DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 4.33 MB)
Respecting One’s Stepparents; Respecting Siblings

Just as the Torah requires respecting one’s parents, so must one show respect to his parent’s spouse, even if the spouse is not his biological parent, as long as the parent is alive. The Gemara in Masechet Ketubot (103) infers this Halacha from the verse, "Kabed Et Abicha Ve’et Imecha" ("Respect your father and your mother"), as the word "Et" in the phrase "Et Abicha" alludes to one’s father’s spouse, and the word "Et" in the phrase "Et Imecha" alludes to one’s mother’s spouse.

After the parent passes on, one is not strictly required to continue respecting the parent’s spouse, but it is certainly proper to do so.

Furthermore, one is obligated to show respect to all his older siblings – both brothers and sisters. This applies even to older siblings with whom one shares only the same father or only the same mother. Even if a younger brother is a Torah scholar, he must show respect to his older siblings. According to some opinions, this obligation continues even after the parents are deceased.

Of course, the respect that is required for one’s older siblings is less than the respect that is required for one’s parent. Thus, for example, Hacham Ovadia Yosef writes in Halichot Olam (p. 163; listen to audio recording for precise citation) that one may call his older siblings by their first name, as opposed to parents, whom one may not call by their name. If an older brother is a Rabbi, the younger siblings should call him "Rabbi," but may use his first name. An example of the type of respect required for an older brother is standing when an older brother is called for an Aliya to the Torah in the synagogue.

The Kessef Mishneh (commentary to the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah by Maran Rav Yosef Karo, author of the Shulhan Aruch), commenting to the Rambam’s discussion in Hilchot Mamrim (end of chapter 6), writes that the requirement to respect older siblings was enacted by the Sages, and does not constitute a Torah obligation. This is as opposed to the requirement to respect stepparents, which is included in the Torah obligation of respecting parents. On this basis, Hacham Ovadia Yosef writes that if a conflict arises between these obligations, the respect owed to a stepparent supersedes the respect owed to an older sibling, as Torah obligations override those enacted by Hazal. And thus if one must choose between respecting one’s stepparent and respecting an older sibling – such if they have conflicting wishes, and one must choose one over the other – he should respect the stepparent.

Summary: The Torah obligation of respecting parents includes respecting a stepparent – one’s parent’s spouse who is not one’s biological parent. There is also a requirement enacted by the Sages to respect one’s older siblings, including both brothers and sisters, and including half-brothers and half-sisters. Nevertheless, one may call an older sibling by their name. Even a younger brother who is a Torah scholar must show respect to his older siblings.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Is It Permissible To Ask A Goy To Perform A Task During Twilight On Friday Night and Saturday Night
Covering The Bread During Kiddush
Is A Button That falls Off A Shirt On Shabbat Considered Muktze
What Is The Proper Time For Ladies To Dip In The Mikveh On A Friday Night or Yom Tov Night
Spraying Insect Repellent on Shabbat
Asking a Non-Jew to Turn on One's Oven on Shabbat
Placing Roses in a Vase on Shabbat
Nursing or Expressing Breast Milk on Shabbat
Eating or Cutting Food With Lettering on Shabbat
Adding Personal Requests to One's Prayers on Shabbat
Laws of Sovea -Is It Permissible To Use A Napkin To Wipe Strawberries or A Similar Coloring Item From Your Face on Shabbat
The Laws of Tzoveia- Is It Permissible for Ladies To Wear Make-Up On Shabbat
Is It Permissible For A Chazan To Use A Tuning Fork On Shabbat
May A Person Make Netilat Yadayim On Shabbat if There Is Written Ink On His Hands That May Become Erased
The Various Stages of Accepting the "Neshama Yeteira" ("Additional Soul") During the Friday Night Prayer Service
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found