See Kitzur SA 143:10 quoting SA YD 240:11
Translation - Hyman Goldin
«When a Child sees his father transgress a Divine Law, he must not say to him: "You have violated a command of the Torah"»
Comment - such direct confrontation is deemed disrespectful and humiliating!
«But he should rather put it in the form of Question: "Father is it not written in the Torah thus and thus?"
Comment:
Thus we see that Talmudic Judaism views rhetorical questions as a respectful and desirable alternative to direct confrontation!
«As though asking for information and NOT admonishing him; so that the father may correct himself without being put to shame»
Comment:
AGAIN
We see that Talmudic Judaism views rhetorical questions as respectful
and an indirect way to remind someone of something they may indeed already know
This is NOT a power play nor a ploy. It is Talmudic parlance for offering deference
However, SOME Assimilated and Americanized Jews have lost their way and think rhetorical questions are somehow intrinsically mean or devious!
Aderabbah!
Have we lost our way?
Aren't rhetorical questions THE halachically mandated format for respectfully reminding people of what they might know and should know?
How can it be otherwise?
Prooftexts
1 Avraham "corrects" Hashem - Haf tispeh?
..
Hashofet call ho'oretz lo yaaseh mishpat?
[Vareira 18:23-25]
Is this NOT a rhetorical question?
Does anyone construe Avraham as acting with Hutzpah here C"V?
Aderabbah. When addressing a superior, Torah and Hazal mandate rhetorical questions - whodathunk otherwise?
2. And how about Moshe Rabbeinu in Ki Tissa after the sin 32:11,12
Two "Lamah's" in a row
Are these not rhetorical in nature?
Shalom
RRW
1 comment:
Don't you agree that some rhetorical questions are taken as offensive, while others are taken as inoffensive?
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