Q&A: Respect for Older People
Respect for Older People
Question
Hello Rabbi,
What is the reasoning behind respecting older people? Suppose it’s an ignorant old man.
Thanks,
Answer
Good question. Maybe it is to respect their life experience, so that we get used to learning from them. But there is no reason to honor a person just because he is older. That seems obvious to me. It depends on his character. And as the Sages said, “a young person who is wise” is also considered an elder in this respect, and “an elder is none other than one who has acquired wisdom.”
Discussion on Answer
As I said, it seems reasonable to me that this obligation of respect is not because he inherently deserves honor, but in order to train me to give respect to knowledge.
Something like showing gratitude even to inanimate objects (Moses striking the Nile, and the like).
Thanks.
I’ll add Sefer HaChinukh’s reasoning to the answer:
Sefer HaChinukh, Kedoshim section, commandment 257
Among the roots of the commandment is that the main reason a person was created in the world is for wisdom, so that he may recognize his Creator. Therefore it is fitting for people to honor one who has attained it, and through this others will be inspired toward it. And from this root, Isi ben Yehuda explained in the Talmud in Kiddushin [ibid.] that even an ignorant old man—that is, one who is not wise—is included in the commandment, because he is worthy of honor since over his many years he has seen and recognized something of God’s deeds and wonders, and for that reason deserves respect. And this is what Rabbi Yohanan said there in Kiddushin: the Jewish law follows Isi ben Yehuda. And this is what they said: on condition that he not be a habitual sinner, for if so, he has withheld honor from himself.