Comments on: Minnesota Mamaleh: On Chutzpah

By: matt gordon

matt gordon — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:06:57 +0000

your kids are precious. it is my hope for your family that as their personalities develop that they remind you and your husband that there is a little kid with chutzpah inside of you both.

By: Galit

Galit — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:58:00 +0000

hi tzipporah! thanks for the note! bless your little one for only showing “hints” so far. you’re doing something right, for sure, mama!

By: Tzipporah

Tzipporah — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:38:04 +0000

Oof. Yeah, I remember that Israeli attitude. Takes a while for an American to tell the difference between chutzpah and rudeness.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen hints of this already in my 3-year-old. I’ll have to bookmark this post for future reference.

By: Galit

Galit — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:02:02 +0000

hi shira, thanks for the note! being israeli-ish in israel is one thing. being israeli-ish in the states is another altogether! and incidentally, from experience it doesn’t take all that long to get into the chutzpah spirit in israel; it’s a matter of fitting in, etc. it’s figuring out what to do with all that spirit once you’re chutz la’aretz that’s the trick! great to hear from you.

By: Shira

Shira — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:07:01 +0000

I agree with you about chutzpah being a life skill. I think I’ve developed my own form of it, after almost twenty years here in Israel. However, it will never be as natural or forceful as that of the natives.

The line between chutzpah and rudeness is a thin one to tread. You seem to be doing a great job with your kids, having them analyze their words and their facial expressions. I’m in awe.
I admit it – when my kids are out of line, I just yell. Maybe I’m more Israeli than I thought.