Who enters first?

Hi,

When two people approach a doorway together, does halachah care who enters first?

There are several halachic reasons to have someone else enter a doorway first, including honour of the Torah, honour of kohanim, and chesed for those in need. The following is a partial list of priorities, with the highest priority listed first:

• A person in need of assistance;
• A Torah scholar;
• One who is actively engaged in performing a mitzvah, such as collecting tzedakah for the needy;
• A kohen who is not a Torah scholar;
• One who is holding a Sefer Torah, tefillin, or a text containing Torah.

The Torah scholar, individual involved in a mitzvah and kohen may forgive their honour, requesting that another person proceed first.

(Gittin 59b; Kiddushin 32a, 33a; Maharil Likutim 80; Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 167:14; Taz Yoreh Deah 361:2; R' Akiva Eiger to Yoreh Deah 265:1; Chashukei Chemed to Succah 5b; Teshuvos v'Hanhagos 1:538; Meir Oz 25:2:7)

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Forgiving one's honor

Hi,

We have said that one must rise for the wise and the elderly. However, should they decline the honor, one would only be obligated to perform some minimal action to display respect, and that would suffice.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Choosing between the elderly and the wise

Hi,

When choosing whether to give primary honor to (1) the very elderly and somewhat knowledgeable or (2) the young and extraordinarily learned, we honor the former first in social settings and the latter first in judicial or Torah-study settings.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rising for the pious?

Hi,

There is some debate as to whether we are obligated to rise for the especially pious, if they are not also learned.

Many argue that rising is obligatory for all, even for those who are personally learned; others argue that most people should stand, but learned people are merely permitted to do so.

(Tur and Beit Yosef Yoreh Deah 244; Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:12; Shach Yoreh Deah 244:10; Aruch haShulchan Yoreh Deah 244:14)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Torah Study vs. Honor

Hi,

One who is studying Torah must still rise to show respect, as one interrupts Torah study for other mitzvot.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:11; Aruch haShulchan Yoreh Deah 244:7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Standing for one's student

Hi,

A mentor must show honor to his student when his student passes nearby, if the student is also someone worthy of people's respect for his learning.

(Rama in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rising before your equal

Hi,

Scholars or elders of equal status are not required to rise for each other, but they should do something to demonstrate respect.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The young and wise vs the elderly and unwise

Hi,

One who qualifies as wise, but who is young, is obligated to rise before the elder and unwise, in a manner sufficient to display honor.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Consideration

Hi,

A sage should not travel in an area where this would force others to rise in his honor, if he can avoid it.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:6, 244:16; Taz Yoreh Deah 244:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A conflict in priorities

Hi,

One who is contracted to work at a job for an hourly wage is not permitted to rise from his work before the elderly or the wise, if rising would reduce his effectiveness at his work. Working honestly for one's employer is of higher priority than rising to show respect.

[Note: I believe that this would not apply to a job in which one was contractually permitted to take occasional breaks like this.]

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Standing before a sage or elder who rides past

Hi,

The obligation to rise before the wise or elderly applies where they are riding by, not only where they are on foot.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:2)

Note: I haven't seen the case of a car/bus/train discussed, but the sources do require rising before a wagon. It appears to me that if those who are outside the vehicle cannot tell that a sage inside, the requirement of standing is mitigated; please consult your local rabbinic authority.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

When do we rise?

Hi,

The obligation to rise for the wise or the elderly begins when they enter one's immediate space, within a radius of about 7-8 feet. The idea is that it should be clear that one is rising out of respect for them, rather than for some extraneous reason.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:2; Taz Yoreh Deah 244:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Don't close your eyes

Hi,

One may not close his eyes, or otherwise pretend not to see a wise or elderly person, in order to avoid the obligation to stand.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A blind person rising for an elder or sage

Hi,

A blind person is not required to stand if he becomes aware that he is in the presence of an elderly or learned person, unless it is his personal mentor.

(Pitchei Teshuvah Yoreh Deah 240:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rising for the wife of an elder

Hi,

One must rise before the wife of an elder, even if she is not personally learned.

(She'eilat Yaavetz 2:135)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Rise for the Wise

Hi,

The obligation to rise out of respect for the elderly is extended to rising for one who is wise, even if that person is very young and even if one has never learned Torah from that person, so long as he has enough knowledge and wisdom that he could teach you (or most people, according to some) Torah.

(Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 244:1; Taz Yoreh Deah 244:1; Shach Yoreh Deah 244:1-2; Aruch haShulchan Yoreh Deah 244:4-5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai