Daily Mitzvah (Rambam)

The 318th prohibition is that all people are forbidden from cursing their father or mother. The punishment for this transgression is stated explicitly in the Torah, in G‑d's statement,1 "Whoever curses his father or mother shall be put to death." The transgressor is executed by stoning.2 One who intentionally curses a parent using G‑d's Name is punished by stoning, even if the parent was already dead.

The source of the actual prohibition itself, however, is not written explicitly in the Torah.3 It does not say, "Do not curse your father," for example. But there is already a general prohibition against cursing any Jew,4 and it includes cursing both one's father and everyone else.

The Mechilta5 says, "The verse, 'Whoever curses his father or mother shall be put to death,' tells us the punishment. What is the source of the actual prohibition? The verse, 'Do not curse the judges.' If your father is a judge, he is included in [the prohibition of cursing] judges. If he is a Nasi, he is included in [the prohibition of cursing] the Nasi. If he is a regular Jew, [he is included in the prohibition of cursing a regular Jew,] as it is written, 'Do not curse the deaf.' From all three verses you can derive a general principle: just as these verses come to prohibit cursing any Jew, they also come to prohibit cursing your father."

The Sifra6 says the same as the Mechilta: "The verse,7 'Whoever curses his father or mother [shall be put to death]' tells us the punishment but not the actual prohibition. It is derived from the verse, 'Do not curse the judges.' "

The details of this mitzvah are explained in the seventh chapter of tractate Sanhedrin.8

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

Ex. 21:17.

2.

See P229.

3.

Each prohibition in the Torah normally needs two verses: one to actually state the prohibition, and another to state the punishment. In this mitzvah, we have only one verse, which has the second element, the punishment.

4.

N317.

5.

Parshas Mishpatim.

6.

Parshas Kedoshim, 9:7.

7.

Lev. 20:9.

8.

53a.

The 319th prohibition is that we are forbidden from striking [either of] our parents.

For this prohibition, too, there is no specific verse written in the Torah. Only the punishment is written,1 "Whoever strikes one's father or mother shall be put to death." The derivation of the actual prohibition against striking his father is similar to that of cursing one's father, as we explained.2 In this case, prohibition 300, which forbids striking any Jew, includes [the prohibi­tion of striking] one's father.

The Mechilta3 says, "The verse, 'Whoever strikes his father or mother,' tells us the punishment. What is the source of the actual prohibition? That comes from the verse4 [which speaks of lashing a transgressor], 'Do not go beyond the limit and give him forty lashes.' This verse teaches us a kal v'chomer:5 If even one who it is a mitzvah to strike, it is prohibited to strike him [beyond the limit], one who it is a mitzvah not to strike, certainly it is prohibited to strike."

One who transgresses this prohibition by intentionally striking his father or mother and causes bleeding, is punished by chenek [strangulation].

The details of this mitzvah are explained in the end of tractate Sanhedrin.6

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

Ex. 21:15.

2.

See N318 above.

3.

Parshas Mishpatim, ibid.

4.

Deut. 25:3.

5.

Literally, "from the light to the heavy." This principle allows one to generalize from a law stated explicitly in the Torah to a more obvious or more severe ("heavier") case which is not explicitly stated.

6.

85b.

The 210th mitzvah is that we are commanded to honor our parents.

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement1 (exalted be He), "Honor your father and your mother."

The details of this mitzvah are explained in many Talmudic passages, mostly and primarily in tractate Kiddushin.2

The Sifra3 says, "What constitutes 'honor'? To give them food and drink, to clothe and cover them, to bring them inside and take them outside."

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

Ex. 20:12; Deut. 4:16.

2.

30b ff.

3.

Beginning of Parshas Kedoshim.

The 211th mitzvah is that we are commanded to fear our parents. We should think of them as we do of someone whom people fear, and who is able to administer punishment,1 such as a king; and act towards them as we do with someone we fear can do us harm.

The source of this commandment is G‑d's statement2 (exalted be He), "A person shall fear his mother and his father."

The Sifra3 says, "What constitutes 'fear'? Not to sit in their seat, not to speak instead of them, and not to contradict them."

The details of this mitzvah are also explained in tractate Kiddushin.4

Rabbi Berel Bell is a well-known educator, author and lecturer. He and his family reside in Montreal, Canada.

From "Sefer Hamitzvot in English," published by Sichos in English.

Footnotes

1.

See Kapach, 5731, footnote 3, that the Rambam describes two categories of fear: one, due to honor, such as that of a king, due to his power and importance ("who is able to administer punishment"), and secondly, the actual fear of being punished. The Rav Kook edition, followed by Chavel, combine them into one category.

2.

Lev. 19:3.

3.

Beginning of Parshas Kedoshim.

4.

30b ff.