111. Standing for the Elderly

Talmud Torah 6:8

If a student is constantly in his teacher’s presence, he may only stand up for him once in the morning and once in the evening. This is so that the honor he shows his teacher does not exceed the honor he shows God (since we recite the Shema twice day, morning and evening).

Talmud Torah 6:9

We must stand before a person of advanced age even if he is not a scholar. Even a scholar who is young must stand before a person of advanced age. He need not stand all the way up, must only extend some token of respect. Even a non-Jew of advanced years should be addressed with respect and given a hand to help support him, as per Leviticus 19:32, “Stand up before an elderly person.” This includes everyone of advanced age.