Dad's Chair

Torah Reading: Balak

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Published: June 16, 2007

Visitor Comments: 9

(9) sarah, June 20, 2007 4:55 PM

I always enjoy your videos as you speak of different aspect of life we sometimes take for granted and shouldn't.
This video in particular is inspiring, since I grew up in a house where our father's chair was "untouchable", we wouldn't even let guests sit in it!
Today, my children guard their father's chair with the same respect.
I just wanted to make one observation on a comment you made. "Our parents gave us life", you say etc. In truth, in the words of an old, wise chossid: "Hashem is the one that gives us life. Our parents deserve our honor and respect because they didn't choose to deny us life."

(8) Gavin, June 20, 2007 7:07 AM

AWESOME VIDEO , TOTALLY TRUE

Love it, thanks
Much needed in todays Ungodly society

(7) Dorit Ernst, June 19, 2007 4:55 AM

Many thanks!

Dear Mrs. Palatnik,

I am very thankful for your displayed attitudes - they make me think over my behaviour and I know that this is what GOD really wants me to do.

Shalom.

(6) Me :), June 18, 2007 7:50 PM

Thank You

Mrs. Palatnik - I very often watch your videos (sometimes with my mother - thanks for the quality time. :), and I enjoy them very much. I just had to come back to write this (keep reading ;), because I never conciously realized this before - my father has two "chairs" in the house. I'm (always) careful about the rocking chair in the dining room. But the one in the studio at his desk, I never really thought so much about - of course I'd give him his seat if he wanted it, but I never really got up when he entered the room, etc... Even though I have his permission to sit and work there, this video woke me up to the fact that, no matter if he lets or not, it's still his studio, still his chair, and I still have to give kavod (honor). Tonight, when he walked in, I stood up before asking if he wanted his desk (which he didn't, but... :). Thank you for bringing my attention to this, so that I can better keep the mitzvos (commandments) of HaKadosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, blessed be He). Have a wonderful day!

(5) ralph, June 18, 2007 8:05 AM

fabulous

Mam;
I loved your treatise on father's day, it made me cry and I am 68. God bless...

(4) Me :), June 17, 2007 10:23 PM

To R. Eastman

Mrs. Palatnik has a video on kids (not) calling adults by their first names. Go to: aish.com, type in "Lori Palatnik" in the search box, and go to "Where's the Respect?" (15 down, I think.) (Sorry - it won't let me put a web link in the comments)

Hope you have a great day!

(3) Rosen, June 17, 2007 6:47 AM

Good point on patriarchal ownership

That's an important rule-of-thumb to remember. It's like with the leather couch we have in our family room, my dad has his spot where he chooses to watch TV and eat after paying for both the HDTV and leather couch. Sometimes, I admit getting the additude like Rosa Parks refusing to give up my seat, but perhaps in the case of the father's chair, that is irrelevent...As for who we honor nowadays, it seems like these celebrities have the same fallacies as anyone else, even though they happen to have more luxurious things than most do, which may often lead to envy...All in all, it is best to honor thy mother and father, as opposed to idolizing celebrities.

(2) Ruth Eastman, June 15, 2007 7:13 AM

First Name Basis

You are so right! My mama, a"h, taught me to call adults by a title, and not by their first names. Today, I find even adults undermining my attempt to teach my children this simple "fence" around respect. Because of our youth-oriented society, many people say that "calling me Mrs. Ploni makes me feel old." Or "That's my mother-in-law you're talking about. I'm Sara." Yet our Chazal teach us that children should not call adults by their first names. What sounds cute out of the mouth of a four-year-old sounds decidedly different out of a fourteen-year-old. And it signals an equal status that the young person should not be deluded into thinking he has.

(1) John Zomer, June 14, 2007 7:32 PM

Keep on saying it..

I like Mrs. Palatniks video's!!

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About the Author

Mrs. Lori Palatnik

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Lori Palatnik is a writer and Jewish educator who has appeared on television and radio, and is the author of "Friday Night and Beyond: The Shabbat Experience Step-By-Step," "Remember My Soul - What to do in Memory of a Loved One," and co-author of "Gossip: 10 Pathways to Eliminate It From Your Life and Transform Your Soul." She is a much sought-after international speaker, having lectured in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Central America, South America, South Africa and Israel, including featured talks at Yale, Brown and Penn. She lives in the Washington D.C. area, with her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik. Lori is the Founder of The Jewish Women's Renaissance Project, an international initiative that brings over 1,000 women to Israel each year from ten different countries on highly subsidized programs to inspire them with the beauty and wisdom of their heritage. She is the busy mother of five children, ages 24 to 14; and her son, Zev, just finished serving as a sharpshooter in the IDF. Her weekly video blog, "Lori Almost Live" is a popular feature on aish.com, viewed by over 50,000 people each month.

Follow Lori on Twitter, @LoriAlmostLive

June 20, 2013 / 12 Tammuz 5773

Dad's Chair

Have we forgotten what it means to give honor?

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