15 Sep 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.
WHAT A STORY
Dear Vues Master:
I absolutely loved reading this story. I thought it was
one of the coolest stories I had read in a long time, espe-
cially because it happened right before Rosh Hashanah.
Thousands of Ateres Shlomo avreichim had gone three
months without receiving their stipends, with Yom Tov
just days away. Then a wealthy donor offered to cover
the entire outstanding amount on one unusual condi-
tion: HaGaon HaRav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin would ac-
company him to Uman for Rosh Hashanah.
Rav Sorotzkin consulted with a Gadol, explained the
situation and was told to accept the offer. His response
to the donor was incredible: “Transfer the money — and
I’m coming.”
And the donor kept his word. By the next day, thou-
sands of avreichim had received all three months of
missing payments.
I thought the whole story was amazing. The timing, the
generosity of the donor and the responsibility Rav So-
rotzkin felt toward thousands of families made this a
story that really stood out.
It was especially beautiful to see how, just before Rosh
Hashanah, when these families were facing a tremen-
dous financial burden, someone stepped up and made
sure they received what they were owed.
I would also love to know who the donor was. Whoever
he is, he certainly deserves tremendous hakaras hatov
for what he did.
Sometimes you read a story and think, “Wow, you really
couldn’t make this up.” This was definitely one of those
stories.
AS
Vues Master’s Note: Thank you for the reminder about
the importance of tzedaka.
THE ELUL PLAYLIST
Dear Vues Master:
There are songs that become popular, and then there are
songs that seem to be everywhere. This year, Chanan
Ben Ari’s “Hashevanu” became one of those songs.
It was hard to go anywhere this summer without hearing
it. From weddings and simchos to camps, cars, restau-
rants and even around the house, the song seemed to be
playing constantly. What made it especially meaningful
was the timing. As we approached Elul and the Yamim
Noraim, the powerful words of “Hashevanu Hashem
eilecha venashuva” took on an even deeper meaning.
There is something very special about a song that can
bring people together, regardless of age or background.
Bochurim, girls, parents and grandparents were all sing-
ing along. People who normally have very different mu-
sical tastes seemed to connect with this song.
But perhaps the biggest reason it became such a phe-
nomenon is that it is more than just a catchy tune. The
words speak to something that every Yid can relate to—
the desire to come closer to Hashem and return to Him.
During this time of year, when we are all thinking about
teshuvah and asking Hashem to bring us closer, those
words resonate deeply.
“Hashevanu” has certainly become one of the songs of
the summer, but I think its popularity goes beyond a
passing hit. It has become part of the soundtrack of Elul
and the Yamim Noraim.
Perhaps that is the greatest compliment that can be giv-
en to a song: not only that people enjoy singing it, but
that the words actually mean something to them.
EG
Vues Master’s Note: We have this song on repeat in my
house!
CRISIS IN UMAN- AGAIN!
Dear Vues Master:
By the time Rosh Hashanah arrived, thousands of peo-
ple in Uman were facing a serious problem: they had
nowhere to sleep.
Reports said that approximately 40,000 people were ex-
pected in Uman, and the lodging situation had become
so difficult that askonim were scrambling to find apart-
ments, rooms, mattresses and other places for people to
stay. Some people had traveled for days, crossing
through Moldova, Poland and other countries, only to
arrive and discover that they had no confirmed accom-
modations.
It was certainly a difficult situation, and the askonim on
the ground deserve a lot of credit for doing whatever
they could to help. But I couldn’t help asking a simple
question: Why does it seem that every year
there is some major crisis in Uman?
This isn’t the first time we have heard
about problems with accommodations,
transportation, security or other basic
needs. We know that tens of thousands of
people are going to Uman every Rosh Ha-
shanah. We know months in advance that a
huge crowd will be coming. So why are
we still scrambling at the last minute?
Nobody expects everything to go perfect-
ly. But when an event of this size takes
place year after year, you would think
there would be a better system in place.
Perhaps this year’s lodging crisis should
have been a wake-up call. Planning for
40,000 people cannot begin when the bus-
es are already arriving.
BS
Vues Master’s Note: Maybe the wake-up
call should be to stay home!
DO GEDOLIM PICTURES GIVE
THE WRONG MESSAGE?
Dear Vues Master:
It seems that in recent years it has become
increasingly popular to decorate our Suk-
kos with large pictures of Gedolim, both
those who are still with us and those who
have already been niftar. On one hand, I
understand the beauty behind it. We want
our children to know who the Gedolim are,
to learn from their lives, and to feel con-
nected to the Torah leaders who shaped
Klal Yisrael.
But I wonder if we should give some
thought to where the line is.
The Sukkah is a place where we are re-
minded that everything we have comes
from Hashem. We leave the security and
permanence of our homes and sit in a tem-
porary dwelling under the protection of the
Shechinah. The message of Sukkos is ulti-
mately about recognizing Hashem’s pres-
ence and His מלכות.
Could there be a danger, even unintention-
ally, when the walls of our Sukkah are cov-
ered with enormous pictures of Gedolim?
Are we teaching our children to look up to
Gedolim as the greatest figures in our
lives, or could we sometimes be giving the
impression that the Gedolim themselves
are almost the focus of our Yiddishkeit?
Of course, Gedolim deserve tremendous
kavod. We should study their lives, follow
their guidance and be inspired by their de-
votion to Torah and Hashem. But perhaps
the greatest way to honor a Gadol is to re-
member what he spent his entire life teach-
ing us: that there is only one Melech—
Hashem.
Maybe this Sukkos, along with pictures of
the Gedolim who inspire us, we should
make sure our children understand who
the Gedolim themselves looked up to:
Hashem.
NT
Vues Master’s Note: I think that’s a giv-
en… in our home we’ve always talked
about the gedolim as role models for Torah
living.
THE KOUFAX KIDDUSH
HASHEM
Dear Vues Master,
Every year as Yom Kippur approaches, I
am amazed by how often Sandy Koufax is
mentioned. It seems that no matter which
shiur I listen to or which gadol I hear
speaking, somehow the story of Koufax
comes up. It has become part of the con-
versation surrounding Yom Kippur for
generations.
Think about what happened. Koufax was
one of the biggest baseball stars in the
world. He was scheduled to pitch the
opening game of the 1965 World Series,
one of the biggest moments in all of sports.
But the game fell on Yom Kippur, and Ko-
ufax refused to pitch. His decision became
legendary and gave countless Jews an in-
credible feeling of Jewish pride.
What makes it even more remarkable is
that Koufax was not making a big public
statement. He simply said it was a matter
of respect. Yet that simple decision had an
enormous impact. It showed Jews every-
where that even when the whole world was
watching, being Jewish came first.
To this day, Gedolim and Rabbanim con-
tinue to mention Koufax when discussing
Yom Kippur, Jewish pride and putting
Hashem first. That says everything about
the impact one person can have.
I think the story of Sandy Koufax is one of
the greatest Kiddushei Hashem of our gen-
eration. Long after his baseball career
ended, people still remember not the game
he pitched, but the game he refused to
pitch.
That is an incredible legacy.
DH
Vues Master’s Note: Sandy’s refusal to
play on Yom Kippur certainly left a lasting
impression on Jews and non-Jews alike.
ANOTHER GREAT IDEA BY
MAMDANI
Dear Vues Master
I understand that keeping children safe is
important. Nobody wants to see a child in-
jured in a traffic accident. But New York
City is going way too far with its obsession
over lowering speed limits.
Now we are being told that hundreds of
school zones will be reduced to 15 mph,
with eventually thousands of school loca-
tions throughout the city having a 15 mph
limit. At some point, you have to ask: How
are New Yorkers supposed to get any-
where?
Driving in New York City has become an
exercise in constantly watching the speed-
ometer, looking for signs, and worrying
about getting a ticket. Between speed cam-
eras, red-light cameras and all the other
enforcement, it sometimes feels like the
city is more interested in collecting money
from drivers than making it easier to get
around.
Mayor Mamdani may call this a safety ini-
tiative, but many New Yorkers see another
opportunity for the city to generate reve-
nue. If the city really wants drivers to slow
down, it should focus on dangerous inter-
sections, reckless driving and locations
where there is a demonstrated safety prob-
lem—not simply keep lowering speed lim-
its everywhere.
Fifteen miles per hour is incredibly slow.
In many situations, a driver can easily ex-
ceed 15 mph without even realizing it. A
city filled with 15 mph zones will create
more tickets, more frustration and longer
travel times for ordinary New Yorkers.
We need reasonable traffic laws that pro-
tect pedestrians while also recognizing
that millions of people need to drive. Safe-
ty should be the goal, not turning every
trip through New York City into a potential
traffic violation.
RT
Vues Master’s Note: Another one of
Mamdani’s brilliant initiatives… sigh…
NO BUTS ABOUT IT!
Dear Vues Master,
I’m writing this letter simply to say how
much I appreciate The Jewish Vues and all
the hard work you put into it. I see the end-
less effort that goes into producing The
Jewish Vues every week, and I genuinely
look forward to reading it.
I don’t have any “buts” or complaints.
Sometimes people just need to be told that
they are appreciated, with no ulterior mo-
tive and nothing being asked in return.
So, thank you for all that you do and for
continuing to put out The Jewish Vues
each week. It is truly appreciated.
Thank you again, and have a Gmar Chasi-
ma Tovah!
TH
Vues Master’s Note: From the bottom of
our hearts- THANK YOU! We love what
we do and we love the positive feedback.
It’s a good reminder that sometimes peo-
ple just need a little bit of positivity in their
lives without any “buts!”
A ROSH HASHANA CONCERT
Dear Vues Master
Rosh Hashana is supposed to be one of the
most serious and meaningful times of the
year. We come to shul to stand before
Hashem, ask for forgiveness, and recog-
nize that He is the King of the world.
Lately, however, I have noticed that dav-
ening on the Yamim Noraim is starting to
feel more and more like a concert.
There are beautiful new niggunim being
introduced by singers and composers such
as Eitan Katz, Naftali Kempeh and Joey
Newcomb. I have nothing against these
talented individuals, and many of their
songs are beautiful and inspiring. Music
certainly has a place in Jewish life.
But do we really need a new niggun for
every part of davening?
Sometimes I find myself listening to the
melody, waiting for the next part, or won-
dering what tune the chazzan will use next,
instead of concentrating on the words of
the tefillah. The louder and more elaborate
the singing becomes, the easier it is to for-
get why we are standing there in the first
place.
Davening is not a performance. The chaz-
zan is not a singer at a concert, and the
mispallelim are not an audience.
Perhaps we should occasionally go back to
the basics: less music, less performance
and more concentration on the powerful
words of the machzor.
On Rosh Hashana, we are asking Hashem
to remember us for life. We should be
thinking about every word we say.
I miss the feeling that we were actually
davening.
JF
Vues Master’s Note: Music is a universal
language and touches people in different
ways. You may be in the minority with this
opinion, but I haven’t taken a poll to find
out. I’d venture to say that most people
need the music to connect with the words.
IN SUPPORT OF TORAH
Dear Vues Master
We are now in the days of our most critical
court case, with our fate hanging in the
balance until the culmination of the final
judgment on Yom Kippur.
But luckily for us, there is something very
special about this court. It is the only court
where the Judge Himself seeks us out be-
fore the trial and gives us the opportunity
to make amends in advance, so that we can
merit a positive outcome.
What is the quickest way to befriend a
judge? When you share the same friends.
Imagine the prosecution coming to present
its case against you, and the Judge sees
that you have many of the same friends
and that these people can testify on your
behalf. It becomes much harder to view
you simply as an antagonist.
The Gedolei Yisrael are among Hashem’s
closest servants and those who carry His
Torah and guide Klal Yisrael. This year,
they have been turning to us more than
ever, asking for our help in sustaining To-
rah and their institutions in the face of se-
vere decrees and sanctions being imposed
by the Israeli government and courts.
When tzadikim ask for your help, there are
few greater opportunities to connect our-
selves to them and to the Torah they repre-
sent.
All we have to do is make an effort to give
something within our means. In doing so,
we are gaining powerful advocates and
creating a kesher with the Gedolei Yisrael.
That is what Keren Olam HaTorah offers
us: the opportunity to partner with the
Gedolim and become supporters of Torah.
What better friends could we have as we
approach the Day of Judgment? Such a
zechus can surely help us merit a Kesivah
Vechasimah Tovah.
Get on the train!
KLMY
Vues Master’s Note: It’s important to
have a kesher with gedolim, but it’s also
important to remember that there’s only
one Hashem. We can and should support
Torah institutions, but we should never
mistake this as a replacement for making
our own kesher with Hashem. (Also- I
have a question. I saw where you were go-
ing with your courtroom metaphor, but
what does that have to do with getting on a
train?)
THE COURAGE TO TAKE A
STAND
Dear Vues Master:
Robert Kraft deserves enormous credit for
something that should not have to be cou-
rageous, but unfortunately is today: stand-
ing up for the Jewish people.
Kraft, the Jewish billionaire and owner of
the New England Patriots, recently made it
clear that his Gillette Stadium would not
be used as a platform for antisemitism. He
took action to pressure Ed Sheeran to drop
rapper Macklemore from concerts sched-
uled at the stadium, citing Macklemore’s
history of antisemitic rhetoric and imag-
ery.
What I find especially admirable is that
Kraft could have simply looked the other
way. He could have said that this was en-
tertainment, that performers are entitled to
their opinions, or that it was none of his
business. Instead, he drew a line.
His message was clear: there must be a
limit when speech and imagery become
hateful and deeply offensive to Jews.
Kraft has consistently used his tremendous
platform and resources to fight antisemi-
tism. But this latest decision shows that he
is willing to put those principles into ac-
tion, even when it involves a major concert
and a famous performer.
At a time when too many people are afraid
to speak up against antisemitism, Kraft is
doing the opposite. He is standing proudly
as a Jew and making it clear that Jewish
people deserve the same respect and pro-
tection as everyone else.
We should not take people like Robert
Kraft for granted. He is using his wealth,
influence and position to stand up for Klal
Yisrael when it matters most.
He deserves our appreciation and our re-
spect.
BT
Vues Master’s Note: Rob-
ert Kraft is definitely proud
of his Jewish roots. He’s
one of the good guys!
SHOWER
Dear Vues Master:
My wife & I always dis-
pute whether one should
take a shower on Yom Tov.
I know that there are rab-
bis that say you can & rabbis that say you
can’t. My wife wants me to shower be-
cause I smell too much after going a few
days without a shower & I never took a
shower on Yom Tov growing up. What
should I do?
AC
Vues Master’s Note: Chances are it won’t
help!!
YOM KIPPUR
Dear Vues Master:
I heard a really beautiful thought about
Yom Kippur from my rabbi, Rabbi Rosner.
On Yom Kippur, one of the tefillos we re-
peat over and over is “Ashamnu Bagad-
nu.” It is a tefillah in which we list the
many possible transgressions of the past
year. The list is in alphabetical order, and
we mention these sins as part of our pro-
cess of teshuvah.
“Ashamnu” — We were guilty.
“Bagadnu” — We betrayed Hashem.
“Gazalnu” — We stole.
And so on.
At the end of the day, as we were ap-
proaching the final tefillah, Rabbi Rosner
said something that really struck me:
“Hashem, it’s true that we were guilty of
bad things, but please don’t forget all the
good things we did this past year.”
He then read a list similar to Ashamnu, ex-
cept instead of sins, he listed the beautiful
things we did throughout the year — the
mitzvos, the acts of kindness, and the good
that we brought into the world.
It was a beautiful list and a beautiful idea,
so I decided to make a list of my own.
Dear Hashem, we are not angels. We make
mistakes, and this past year was no differ-
ent. But we are also Your children, and we
did some amazing things. I want to remind
You who Your beautiful children are.
So here is my list:
Aleph — Ichadnu: We united.
Beis — Batachnu: We believed in You.
Gimmel — Gadalnu: We grew.
Daled — Dibarnu Yofi: We spoke beauti-
fully.
Hey — Hitpalalnu: We prayed.
Vav — Veherachnu: We appreciated.
Zayin — Zarachnu: We shined.
Chet — Chalamnu: We dreamed.
Tes — Tipalnu: We cared for others.
Yud — Yitzagnu: We stood for truth.
Kaf — Kibadnu: We respected others.
Lamed — Lamadnu: We learned Your To-
rah.
Mem — Miharnu: We rushed to do mitz-
vos.
Nun — Nilchamnu: We fought for Your
land.
Samech — Siparnu: We told the truth.
Ayin — Azarnu: We helped one another.
Pey — Parachnu: We grew and blossomed.
Tzadi — Tzirafnu: We joined together.
Kuf — Kiravnu: We brought others closer.
Reish — Raeenu: We saw the good.
Shin — Shiratnu: We served You and our
country.
Tav — Taramnu: We donated to charity.
While this past year was one of the hardest
in our history, it was also one of the most
beautiful.
The Jewish people came together like nev-
er before. We had more moral clarity than
ever before. There was so much beauty
and so much achdus. All you had to do was
open your eyes and you could see it.
So, as Rabbi Rosner said, Hashem, while
You are judging us and deciding what the
coming year will bring, please remember
all the good we did. Remember all the
amazing things Your children did this past
year.
HF
Vues Master’s Note: Let us hope that this
achdus and all of the goodness continue
into Sukkos and throughout the coming
year.
SHABBOS
Dear Vues Master:
The great Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdi-
chev was very calm when Yom Kippur fell
on Shabbos. When asked why, he ex-
plained:
It is known that we are commanded not to
write on Shabbos. However, when it
comes to saving a life, one is permitted to
write. Therefore, when Yom Kippur falls
on Shabbos, Hashem can only write us in
for a year of life, because writing is per-
mitted on Shabbos only when it involves
saving a life.
We can therefore be sure that we will be
blessed, inscribed and sealed for a wonder-
ful year, filled with all good, both physi-
cally and spiritually!
HK
Vues Master’s Note: Your mouth to
Hashem’s ears!