In my capacity as the Jewish chaplain for the Teaneck Fire Department and, therefore, as one who was among the many support services called to the scene of the tragic explosion and fire that took the life of Richard Hass, I want to commend the Teaneck Fire and Police departments, my fellow chaplains, our own Teaneck Township Municipal Administration and its related public service and Works Departments, along with the many other Bergen County agencies who worked so well together, in a very responsive and responsible manner, under what were the most difficult of conditions. Everyone involved, which also included the Misaskim Disaster and Accident Recovery teams that came from Rockland County and Brooklyn, along with the Medical Examiner’s office, comported themselves with the utmost respect for the victim and the related religious and public considerations that had to be addressed under these circumstances.

Moreover, I wish to thank Eden Memorial Chapels, and in particular Frank Patti and Barry Wien, along with the administration of Cedar Park Memorial Park, for coordinating and assisting with the necessary funeral arrangements in a timely manner, so that Mr. Hass was laid to rest with every due honor of our faith. The neighbors, friends, and family who were present for the graveside service on Monday morning also bore testament to Mr. Hass’ life of much kindness and decency.

It is sad when it is tragedy that comes to best illustrate our abilities and potential as a caring community, but such expansiveness of heart and generosity of spirit coming together from so many places, in the midst of confusion and disarray, leaves us with great hope for what we can and will accomplish in the future for the common weal.

Having so closely witnessed this outpouring of caring and the great degree of professionalism of so many of our public servants, I would be most remiss were I not to acknowledge their steadfast service to our Teaneck township. May we be blessed with happier moments and better occasions in the days ahead through which to celebrate and enjoy the beauty and benefits of living in this unique community.

In the July 18 D’var Torah, Pinchas — a great hero of the Jewish people — was criticized as an overzealous vigilante. Pinchas slew an Israelite prince and the woman who seduced him and ended a plague caused by such behavior that had killed thousands. Vigilantism? Hardly. Despite the criticism of some of the people at the time, none other than HaShem approved his actions and granted him and his descendants the priesthood. One would think the divine award would have ended the discussion, but it is always easy to criticize.

Other figures in the Torah have engaged in necessary acts that others criticize as "vigilantism" include Levi and Simeon, who obliterated Shechem after that city’s ruler kidnapped and raped their sister. Even their own father criticized them, but there was no answer recorded or needed to their question "should our sister be treated as a harlot?" Vigilantism? Hardly. They went on to found whole tribes, and Levi’s descendents were honored with Temple service.

Moses, the greatest of all prophets, killed an Egyptian overseer who was beating a Hebrew and was forced to flee Egypt. Despite criticism over this act, Moses’ interactions with HaShem were obvious reward enough. Vigilantism? Hardly.

Perhaps the last 2,000 years of exile makes us uncomfortable when we read of Jews taking direct or even extreme action when needed. Perhaps our relatively comfortable and safe life in America makes us squirm to learn about Jews who did not depend on others for protection.

The most important message to us today about Pinchas is that he was willing to risk his status and life to act for the greater good. How many of us are willing to give of our time and resources to act on behalf of the Jewish people? Do we volunteer our time for Jewish causes? Do we attend rallies on behalf of Jewish interests? Do we contact our elected representatives over matters of Jewish importance? Do we engage in outreach? Do we visit Israel to support our brothers and sisters there?

Despite criticism, there is nothing wrong with zealousness if the cause is right. The cause of the Jewish people is not only right but timeless and enduring.

I usually read Rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s column and while I mostly disagree with him, I consider him a gifted writer and speaker. His July 4 column, "Disappearing babies," requires a response.

I agree that an "average"-sized family, with two or three children, is a good thing. But having nine or more children is a disservice to the community and strains the existing community’s services and infrastructure. Unless the family is very well off, as I hope is the case with the good rabbi, it equally strains the family.

Who does all the cleaning, cooking, chauffeuring and helping with homework of nine or more children, and how much individual loving attention can be given to so many children? Is the mother’s health and well-being never in question? And does she require the help of an obstetrician especially trained in multiple pregnancies because her reproductive organs have worn out?

I am glad that the rabbi is concerned about the depopulation in certain countries, but having a lot of children in New Jersey does not solve the problem in Bulgaria, or anywhere else. Historically, countries where citizens have a lot of children suffer from extreme poverty. The prohibition by the Catholic Church of birth control has impoverished whole countries and regions.

Of course, the good rabbi knows all of this. It is therefore my firm conviction that he follows what was written in an ancient Scripture, namely that the Hebrew people should multiply like the sands at the sea. I am equally convinced that if the Scriptures had said that the Hebrews should at most have three children, Rabbi Boteach and his fellow believers would have no more than three children. And we would all be better off.

I thought the July 11 chess cover story was outstanding and shows lots of foresight. It was brilliantly written. My compliments to your paper’s forward thinking in not only doing the article, but in having it on the front page. I will share it with all the Jewish educators I know.

Indeed, research is so overwhelming in proving that chess, as an exercise for the brain, makes kids smarter, that I started a chess charity in South Africa, my home country, and in the Caribbean. Our kids go to Ramaz in New York City, so I also started chess in kindergarten there too, the ideal age to begin teaching chess. SAR and Heschel in New York also recently embraced chess and Solomon Schechter in Westchester has a huge program, recently expanded because of the positive effects they are seeing.

Every Jewish school should have chess as part of the curriculum for kindergarten through grade 12, just as it is in top secular private schools in New York City like Dalton and Horace Mann. The state of Idaho just this year even incorporated chess into the curriculum for public schools, such is the overwhelming evidence of its benefits.

I am considering expanding my "Chess for Change" charity to Jewish schools in the United States, and wonder if there’s the interest, or if it’s already incorporated. But again, thank you for an outstanding article and through this, you are doing good work in enhancing the beauty of chess for our people. Kol hakavod.

Please inform your columnist Nate Bloom that it is incorrect to use the phrase "spitting image" to denote the close resemblance between mother and daughter. As William Safire pointed out in his "On Language" column in the Sunday magazine section of The New York Times several decades ago, the proper term is "spit and image"; children who are spitting images are born to expectorant parents.