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    SPEAK YOUR VUES WITH THE VUES MASTER

    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.

     

    COPYING THE BAIS

    HAMIKDOSH

    Dear Vues Master:

    The Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 141-8) states,

    “You are not allowed to replicate the

    שלחן†and מנורה†etc. of the

    בית†המקדש†. The type of metal or size

    doesn’t matter. You may not make a seven-

    branch Menorah”. R.Akiva Eiger’s

    son in law (R. Shmuel Birnbaum zt”l)

    writes his Shver had a silver Judenstern

    Shabbos lamp with seven spouts. He took

    it to a silversmith who with great difficulty

    managed to add on an additional spout

    so it wouldn’t be a seven-branch Menorah

    R.A.Eiger seems to hold like the

    Poskim* that since we are dealing with

    an לא†תעשון†אתי) איסור†דאורייתא†) therefore

    all seven branch Menorahs are forbidden,

    regardless of the shape (cups are

    in a straight line or in a circle etc.) The

    Chasam Sofer (Toras Moshe Parshas Yisro)

    writes (based on a Tosfos Yoma 54b)

    “ Because we hold wooden tables would

    be פסול†in the בית†המקדש†therefore, we

    may make and have wooden tables in our

    homes. However, metal tables regardless

    of size shape, or type of metal are kosher

    בדיעבד†in the

    בית†המקדש†,therefore, all metal tables

    may not be made or held for personal

    use.” The Ch. S. continues that he sees

    no היתר†for the Matzoh bakery to have

    copper (metal) tables. According to

    the Chasam Sofer, there is no היתר†to

    own any metal tables. (Most commercial

    kitchens in yeshivos, Shuls, Halls

    etc. have stainless steel tables) The

    Darkei Teshuva (Y.D. 141-8) argues

    on the Ch.S., he writes, “ We find the

    גמרא†(Shabbos 119a) R. Chiya b Aba

    praised the Ba’al Habayis who brought

    in L’kovod Shabbos a golden table. Had

    it been אסור†to make he would not have

    praised him.

    MF

    Vues Master’s Note: I wonder if anyone

    in a commercial kitchen does not have

    metal tables.Obviously we don’t hold like

    the above!!

    FOLLOW THE LEADER

    Dear Vues Master:

    A Bishop once said to

    ר׳†יהונתן†איבשיץ†, “You say that there

    was no בן†אלוקים†. But can so many

    people be mistaken?” ר׳†יהונתן†didn’t

    answer. Instead, he said, “Let’s go out

    to the market.” The two of them went

    to the center of town and ר׳†יהונתן†stood

    staring at the sky. When people saw

    this, a large crowd gathered and also

    turned their eyes skyward. “Do you

    see the angels flying above us?” the רב

    asked the crowd. One by one they said

    no. Finally, one man said: “Yes. Yes. I

    see them. I see

    שרפים†ואופנים†וחיות†הקודש†.” Immediately,

    others joined in and said “Yes,

    there they are. We see them.” Turning

    to the Bishop, ר׳†יהונתן†said with a

    smile: “But I don’t see anything but a

    blue sky. You ask how one person can

    mislead so many.”

    MB

    Vues Master’s Note: I think we see it with

    our Country we have the blind Biden who

    is senile and sleeping all the time running

    our Country What a joke!!

    HEIMISH

    Dear Vues Master:

    I have often encountered the misconception

    that a well organized home does not

    need to be reorganized. This is false. Especially

    a Yiddishe heim full of children

    at different ages and stages needs to be

    continually adapted to suit the changing

    needs of each family member.

    RV

    Vues Master’s Note: I think as long as

    you feel heimish and not be’heimish!

    MOTIVATION

    Dear Vues Master:

    A few months ago I was struggling with my davening. I wasn’t motivated to join a minyan, or even daven by myself at home. When I davened, I felt empty, my words seemed empty and I didn’t feel that I was standing before G-d. Rosh Hashanah was fast approaching, and I knew this wasn’t the time for a crisis in my relationship with G-d. I needed to shape up – and fast. I remembered something a friend of mine told me about his father’s davening, and I decided to try to copy him. This friend’s father is one of the greatest Rabbis of our generation – if not the greatest. Many of the stories he told me about his father centered around the people his father prayed for in his own davening. I found it fascinating that this Torah scholar would spend time davening for taxi drivers and the average people he met – and by name. I decided to take down names of people that needed something and ask Hashem to help them. Any time I heard of someone sick, suffering financially, or in a rough spot, I’d jot down their name in a little notebook and pray for them in my Shemoneh Esrie. Taking down those names and praying for them in my Shemoneh Esrie changed my life. My Shemoneh Esrei became meaningful once again. It also changed how I viewed others. Davening earnestly for people or their relatives three times a day made me feel a bond to them I’d never felt towards people before. I’d also constantly ask these people how they or their relatives were doing. If someone didn’t have a job, I found myself networking on their behalf and then asking Hashem to help me help them. Then, people started getting better, and I celebrated. Someone who was having troubles financially who I davened for landed an interview and another person found a job. I knew enough not to be arrogant and think it was my prayers doing it, but I was grateful that my prayers were being answered. But then today, Hashem said no. At least that’s how I feel. My father’s friend, someone my father looked up to as a leader and a role model who had been sick for a few years passed away. I’m close to his children and my children are close to his grandchildren. I grew up praying a few benches away from him and his children in shul. When my father turned 40 and my mother took us to San Francisco to celebrate, Leo happened to be there on a business trip and made a point to stop by – in the middle of the day – to join us for a celebratory lunch. Leo was on my list and in my notebook. Three times a day I asked Hashem to perform a miracle, to make the doctors and the diagnosis wrong. I’d often hear the end was near, and Leo would pull through, and I’d redouble my efforts and pray even harder. I knew a recovery was unlikely, but I’d never been told no before. Leo was a truly righteous Jew. One of Rabbi Yudin’s main men. These were special men, the leaders of Shomrei Torah in Fair Lawn. They’d work hours, days, weeks, years and decades for the community and its institutions. Leo was one of them. These were men who knew life wasn’t about the Mets, Nets or Jets. Life to them was about the community and making people’s lives better. If anyone deserved the miracle it was Leo. Hashem could say yes. But today He didn’t. Today, Leo’s son in law approached me and told me something I truly believed I wouldn’t ever hear. Leo was called away from us. I cried then, I’ve been crying all day, and other than a few hours when I had to put on a happy face for guests, I was a broken man. Hashem said no. My wife is a hospice chaplain and is trained to help people when Hashem says no. She told me what I tell others when I put on my Rabbi hat and console those who have lost someone. Hashem didn’t say no, He said yes to ending pain and suffering. I cry as I type this, and I feel strange sharing these feelings. I know Hashem said yes, but I also know He said no. I’ll still daven just as hard tomorrow, but it’ll be tough not saying Leo’s name and knowing a little bit more – that the answer is sometimes no.

    RUP

    Vues Master’s Note: Very inspiring. Hope we hear only Simchos!

    ANSWERS

    Dear Vues Master:

    Rabbis don’t have all the answers. Moshe Rabbienu was the greatest human being that ever lived. We don’t call him “Moshe the Great,” we call him “Moshe our teacher.” Moshe’s role was to teach the Jewish people the Torah – not have all the answers. Moshe asked Hashem, “Why is there a righteous man enjoying prosperity and a righteous man afflicted with adversity ? Why is there a wicked man enjoying prosperity and a wicked man afflicted with adversity?” Like all who came after him, Moshe was left disappointed with the answers he received. Rabbis are constantly asked why bad things happen to good people. The Holocaust is one of the most perplexing events to ever occur – and there are no explanations. There are mitzvos whose reasoning is clear; honoring parents, not stealing, giving tzedaka, and there are mitzvos that are more challenging to understand; red cow, shatnez, eglah arufah. Rabbis can’t explain all the mitzvot. Many people ask Rabbis how to deal with life situations; Rabbis can advise in certain situations, religious questions, child rearing, where to live, but there are questions Rabbis are unqualified to answer (unless they happen to have training in the area) where to invest, what kind of car to buy, what profession to go into, etc. Rabbis don’t have all the answers. In biblical times a prophet had all the answers. Three times a day in our Shemoneh Esrei we ask Hashem to restore prophecy so we’ll understand that which challenges us today. It’s crucial that Rabbis learn to say “I don’t know,” and just as crucial for Jews to understand that Rabbis don’t have all the answers.

    RUP

    Master’s Note: What is most crucial is believing our Rabbis when

    they say they know they do and who are you to tell them they don’t

    know!

    CONSPIRACY

    Dear Vues Master:

    Jews shouldn’t be so quick to jump on the conspiracy theory bandwagon considering the history of conspiracy theories and antisemitism.

    LS

    Vues Master’s Note:Until we find out that it is the truth and not a conspiracy theory but rather a fact!

    KOL NIDREI

    Dear Vues Master:

    The (ג”כ†םירדנ®†תצבוקמ†הטיש†writes that the origin of the

    ירדנ†לכ†goes back to the

    הלודגה†תסנכ†ישנא. Of all the Tefilos & Piyutim in the entire Machzor, the most problematic and unclear חסונ†is the ירדנ†לכ. The שובל†suggest that individuals should say his corrected version quietly and not rely on the Chazan’s (Machzor’s) Nusach which has no meaning and is like a bird’s chirping. For some reason, we don’t follow the שובל†and stick to the חסונ†in the רוזחמ†even with all its faults.

    FM

    Vues Master’s Note: I guess we will have to keep it under consideration till next year Yom Kippur!

    PEAS

    Dear Vues Master:

    Yitzchak and David were high school classmates. One day, they dozed off during shiur. The rebbe told them they needed to be punished. He bought two bags of peas and told each of them to put them in their shoes and walk on them for a week so that they never forget to always remain alert. Three days later, Yitzchak saw David hobbling along on the street, with a painful look on his face. David then said to Yitzchak “How is it that you are walking so easily? Didn’t you follow rebbe’s instruction to put the peas in your shoes?” “I did,” said Yitzchak. “But first I boiled them.”

    NB

    Vues Master’s Note: Who cooked this story! Which Rebbe would punish kids this way? Oh Peas I mean Please!

    THEATER

    Dear Vues Master:

    When רגיא†אביקע†בר†heard that there were Jews going to the theatre on Friday nights, he said: “ארמגב†וניצמ:

    והנינ†לארשי†יבנג†בור. This is rather surprising. What would cause us to think that Jews are םיבנג? Apparently, it is because, as we know, on תבש†ברע†two תרשה†יכאלמ†accompany every Jew. When these Jews go to the theatre on תבש†ברע†and take along the two םיכאלמ†without buying them entrance tickets, םיבנג†טושפ†םה†ירה.”

    BN

    Vues Master’s Note: These Angels need to act innocent!

    CHANUKAH

    Dear Vues Master:

    1) The only time Rosh Hashana is mentioned in all of ך”נת, is in מ†לאקזחי†But it is on the 10th of Tishrei (כ”וי)

    2) The טרתת†ץמוא†ףסוי†and other Poskim write to greet each other on כ”וי†יאצומ†when leaving Shul or arriving home, by saying “GUT YOM TOV” (not Gut Voch)

    3) The םהרבא†ןגמ†(O.Ch 625) quotes from the ל”ירהמ, not to fast or say ןונחת†between Yom Kippur and Sukkos, because they are החמש†ימי†We commemorate the חבזמה†תכונח†in the time of Shlomo Hamelech.

    JO

    Vues Master’s Note: Oy Chanukeh Oy Chanukah we can’t wait to see you!

    RIBS

    Dear Vues Master:

    Ribbed sweaters are all the rage in Boro Park. You know how you make a ribbed sweater? All you need is some fine yarn, some knitting needles and a frog. Your job is to knit the sweater. The frog’s job is to rib it.

    PG

    Vues Master’s Note: Then my Spare Rib wears it that being my wife!

    MARRIAGE

    Dear Vues Master:

    The word ותחקב†appears twice in ך״נת. Once in תודלות†תשרפ, when it says

    הנש≠†םיעברא†≠ןב†קחצי†יהיו

    הקבר†≠תא†ותחקב. And once in והימרי, when it says

    םיקיזאב†רוסא†אוהו†ותוא†ותחקב, when he was bound in chains. Rav הירא†הדוהי†of Modena was quoted as saying that after a person is םייקמ†the first ותחקב†by marrying, he is automatically bound in chains and is םייקמ†the second ותחקב.

    DH

    Vues Master’s Note: Yup! They say marriage is an institution! I guess you can’t live with them can’t live without them!

    CHASID

    Dear Vues Master:

    A ספר†named While learning in BMG, R’ Moshe Heinemann (*k) attended a tish of the Satmar Rebbe, for amusement; of course he was repulsed to take םייריש. The SR jokingly told him

    טשינ†אמתסמ†טעוו†ריד†ןופ

    דיסח†ןייק†ןערעוו.

    When R’ Aharon heard about it he exclaimed to RMH

    קידצ†תכרב†א°”.

    JI

    Vues Master’s Note: I heard that he tried taking Shirayim with a fork and stabbed a bunch of Chassidim in the hand!

    TOP 10 PUBLICATIONS

    Dear Vues Master:

    Jewish Vues [of course number # 1-how else do my letters get printed!?

    Hamodia

    Yated

    Mishpacha

    FJJ

    The View

    Bina

    Torah Times

    The Link

    Jewish Press

    RMS!

    Vues Master’s Note: It is interesting how many of them are copying us! Imitation is the greatest form of flattery!

    POLITICS

    Dear Vues Master:

    Domestic and international issues exist which need to be confronted in some way. All issues are complex regardless of the specific issue. In recent years, the issue of climate change has been such one. Many politicians like to paint issues like climate issues, as black and white, when in truth, it is gray. The divisions about climate change have resulted from such politicization. If one disagrees with the Biden climate plan as an example, one is then labeled a climate change denier. The artificial divisiveness that politicians have attached to climate change is incredibly pointless and nonsensical. The mainstream global narrative is that climate change is an existential threat that could kill millions of people in a few decades. The same people that call people less educated on climate change “climate deniers”, are the same people supporting these dangerous and unscientific narratives. If one studies economic history and the climate, one could see an impressive correlation. Improving the economy of a nation has historically helped the environment. Over the past 30 years, per capita income has doubled, the number of poor people has dropped from 4/10 to 1/10, an additional 2.6 billion people have access to water, etc. During these same periods, data shows that pollution deaths have decreased by 50%. According to sciencedirect.com as countries get richer, not only does deforestation decrease but even reforestation increases. Furthermore, many scientists have said that increases in the severity of hurricanes are indicators of climate change. Nevertheless both the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and NASA, after studying the data have concluded that “the historical Atlantic hurricane frequency record does not provide compelling evidence for a substantial greenhouse warming-induced long-term increase.” Climate change is real, but not in the way it is portrayed. Rhetoric and solutions in politics don’t correlate with each other. Politicians lie about complicated issues such as climate change to gain more power. It is no coincidence that the way that 100% of world leaders get to “climate change meetings” is on a plane, with a dozen-plus motorcade. As world leaders hold one of their “climate crisis meetings” once again; know it is code for “The Great Reset Meeting”.

    Sincerely,

    D S G

    Vues Master’s Note: Don’t mix me up with Greta! She knows what is

    best look she has hoodwinked Obama and Biden and Kerry as they fly with fancy planes to meeting after meeting while making sure we pay triple the price for gas!

    UNIFORMS

    Dear Vues Master:

    School uniforms are not size inclusive. It is extremely difficult to find plus size uniforms. This is incredibly cruel.

    PB

    Vues Master’s Note: Agreed! This is a travesty!

    HALACHA

    Dear Vues Master:

    In many, if not most yeshiva’s, Halacha is considered a minor Seder. In most elementary schools, the class focuses on Gemara or Chumash and not on Halacha. Many Bachurim these days are clearly lacking in halachic knowledge and it’s a big problem. I believe yeshiva’s should put more focus on Halacha. What does the oilem think?

    RJ

    Vues Master’s Note: I don’t know what halacha says about learning do we need more Halacha or more Gemara?

    FACEBOOK

    Dear Vues Master:

    The new facebook, i mean meta will be part of metaverse which will be a virtual reality world. So if you thought people are living in a virtual world now with all the social media and the like, you havent seen nothing yet. Eventually this thing will catch on just like social media, and Zuckerberg’s video presentation seems and sounds like a salesman in a SCI-FI movie trying to get you into the virtual world. How will this impact humanity and what is the point of this? Also he mentioned how we wont need physical screens or any physical objects, are these times of Moshiach? Sounds like a pretty spiritual life outside of physical world

    Vues Master’s Note: Is he still banning Trump? Is Election fraud still taboo? Is Anti Vaccines still removed then it is six of onne half a dozen of another.