[Avodah] "Sometimes Chutzpah is Praiseworthy"

[Richard Wolberg]

Toby Katz wrote:
"When a child says something bold and brassy but the father loves what  
the
child said and thinks it's bright and delightful, the father is not  
upset with
his daughter -- he is pleased and delighted with her wit and chachma!"

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.
Miriam was not portrayed in the Torah as an angel. She was even  
stricken with
tzaraas because of LH. On the other hand, there might have been a  
valid explanation
if she was brazen, had it been seen in context. The other possibility  
is that she did not
speak brazenly at all to her father.

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.

KT/BR
ri