01 Aug SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER
MOTZEI SHABBOS NACHAMU
CONCERTS
Dear Vues Master
It was amazing how so many Jewish music
singers were in the Catskills this past Motzei
Shabbos Nachamu at different colonies. I
remember the old days when everyone went
to the racetrack. Now every colony brings in
their own entertainment.
GP
Vues Master’s Note: What’s crazy is how much
each colony spent on getting these Jewish
musicians to come to them! Colonies spent
between $10k & $20k just for an hour and a
half performance.
YESHIVA WILL BE HERE BEFORE
YOU KNOW IT
Dear Vues Master
I can’t believe we are starting the month of
August this week. Before you know it, we will
be back in school. I’m having such a great time
this summer, I really dont want to think about
it yet but I started getting lists of things I need
to get for yeshiva this year & it’s getting me
depressed.
KL
Vues Master’s Note: Elul is still a couple of
weeks away. Don’t bother me yet!
TWO BEE OR NOT TO BEE
Dear Vues Master
We have completed the period of the Three
Weeks and are now in the period of Nechama.
So let us look back and analyze some of the
words. Devorim starts off with Eilu Ha’devorim
– these are the words- but some interpret it as
Ha’Devorim – the Bees. The words of rebuke
are meant to sting like a bee. Later in the Parsha
it say that the Amorim chased them “ka’asher
ta’asenu ha’Devoirm” – like the bees. Actually
this is consistent because the word Amorim
can be interpreted as the Words. Words can
sting like bees. At the beginning of the parsha,
Lavan is mentioned. What does he have to
do with the Yidden in the Midbar? Just as in
the Hagadah, he is mentioned because he also
“be’keish la’akoir es Ha’koil” – he wanted
to destroy all the Yidden, he is mentioned
here to go back to the roots of the chasudim
of Hashem. In fact, Rashi says that Haman
was the equivalent of Lavan – both wanted to
destroy all the Yidden. Sometimes words are
sung. In fact, some people might not know
but that the Gabaim usually send the best baal
tefillos to the amud the Shabbos before Tisha
Ba’av. That’s why it’s call Shabbos Chazon.
In the haftorah, we read words of toichacha
but we also learn a little history. When
someone had an ox, he typically would buy
it, but a mule would be rented. It says, “yoda
shoir es koineehu, va’chamoir Avis be’uluv”.
Maaseh Avis Seemin La’banim. It goes to list
symptoms of fasting – roish la’chuli – getting
headaches. That one Hertz. The next week’s
Haftorah is that of Parsha Nachamu. Why
does it say Nachamu twice? There are many
answers. For example, one is that the living
will be consoled as well as the dead during
the time of techiyas ha’meisim. But what the
answers have in common is that Nachamu is
short for Nuch a muhl – Hashem will console
us again and again.
DF
Vues Master’s Note: Another great vort.
Thanks for sharing!
TIPS
Dear Vues Master
Do counselors need to tip their
waiters in camp? I barely make any
money at the camp I go to, but I feel
that my waiter has been good to me
all summer.
GP
Vues Master’s Note: If you can afford
it, you probably should but I don’t
think most waiters expect counselors
to tip.
GOOD SHABBOS GROUP
Dear Vues Master
There is a guy going around from
restaurant to restaurant asking people
for their phone numbers so that he can
add you to a group that sends out a
good shabbos message & inspirational
messages. I think it’s great but a lot of
people think it’s annoying. Should I
give him my phone number?
BH
Vues Master’s Note: Why not? Try it.
If it gets annoying, exit the group. It’s
pretty easy to get out of a whatsapp
group.
TRUMP HAS A
COMFORTABLE LEAD
Dear Vues Master
In a recent poll conducted by the New
York Times and Siena College, it was
revealed that former President Donald
Trump enjoys a significant lead of
37 percentage points over Florida
Governor Ron DeSantis in the GOP
presidential race. The survey, released
this past Monday, showed strong
support for Trump, with 54 percent
of likely voters favoring him. On
the other hand, DeSantis lagged far
behind with only 17 percent. Former
Vice President Mike Pence, Senator
Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and former U.S.
Ambassador to the United Nations
Nikki Haley each obtained three
percent of the support.
BN
Vues Master’s Note: Trump’s fans
love him & you can’t do anything to
change their minds!
HASC EXPERIENCE
Dear Vues Master
This past Sunday my family went to
the HASC experience at Camp HASC
for the first time. It was fantastic.
Joey Newcomb & Baruch Levine
performed. They were great. I just
want to publicly wish Camp HASC
a big yasher koach for all the great
work they do.
Vues Master’s Note: When Camp
HASC does something, they do it
right!! Always have.
REB ELIEZER MILLER Z”L
Dear Vues Master
This past Sunday was the petirah of
Reb Eliezer Miller z”l. Reb Eliezer was
a son of Rav Avigdor and Rebbetzin
Ethel Miller zt”l and lived in Flatbush.
A wonderful, gentle, giving individual,
always with a good vort and a smile
for every person, Reb Eliezer raised
a beautiful mishpacha and carried his
parents’ illustrious legacy with pride
and dignity. He will be sorely missed
by his family, friends, and admirers.
Reb Eliezer is survived by his children,
R’ Yehuda Miller, R’ Yeruchem Miller,
Mrs. Rochel Blumenkrantz, Mrs. Rivky
Hamada, R’ Yanky Miller, and R”
Chaim Miller. He was predeceased by
his son, R’ Sruly Miller z”l. His siblings
are Rebbetzin Shainy Brog, Rebbetzin
Libby Leshinsky, and Rebbetzin
Devorah Kanarek. His brother, Rav
Shmuel Miller, passed away about
three years ago. The levayah was held
Monday at Shomrei Hadas Chapels in
Boro Park.
BS
Vues Master’s Note: Yehi zichro
boruch.
BEARS
Dear Vues Master
Please let your readers know that
there are a lot of bears upstate this
summer.
SC
Vues Master’s Note: Readers please
note: there are a lot of bears upstate
this summer!
SHABBOS NACHAMU
CONCERTS OUTSIDE
Dear Vues Master
This past Motzei Shabbos my colony
had a concert for Shabbos Nachamu
in the middle of the circle in front of
my house. There was a crazy amount
of noise & my kids couldn’t sleep
until 3am. Do all colonies do this? I
didn’t want to say anything because I
didn’t want to be a party pooper.
NS
Vues Master’s Note: You are right!
They should have asked people before
they did this. It’s inconsiderate.
Especially for young children. In my
colony they would never allow this.
We always have our concerts in our
shul building.
THE PRICE OF SIMCHAS
Dear Vues Master
I can’t believe how much I just spent
on a Sheva Bra- chos. The wedding
cost me over $75k & I didn’t prepare
to spend $15k plus on a Sheva
Brachos. This is really getting out of
hand.
BK
Vues Master’s Note: It sure beats
spending for a levaya!
KVARIM
Dear Vues Master:
Am I the only one that’s bothered
that when I go to daven at a matzevah
everyone is facing the matzevah.
Shouldn’t we be davening toward
mizrach, east bound, toward Eretz
Yisrael? It seems to me that when we
daven toward the matzevah it’s like
avodah zarah.
KM
Vues Master’s Note: Well we don’t
daven to the kever, some hold one
should not daven at a kever!
ASERES HADIBROS
Dear Vues Master:
Last week we read the Aseres
Hadibros. What is the significance
of the first and fifth commandments
being bookends on the first set of
luchos? To teach that everything
in between them applies to both of
them. For instance, 1. You shall have
no other g-ds before me. – Just like
you should have no other G-d so you
should have no other father. Meaning
He is your G-d after the Holocaust, and
he is your father af- ter punishment.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any
graven images. – Parents should be
the first picture to grace your walls
after marriage. Also, a father can
elevate a rabbi to father status, but a
rabbi can’t ele- vate himself to that
status. 3. Thou shalt not take the name
of the Lord thy G-d in vain. – This is
a warning for fathers not to lecture,
threaten or warn their children lest
they use it in vain. Instead, teach by
example and don’t let a misdeed go
without con- sequence. 4. Remember
the Sabbath day and keep it Holy –
Remember your father’s mesora and
keep it alive. 5. Honor your fa- ther
and mother. – Honoring your father
and mother is honoring G-d so parents
should bite their tongue and let them
honor you even if you feel unworthy
or embarrassed by it.
DG
Vues Master’s Note: Part of this is
having a harmonious home. If you
can’t get along with your spouse you
can’t expect your child to respect you!
PEACE
Dear Vues Master:
How much does physical attraction
factor into picking a spouse? One
would imagine a sys- tem that
pushes intellectual growth, character
refinement, and a connection to
G-d wouldn’t emphasize physical
attraction as an important factor in
choosing a spouse. The Talmud taught
otherwise. The Talmud includes
a teaching by Rav Yehudah, who
quoted Rav, who said it is forbidden
for a man to marry a woman until he
sees her. If he only sees her for the
first time at their wedding, he might
find her unattractive and he’ll hate
her. This contradicts the mitzvah
to love your fellow Jew as you
love yourself. A careful reading of
this teaching demonstrates finding
someone attractive isn’t a value
in itself, but rather a middle step
to avoiding a situation of treating
their prospective bride in a way that
would violate the command to love
your fellow Jew. The fear is that the
chosson will walk away, leaving the
kallah alone and embarrassed under
the chuppah or the groom will feel
obligated to marry the bride, even
though he’ll resent her, leading to a
conten- tious marriage, or that he’ll
come to hate her and say something
regrettable. The result of this area of
the Talmud is that it’s important to be
attracted to your spouse, especially
the groom to the bride, but being
attracted to your spouse isn’t a value
in itself, but rather, in or- der to make
sure their marriage is loving and
peaceful. The lesson of this section
of Talmud isn’t about the importance
of being attracted to one’s spouse,
but the crucial role peace and re-
spect plays in a marriage. Peace is
so important that although a chosson
could send a represen- tative to
marry his kallah for him, there is an
imperative that he sees his bride first
to ensure there is peace, respect, and
love in the home.
RUP
Vues Master’s Note: I have a good
marriage. All I do is say give me
another piece of chicken and I eat it
piecemeal!
CHOLENT POWERED
ROCKET……
Dear Vues Master
A Cholent Powered Rocket prototype
could be designed as follows: Fuel
System: A special fuel tank would be
designed to store cholent, a traditional
Jewish stew made with beans,
potatoes, and barley. The tank would
have a heating mechanism to keep
the cholent at a constant temperature
to maintain its viscosity for efficient
combustion. Combustion Cham-
ber: The combustion chamber would
be de- signed to mix the heated
cholent with oxygen for combustion.
A series of injectors would introduce
the cholent into the combustion
chamber, where it would be ignited
to produce high-pressure and high-
temperature gases that would be
directed through a nozzle to produce
thrust. Cooling System: To prevent
overheat- ing of the combustion
chamber and nozzle, a cooling
system would be incorporated that
uses a coolant loop to transfer heat
from the combustion chamber and
nozzle to a heat ex- changer, where
the heat would be dissipated into the
environment. Control System: A con-
trol system would be implemented to
moni- tor and control the fuel flow,
combustion, and cooling processes.
The control system would receive
input from various sensors and
adjust the parameters to ensure
optimal performance and efficiency.
Structural Design: The rocket would
be designed to withstand the high
thermal and mechanical stress of
rocket propulsion. The structure
would be made of lightweight, high-
strength materials such as carbon
fiber composites. Add some more
Shabbos foods… Matzo Ball Soup:
The matzo balls could be processed
to extract a starchy, high-energy
substance that could be combined
with cholent to increase the energy
density of the fuel mix- ture. Gefilte
Fish: The fish could be processed to
extract an oily substance that could be
added to the fuel mixture to increase
the lubrication properties of the fuel
and reduce friction in the combustion
chamber. Knishes: The potato- based
pastry could be processed to extract
a starchy, high-energy substance that
could be added to the cholent-matzo
ball mixture to in- crease the overall
energy density of the fuel. With this
prototype design, a Cholent Powered
Rocket could potentially reach low
Earth orbit, allowing for exciting new
possibilities in space explorations.
AI
Vues Note: I’m sure Country Yossi
will like this one!!!
SHALOM BAYIS
Dear Vues Master,
An elderly woman was speeding
when she was stopped by a police-
man. “License and registration,” he
said. “What did he say?” the wom-
an asked her husband. “He said he
wants your license and registration,”
the husband replied. “Do you realize
how fast you were going?” the officer
asked. “What did he say?” she asked
her husband, who repeated the ques-
tion for her. The officer then looked
at her license and remarked “I see
you’re from Brooklyn. I once dated
a woman from Brooklyn. She was
the most dif- ficult woman I ever
met.” Again, the woman asked her
husband “What did he say?” “He
said he thinks he knows you.”
MB
Vues Master’s Note: I Hear.
MARRIAGE
Dear Vues Master:
Marriages are made in Heaven, but
the details are fought out here on
earth.
LM
Vues Master’s Note: I can’t argue
with you as I don’t want to get into
a fight!
BRACHA
Dear Vues Master:
We often get told that having lots of
kids is a good bracha. Is this really
true? I work in a few homes with
families that have more kids than
they can handle and I don’t envy them
at all. The parents are almost always
stressed and strapped for cash. Kids
are con- stantly fighting and the adults
seem drained. Statistically speaking,
as the number of children grows,
fam- ilies spend a larger share of
their income on current consumption
and per capita income declines.
The highest birth rate in the United
States is among households making
less than $10,000 a year while the
households in the highest bracket
making $200,000 or more a year
have the fewest number of children.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to focus
on quality over quantity? Most large
families have a few off the derech
kids and the families that have kids
later on in life are more likely to
have a special needs kid. With prices
through the roof, parents squeezing
in multiple kids in the same rooms
and stress levels at all time highs,
wouldn’t it make more sense now to
stop pressuring parents to have more
kids than they can handle?
-AB
Vues Master’s Note: Interesting how
you think you can play G-D! We
don’t know!
RABBI LAVI GREENSPAN
Dear Vues Master:
Everyone knows and loves Rabbi
Lavi Greenspan & the article that
Ari Hirsch wrote on the chosson two
weeks ago in The Country Vues was
fantastic. It’s such a great story! Keep
up the great work! I just want to wish
R’ Lavi & his kallah Nechama a big
Mazel Tov from all your friends in
South Fallsburg!!
BS
Vues Master’s Note: I second the
motion! Love these letters!