
opportunity, not fear. Still, I think many peo-
ple quietly feel the same anxiety that I do. We
want to do better, daven better, be better par-
ents, better spouses, and better people. But
the pressure can sometimes become too
much.
Maybe this year we should try to remember
that Hashem doesn’t expect perfection. We
should take Elul one day at a time, make
small improvements, and appreciate the op-
portunity we have been given.
Hopefully, by doing that, we can enter the Yo-
mim Tovim with less anxiety and more inspi-
ration.
RTY
Vues Master’s Note: Elul is not about getting
to a finish line. It’s about every day introspec-
tion and small steps towards lasting teshuvah.
EXCESSIVE CAMP TRIPS
Dear Vues Master,
It’s amazing how many trips these sleepaway
camps take their campers on these days.
When I was in camp in the ’80s and ’90s, we
had one or two trips at most per summer.
It seems like these kids
are going on trips every
other day!
KW
Vues Master’s Note:
The trips are commensu-
rate with the price of
camp. When you were a
kid, a trip to Walmart or
an overnight in the woods
was an exciting adven-
ture. Now camps take
kids to Disney and Pana-
ma. How times have
changed…
PRAISE FOR BIBI
Dear Vues Master
With fighting against He-
zbollah once again mak-
ing headlines, I believe it
is important to take a mo-
ment to recognize some-
thing that often gets lost
in the daily political
noise: thank you, Bibi.
For decades, Israel
fought the same frustrat-
ing cycle. We defeated
our enemies militarily,
the international commu-
nity pressured Israel to withdraw, strategic
territory was relinquished, and our enemies
eventually rebuilt and attacked us again.
This time, something has changed.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has refused to ac-
cept the old assumption that Israel must with-
draw first and simply trust international
promises that our enemies will remain dis-
armed. The diplomatic conversation is in-
creasingly placing the responsibility where it
belongs: on Hezbollah to disarm and on Leb-
anon to prevent its territory from being used
to threaten Israel.
That is a tremendous change.
We saw what happened when Israel withdrew
from Lebanon in 2000. We saw what hap-
pened after the Gaza disengagement. Interna-
tional guarantees did not prevent Hezbollah
and Hamas from building massive terrorist
infrastructures on Israel’s borders.
Bibi understood that Israel cannot continue
repeating the same experiment and expecting
different results.
Is everything perfect? Absolutely not. Hez-
bollah remains dangerous, Hamas remains
dangerous, and Iran continues to threaten Is-
rael. There is still much work to do, and Israel
must remain strong and vigilant.
But we should also recognize accomplish-
ments when they happen.
For perhaps the first time, the diplomatic
pressure is increasingly being directed toward
the terrorists rather than demanding that Isra-
el make concessions first.
That is no small achievement.
So, regardless of the political arguments that
will undoubtedly dominate the upcoming
election season, let’s give credit where credit
is due.
Thank you, Bibi, for standing firm and chang-
ing the conversation.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Vues Master’s Note: He may not be perfect,
and he’s certainly made mistakes, but Bibi
has taken great measures to eradicate our en-
emies.
HERE’S A TIP WORTH TAKING
Dear Vues Master:
There seems to be a great deal of confusion
surrounding tipping and restaurant service
charges, and unfortunately, many people form
strong opinions without really understanding
how the restaurant business operates.
I personally hate going to a restaurant and
feeling like I am being forced to tip, especial-
ly when the suggested tip starts at 20 percent.
A tip is supposed to be a way of showing ap-
preciation for good service. When the bill
presents three suggested options—20%, 22%,
or 25%—it can make customers feel as
though anything less is somehow unaccept-
able.
At the same time, there is a reason more res-
taurants, both kosher and non-kosher, are
adding gratuities or service charges. The in-
dustry has increasingly struggled with cus-
tomers who refuse to tip or leave inadequate
tips, even when the service is perfectly good.
Restaurants have had to find other ways to
make sure their employees are compensated.
It is also important to understand that waiters,
busboys, and other front-of-house employees
often have a different compensation structure
than traditional hourly workers. Their income
can include tips, gratuities, and service charg-
es in addition to their base pay.
That means customers should be careful be-
fore assuming that a server who says, “I don’t
make anything,” is actually earning next to
nothing. In many establishments, service
charges are distributed among employees ac-
cording to the restaurant’s policies and com-
pensation structure.
In many kosher restaurants, servers can ulti-
mately earn around $30 an hour when all
forms of compensation are included.
Customers should absolutely reward good
service. But restaurants should also give cus-
tomers the freedom to decide what that ser-
vice is worth.
EL
Vues Master’s Note: In the US, it’s become
standard practice that tips are often how wait-
ers make a decent wage. If you go to a restau-
rant, it’s important to factor in the tip when
determining a budget. You will no doubt
cause a chilul Hashem if you choose to tip
anything less than 15% minimum.
ISRAEL NEEDS TO MAKE ITS
OWN DECISIONS
Dear Vues Master
I believe it is about time that Israel does what
is best for Israel, even when that means mak-
ing decisions that are not exactly what Amer-
ica or President Trump wants.
Let me be clear: We deeply appreciate Amer-
ica’s support for Israel. We appreciate the
military assistance, diplomatic backing, and
the friendship that the United States has
shown Israel, especially during some of the
most difficult moments in our history. The re-
lationship between Israel and America is in-
credibly important, and we should never take
that support for granted.
But at the end of the day, Israel is the country
that has to live with the consequences of its
decisions. Israel is the one facing the threat
from Iran. Israel is the one whose citizens
could be targeted by Iranian missiles and ter-
ror organizations. Therefore, Israel must have
the freedom to do whatever is necessary to
protect its people.
If Israel’s intelligence and military leadership
believe that independent action against Iran is
necessary, Jerusalem should not be afraid to
act simply because Washington would prefer
another approach.
America has its own interests, its own mili-
tary considerations and its own political cal-
culations. Israel has its own.
We can appreciate President Trump and the
United States while still saying that Israel
must ultimately make its own decisions.
Friends can give advice, but Israel must deter-
mine its own destiny.
The Jewish state cannot outsource its security
to anyone else. When it comes to protecting
our people, Israel must do what Israel be-
lieves is necessary.
GT
Vues Master’s Note: In Sefer Yeshayahu, the
Jewish people were warned not to put their
faith in outside sources such as Egypt and As-
syria. Unfortunately, they didn’t listen to
Hashem and this led to devastation. We know
that anything that has been included in Nevi-
im is written for all generations. Yes, the US
and President Trump have been our friends,
but just like in times of old, we must place our
faith only in Hashem.
BIBI’S UPCOMING VISIT
Dear Vues Master:
I am already looking forward to September,
when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
comes to New York for the United Nations
General Assembly. At a time when Israel is
facing enormous challenges and Jews around
the world are dealing with rising antisemi-
tism, it is important that the Prime Minister of
Israel comes to our city and speaks proudly
and forcefully on behalf of the Jewish people.
Of course, I am deeply concerned
about the security situation sur-
rounding his visit. New York has
hosted the United Nations Gen-
eral Assembly for decades, and
the NYPD knows how to protect
world leaders. But this year is dif-
ferent. The rhetoric coming from
Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his
calls for people to take to the
streets are extremely troubling.
There is a major difference be-
tween peaceful protest and rheto-
ric that can encourage extremists to cross the
line into violence. Our police officers should
not have to worry that protecting an Israeli
leader will make them targets themselves.
I hope that when Bibi arrives in New York,
thousands of Jewish New Yorkers will come
out peacefully to show their support. This
should be a moment of Jewish pride, not fear.
I want Prime Minister Netanyahu to see that
New York’s Jewish community is standing
with Israel. Let him see the American flags
and Israeli flags. Let him hear our support.
And most importantly, let us daven that the
NYPD and all the law enforcement agencies
involved are given the resources they need to
keep everyone safe.
I can’t wait to see Bibi in New York.
YTT
Vues Master’s Note: Let’s hope that Mam-
dani actually does his job to protect Bibi and
stops his dangerous and inflammatory rheto-
ric.
SHOW SOME RESPECT,
MAMDANI!
Dear Vues Master,
I have to agree with the families of 9/11 vic-
tims who are asking Mayor Zohran Mamdani
not to attend the 25th anniversary commemo-
ration at Ground Zero.
There are certain events that are sacred. The
September 11 memorial is not a political pho-
to opportunity. It is a solemn day to remem-
ber the thousands of innocent people who
were murdered by Islamic terrorists and to
stand with their families.
Mamdani had an opportunity to show respect
when he skipped the memorial honoring the
victims of the 1993 World Trade Center
bombing. Instead, he traveled to Washington
to meet with President Trump. That decision
spoke volumes.
Now, after choosing not to attend the 1993
memorial, he wants to appear at the 9/11 cer-
emony, where the entire world will be watch-
ing. I understand why many victims’ families
are questioning his intentions.
This isn’t about whether someone is a Demo-
crat, Republican, liberal or conservative. It is
about respect for the victims and their fami-
lies.
The families who lost husbands, wives, fa-
thers, mothers, sons and daughters on 9/11
have carried this pain for 25 years. They
should not have to worry about whether the
mayor attending the ceremony is there be-
cause he truly wants to honor their loved ones
or because of the enormous publicity sur-
rounding the event.
My opinion is simple: Mamdani should not
go.
Let the families have their day. Let the police
officers, firefighters, first responders and or-
dinary New Yorkers who remember that ter-
rible morning stand together without political
distractions.
September 11 should be about remembering
the dead, not giving a platform to politicians.
MSG
Vues Master’s Note: Why wouldn’t the fam-
ilies want a mayor who aligns himself with
the values of the 9/11 terrorists to come to a
9/11 memorial where they lost their loved
ones?
DON’T MOCK OUR GEDOLIM
Dear Vues Master,
It is very sad to see how negatively our re-
spected religious figures are portrayed in the
media. Whether the outlet is American or Is-
raeli, it seems that almost every time they
publish a piece quoting a rabbi’s statements
or lecture, the goal is to make light of him, his
intelligence, or his Torah perspective.
This is an extremely sensitive time in Israel,
and political movements are using the chare-
idi community as pawns in their political
games, whether to achieve a certain electoral
outcome or to undermine the current admin-
istration at every turn. Not only are they do-
ing an excellent job of creating division, but
they are also causing civil society to turn
against itself.
What we Torah Jews must remember is that
no media outlet that belittles rabbanim and
bnei Torah deserves our respect or attention.
It does not matter which kippah the author
may be wearing, if any. If he is slandering a
Gadol Hador, mocking his shiur, or ridiculing
a Torah decision, he is doing something deep-
ly wrong, regardless of where his political or
personal loyalties may lie.
Please also be aware that many Jewish news
websites still take or adapt a significant por-
tion of their major stories from wire services
such as AP and Reuters, which are not par-
ticularly known for their sensitivity toward
Gedolei Torah or religious Jewish perspec-
tives. Sometimes a Jewish website may sim-
ply want to report the news and sell advertise-
ments, but the tone and manner in which the
article is written can still reflect the secular
viewpoint of the original source.
The Gemara warns us very strongly about the
consequences of disrespecting talmidei cha-
chamim and mocking their words. That is not
a side of the fence that any Torah Jew should
want to be on.
KLMY
Vues Master’s Note: Well said. We may dis-
agree with a rabbi’s position, but mocking or
belittling Gedolei Torah is unacceptable, and
we should be especially careful not to let po-
litical agendas undermine our respect for To-
rah leadership.