Diversity and Inclusion and Getting Assaulted in Target: Has the Pendulum Swung Too Far the Other Way? I was shopping with my wife at a Target store in Brooklyn, NY yesterday on Flatbush Ave. As we were headed out, my wife went to the checkout line to pay and I headed to the restroom. We were perhaps 25 feet from security at the front of the store. A women with a shopping cart at an angle going the “wrong way” blocked my natural path so I went in the opposite lane of shopper traffic. I attempted to pass two African American men in the other “lane” by going all the way to the outside.

(By: B.A. Mentch) Four years ago, in early November 2016, I wrote a scathing article about President Trump titled: The “A to Z Bumps. Why I – an Ohio Republican Frum Jew – Will Never Vote For Trump!”. Although I feel that nearly all of what I previously wrote stands true, I have now decided the time has come for me to support the reelection of President Trump. Looking ahead, I believe he deserves another term. Consider the following; Leader: He has proven over the last 4 years that, even with all his deficiencies and shortcomings, he is still able to effectively run our country. Incumbent: While to elect a president whose moral faults may be incorrect, an incumbent who has proven their competency should be considered for reelection, despite their shortcomings.

I once criticized a Jewish friend of mine for verbally attacking other Jews with the offhand comment that he was an anti-Semite. “If so, I come by it honestly,” replied this educated, observant man. And his reply gave me pause—a pause I’ve returned to again and again. Honest anti-Semitism—what does that mean? After saying modeh, I skim the headlines. Especially during the pandemic, there’s an aspect of doom-scrolling, but the changing nature of COVID makes being informed a component of remaining safe. I check to see what’s occurring with my brethren around the globe. Lockdowns and restrictions in various Jewish communities concern most of us and we also seek to see how our leaders are responding.

I’m a simple person. I ain’t no doctor. I ain’t no Rov. I can’t tell you if masks will stop/slow the virus or if masks are killing more people than Aunt ‘Rona. (It is a bug, no? I ain’t no immunologist either.) But, I’ve been wearing a mask. Why? Well, because as a simple person, I see things simply: The community doctor asked us to wear a mask – so I wear a mask. The community Rov asked us to wear a mask – so I wear a mask. Are they in on some conspiracy? Are they compelled by government pressure? Maybe, maybe not. But, they asked – so I listen. Simple, no? Do I get confounded, tzumished, and tzutumuled by conducting my own ‘independent’ research (-with Google, everyone is now a certified “researcher”!) to see what other white coats claim?

Dear YWN, I wanted to let your readers know of the following disturbing incident. I was shopping in Dollar Tree located at 67 St Georges Ave, Roselle, NJ Oct. 7. While on the line to pay, there were 2 adult customers before me on line that weren’t wearing any masks at all. The Cashier, “Joan” totally ignored the fact that they weren’t wearing a mask. At the same time, a Jewish family was checking out at a nearby register and the entire family aside for their 3-year-old child were wearing masks. My cashier “Joan” immediately ran over to the other register (while keeping me waiting) and told the other cashier to make sure that the 3-Year-old child puts on a mask.

For months, protestors were in the streets in NYC, rioters destroyed countless stores and caused millions of dollars in damages while the government largely watched and allowed dismay in the city. COVID is a worldwide pandemic which must be taken seriously by all communities – yet the Jewish community is the only one which has repeatedly been threatened and criticized by Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio – a blatant double standard.

As the father of Jacob Kornbluh, I wish to express my horror and disgust at the trolls and vile comments and curses directed towards Jacob. Some comments even incite others to murder him for being a Moiser. All you need is one crazed person to take that “Mitzva” on board Chas V’esholom. Has anyone verified the definition of what Mesira is? Suppose a Jew climbs into an apartment building in the dead of the night with an intent to steal and possible injure you or your family in the process, would you consider it Mesira to call Police?

“Brooklyn’s Orthodox Jews burn masks in violent protests.” So ran a recent Washington Post headline. This stands in stark contrast to the great lengths the media went to cast Black Lives Matter protests as “mostly peaceful ” despite it resulting in more than a billion dollars in damages, making it the costliest riots in history. While only a handful out of the several hundred protesters got physical in the altercations over the past few nights, it is nevertheless cast as the defining part of the event by malicious media and politicians. When asked during a press conference why no arrests had been made, de Blasio said, “There is something here that needs to be fixed right away.

Mr. Tischler is a rabble rouser of the worst type, calling government officials who generally respect, and assist, the Jews of NY, horrific names is crass, and is the WORST type of chilul Hashem. This is NOT what Hashem expects of us in galus; he is appealing to the lowest element, trying to garner votes, but is ultimately making things worse for those who earnestly, and correctly, understand that large capacity shuls can safely host more than 10 men inside. Let Agudah, with saner minds and avoiding use of bad language, try handle this problem. But, where are the various Rebbes? They need to speak out against their followers who are not using their seichel (those who have some) when demonstrating incorrectly.

Dear YWN, I am very disturbed by what happened last night in Boro park. As much as Cuomo is discriminating against the Jewish community, why are we stooping to the levels of BLM to disrupt traffic and make fires in the middle of the road. Here are a couple of reasons why this behavior is counter-productive to what we need to achieve: 1. With all the crowding and non mask wearing, the virus can spread quickly through our community and harm those elderly and immuno-compromised Rachmana L’itzlan. 2. When the governor sees that no one is complying with basic rules such as wearing masks, why does that make him more comfortable lifting the restrictions?