If there is one thing our Torah stresses more than anything else, it is the respect we owe our teachers and parents: "honor your father and mother," "stand up for your elders," "defer to your teachers."
At the same time, the Torah celebrates many heroes who made their mark precisely by challenging and even rebuking their teachers. Young Miriam scolds her father for not having more children, an adolescent Avraham spurns the religion of his parents, and countless rabbis ferociously debate their mentors all over the Mishnah.
My favorite story of conscientious mutiny is a midrash on this week's parsha. The midrash describes the consecration of Shmuel to the Mishkan at Shilo. At some point in the ceremony, the Kohen Gadol, Eli, asks for a deputy kohen to come and shecht a korban. At this point, Shmuel, who is only three years old, overrules Eli on the basis of our parsha, and decrees that even a non-kohen can shecht the korban.
Eli admits that Shmuel is right, but is offended that a mere toddler would dare challenge him, the Kohen Gadol! "You may be right, Shmuel," he grumbles. "But by disrespecting your elders, you have flouted the most serious prohibition in the Torah! Therefore, you will be taken from this place and summarily executed!"
At this point, Shmuel's mother Chanah, who prayed so hard to have this child, intervenes, begging Eli to spare her son. "What's the big deal?" Eli reassures her. "Let me punish this boy, and then I'll pray for you to have another one."
"No!" Chanah asserts. "It is precisely this kind of boy that I prayed for. A talmid chacham who is not afraid to voice his opinion!"
Now, if only Shmuel had gone to Maimo and studied Navi with Rabbi Beker, he definitely would have learned how to voice his objection a little more politely. He might have formed his opinion as a question: "Is it possible that etcetera, etcetera, etcetera?"
Of course we should respect our parents and teachers, but I guarantee nothing brings teachers more joy than being outwitted by their students. As Shlomo Hamelech said, "a wise lad makes his father glad." So keep studying hard, challenge yourself, and make our teachers proud!
