Hello. We continue our study of Chapter 4 of "Brit Shalom."
We have arrived, through discussions on cursing, to discussions on respect. The respect for God is also reflected in the respect we owe to our parents, but also to elders and sages.
An elderly person deserves respect simply because of the many years they have lived in this world and the experience they have gained. Additionally, there are people who, although younger and possibly even younger than us, we respect due to the wisdom they represent, as wisdom is a gift from God to humanity.
Let us read here in section 11: "The Torah commands us to show respect to an elderly person." In several places in the Torah, particularly in the Book of Leviticus, "and you shall honor the face of the elderly" — we must honor the elderly. Similarly, we must show respect to the sages of Israel and the sages of the nations of the world. In other words, respect is due not only to elderly people or sages from Israel, but also to those who are wise from the nations of the world. For example, if I see someone who is one of the greatest scientists of our time, or someone wise in any other field, I must honor them.
How do we show respect? For example, we can stand. There is even a blessing in the prayer books that is recited when we see a wise person from Israel. There is also another blessing when we see a wise person from the nations of the world, and it is appropriate to bless them in front of a very wise person.
Besides this, we should honor every person. This means that since every person is created in the image of God, I honor them not only because of their actions, since sometimes their actions are not worthy, but because of what they represent. They represent the image of God, which God chose to give humanity. From this, it is also clear, by the principle of deriving one law from another that one should never curse any person.
What about people who are in power, whether politically or otherwise? Here, too, the Torah commands us not to curse people in positions of authority, especially because there is a tendency to curse them, as the public often feels ungrateful toward their leaders, sometimes with good reason. Therefore, here the Torah especially warns us, as I read in section 12: "One should be especially careful not to curse people in power or important individuals, and certainly not to curse the people of Israel." As God told Abraham, "I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you." Therefore, it is very fitting not to curse the people of Israel, and on the contrary, we should bless them in order to be partners in the goodness that God bestows on His people.
