This article first appeared on genaleph.org As we have already repeatedly demonstrated, the Sugya of Ben Sorer U’Moreh is replete with invaluable Chinuch insights. Let us once again turn to the phrase that we examined in last week’s article: וְאָֽמְר֞וּ אֶל־זִקְנֵ֣י עִיר֗וֹ בְּנֵ֤נוּ זֶה֙ סוֹרֵ֣ר וּמֹרֶ֔ה אֵינֶ֥נּוּ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ בְּקֹלֵ֑נוּ זוֹלֵ֖ל וְסֹבֵֽא And they shall say to the elders of his city, “This son of ours is wayward and rebellious; he does not obey us; [he is] a glutton and a guzzler.” In last week’s article we explained the words, בְּנֵ֤נוּ זֶה֙, this son of ours, to mean that parents must be able to identify their son. To be considered a Ben Sorer U’Moreh they must give him a Chinuch that is appropriate for him and cannot blind themselves to this child’s specific needs. In this article we will explore the words בְּנֵ֤נוּ זֶה֙ not from the perspective of the parents but from the perspective of the son. One of the most moving and compelling articles I have ever read is entitled, “Yishmael The Righteous” by Rav Yochanon Zweig shlit”a. Rav Zweig is world renowned for his brilliant insight but in my humble opinion this article stands head and shoulders above the rest (and I can assure you dear reader that “the rest” is brilliant in its own right). It is at once intellectually stimulating and emotionally soul stirring. Every year I return to this idea on Parshas Chayei Sarah, and I feel privileged to share it with you. At the end of Parshas Chayei Sarah the Torah tells
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