B"H
Thursday, Iyar 4, 5779 / May 9, 2019 (19th day of the Omer)
In the beginning of Parshat Kedoshim, which is read this Shabbat in the Diaspora, we find, among many other mitzvot, the special mitzvah of fearing parents. In the Ten Commandments the Torah commands us to honorparents, but in this Parsha we are commanded to fearparents.
In this Parsha the Torah says, “Every person should fear his mother and his father, and My Shabbat you shall observe.”
The Fifth Commandment of the Ten Commandments is: “Honor your father and your mother, that your days will be long upon the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you.”
Q.Why, in the Ten Commandments, when speaking of honor, the Torah mentions father first, yet, in this Parsha, when speaking about fearing parents, the Torah mentions mother first?
A. The sages explain: A father is usually more strict with a child, while the mother is more gentle. As a result, a child would naturally fear the father more than the mother. On the other hand, one will honor and respect their mother more, as a result of her being more gentle, caring and not as strict.
The Torah wants to imply that a child should have equal feelings of respect, fear and honor to both parents.
This is why in the case of honor, which is by nature one feels more to their mother, the Torah says honor your father and mother, mentioning father first. But when speaking of fearingparents, which one has naturally more for the father, the Torah equalizesit by mentioning mother first.
In other words, the Torah wants to impress upon us that fearing and honoring parents must be the same to each of them.
Q. What is the concept of fearingparents? Why would one “fear” them?
A. “Fear” here is a feeling of reverence, which results in the practice of great respect for them. According to Halacha (Torah law) honoringparents means to act for them; to provide them with their needs such as food and clothing. Also, to help them when they need to go somewhere, etc.
Fearingparents means to refrain from doing something which shows lack of respect. One may not sit in a parent’s designated seat and place; one must let the parent speak first and one may not contradict a parent. In a case where one has to contradict a parent, they must do it in a most respectful way.
Today Israel celebrates Yom Ha’atzmaut – Israel’s Independence Day. May the reward of, “That your days will be long upon the land which the L-rd your G-d gives you,” be fulffiled to it’s fullest. May G-d shield, protect and bless our Holy Land with the blessing of peace and prosperity. Amen.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL & WONDERFUL DAY