Just Say No

Overheard today:

A mother says to her little boy, about 4 years old, "Your behavior was unacceptable ... right?"

Sigh.

It's like the parent who says, "Come inside for supper, okay?"

You want the child's approval? agreement?

Then I came across this, by Rabbi Avrohom Birnbaum:

"It happened in a seforim store.  A prominent cheder menahel was browsing the aisles when a young man timidly approached.

"Rabbi K," he ventured.  "Would it be possible to ask you a question.

"Certainly," Rabbi K replied.
   

“My five-year-old son over there wants me to buy him a pair of those fake tefillin,” said the man. “I am not sure if having ‘play tefillin’ sends a good chinuch message. Somehow, I feel that to a child, tefillin should be a hallowed mitzvah that he will merit to fulfill when he becomes bar mitzvah and not used as a toy.”

 

Rabbi K. thought about it and agreed with the father.

 

“Okay. Thanks so much!” the father said, promptly returning to his son.

 

A few minutes later, Rabbi K. again heard someone behind him.

 

“Rabbi K., can I ask you another question?”

 

It was the same father.

 

“Sure,” Rabbi K. answered.

 

“My son really wants the tefillin. What should I tell him?” asked the father.

 

Rabbi K., looking directly at the father, said, “Tell him, ‘No.’”

 

The father looked at Rabbi K. startled. Then, as if a light bulb had gone off in his head, he responded, “Ohhh.” And he walked away."