The Mitzvah of Honoring Your Father and Mother

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Dedicated in loving memory of Rabbi Lipa Schapiro, of blessed memory.

By Yehuda Leib Schapiro

Rabbi Leib Schapiro, a noted Talmudic scholar, is the dean of the Yeshiva Gedola Rabbinical College of Greater Miami, the rabbi of Congregation Beis Menachem, and a community leader in Miami Beach, Florida.

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June 28, 2010

Special cases

What is the expectation for adult children who have been severely abused by their parents with whom contact is emotionally, mentally and physically unsafe?

If this adult child was "spiritually adopted" (but not actually legally adopted) into a family who loved and cared for him/her and raised him/her in the ways of G-d, can honoring these parents be a fulfillment of the mitzvah? Can it be transferred in this way?

Tiferet

June 22, 2008

Re: mamzerim

A mamzer is still considered a son in all matters. If the parent has done teshuva, or if the act of adultery was done without knowledge that this was a sin, then the child has all the obligations of honor and respect of his parents. If the parent did not do teshuva, then there is a debate among the rishonim whether the child is obligated to honor the parent or not.

For a full discussion of the topic, see Encyclopedia Talmudit, volume 26, the bottom of column 408 and the bottom of column 410 and on.

Tzvi Freeman

June 19, 2008

mamzerim

Very good talk, but whatabout mamzerim? Should they be m'kavod their parents even though it was completely illicit? Surely they used their free will incorrectly to choose to bring kids into the world?

Anonymous