[Avodah] "Sometimes Chutzpah is Praiseworthy"

[T613K at aol.com]

From: Richard Wolberg cantorwolberg at cox.net>
>, the father is not  upset with
his daughter -- he is pleased  and delighted with her wit and chachma!"<[--TK]

>>Sorry, but  that doesn't cut it! A parent child relationship should be  
one of  respect and to allow a child that type of behavior is a poor parental 
  
example. That's the same "cute" mentality of allowing a child to call  the  
parent by the first name which is against halacha.

I think  the p'shat that says she acted brazenly toward her father is  
no  different from the fact that the Torah portrays everyone as they are and  
with  
all their foibles....

....Perhaps chutzpah may be  praiseworthy in certain select, limited  
situations, but disrespect of  parents is hardly praiseworthy even if meant 
in jest. Maaris ayin   
overrules chutzpah.<<

>>>>
It is completely impossible to put Miriam's behavior in the same category  as 
calling parents by their first names.  Nor is Amram's acceding to her  
superior wisdom/nevuah in this case -- and re-marrying Yocheved -- remotely  similar 
to the case of an indulgent father who gives in to his kids' whining and  
spoils them with toys and presents.  If she was called Puah because of her  
"brazenness" it is in no way meant to say that Puah is a "bad" name meant to  
denigrate her.  The flow of the pesukim and of the meforshim is  unmistakable -- 
that what she did was praiseworthy in this  case.

 


One thinks of the medrash about Hashem Himself laughing and saying  
"Nitzchuni banai" about -- I don't remember what.  But He wasn't angry when  His 
children "bested" Him in an argument, He was pleased.  There is  unacceptable and 
acceptable chutzpa.  You really do have to look at the  whole picture.




--Toby  Katz
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