Listen "7. Harmonious Authority"
Episode Synopsis
This week we face the question every home is asking: how do we hold yedidut (friendship) and mashma’ut (discipline) together—without losing either? Rav Shlomo Katz and the women of Shirat David learn that Chazal’s path isn’t “buddy” parenting, and it isn’t cold control. It’s a 50/50 coin: authority on one side, friendship on the other—flipped together by love. The Chafetz Chaim’s home modeled chaverut with clear chinuch; the Rambam’s Ve’ahavta l’rei’acha kamocha applies inside our doorway, too—yes, even toward our children.Together we learn:Why “just friendship” isn’t a Jewish home, and “just authority” breaks the funnel (kesher nafshi) that lets Torah and values actually land.How to keep vision and boundaries without the belt, or the burnout.The daily avodah of seeing a neshamah, not a project: curiosity first, guidance second.Yosef’s middah as a parenting model: chesed and gevurah operating simultaneously.A practical liturgy for parents: entering a moment of conflict with “הנני מקבל עלי מצות עשה של ואהבת לרעך כמוך.”Practical takeaways:Two-step before feedback: 1) Reflect what you heard (friend), 2) State the boundary and consequence calmly (parent).Name the coin: Say it out loud—“I love you as my yedid, and I’m setting this boundary as your parent.”One clear house rule: Choose one “non-crossable line” this week; post it, keep it with warmth.Daily 30-second kavanah: Before big talks, whisper the Ve’ahavta line above.Measure the funnel: If your words aren’t landing, build kesher first, teach second.----------For more Shuirim and Music from Rav Shlomo Katz, visit: https://ravshlomokatz.comJoin Rav Shlomo Katz's WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KHKOhhPaeHx5Kb74WL9L9a?mode=ems_copy_t
More episodes of the podcast Know Your Children with Rav Shlomo Katz
10. The Essentiality of Love BEFORE Chinuch
04/01/2026
9. Nourishing our Children’s Soul
28/12/2025
8. Experiencing our Children as Souls
30/11/2025
6. My Child, My Friend, My Child
02/11/2025
5. Do I Want to Know My Child’s World?
26/10/2025
4. Aiming Towards a Kesher Nafshi
19/10/2025
3. Natural vs. Conditional Loving
21/09/2025
2. Can’t Have Holes in the Pipeline
14/09/2025
1. Creating a Funnel
07/09/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.