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Minute 965 // Old Stuff

TODAY'S MESSAGE IS DEDICATED
IN MEMORY OF
ABRAHAM BEN ROSA A'H
BY EDDIE AND HELEN SHAMAH AND FAMILY

Those who were young forty or fifty years ago spent their formative years in an era when “old” was a negative word. “Don’t trust anyone over thirty!” was youth’s battle cry. Young was “in.” Middle-aged and even elderly people grew their hair long, wore trendy teen clothing, and spoke in the street vernacular of the young just to fit in with the “in” crowd. Strange but true, this social phenomenon spanned the decade of the sixties.


Traditionally, however, older people have always been accorded respect simply for being older. The Torah Jew was commanded and required to show respect to elders, wise men, and parents. Youngsters were taught to get up and give their seats to the elderly, children competed to serve their parents and grandparents, and even young adults did not speak to an older person unless spoken to first. These manners were widely observed in all cultures.


The question is, why? Just because someone was born first, should that individual receive priority in seating—or in anything else, for that matter? Shouldn’t respect be earned? Doesn’t merit play a role?

Maybe the person who is older does not inherently deserve the respect of one who is younger and perhaps even more accomplished.

However, the Torah bases its laws of kavod—respect—on age because the Torah’s intention and purpose is not merely to confer honor on the recipient, but to allow those who give respect—who honor others—to mature and grow in a positive direction. When individuals control their egos in the presence of their elders, it is spiritually healthy for the ones paying respect.


When you feel that you must give respect to someone you believe may not really deserve it, but you suppress your judgmental evaluation in deference to Hashem’s commandment, you are the one who gains. So when it comes to giving respect, know that you will be the one who eventually gets respected.


 


CONSIDER THIS FOR A MINUTE


Those sent as messengers to perform a mitzvah—one of Hashem’s commandments—will suffer no harm on their journey. (Pesachim 8a)




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