<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;" _mce_style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;">In <em>Bereishis 27:6</em> Rivkah told Yaakov that she heard her father talking to Esav etc. She ends off saying, “Listen to what I will tell you.” In <em>Pirkei D’Reb Eliezer 32</em> Rivkah told Yaakov, “My son this night is where the storage of <em>Tal</em> is opened and up in <em>Shomayim</em> they are singing <em>shirah,</em> make some good food for your father, so he can <em>bentch</em> you while he is still alive.” Yaakov being a <em>Baki</em> in the <em>Torah</em> feared being cursed by his father so Rivkah told him, “If you get gebentched it will go on you and your children, but if you get cursed it will go on me.” As the <em>passuk</em> says, “<em>Alai Killelascha- Beni</em>. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;" _mce_style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;">In the <em>Radal</em> on the above <em>Medrash</em> he explains what is the meaning of the words that he is a <em>baki</em> in the <em>Torah</em>? It is based on the <em>Gemara</em> in <em>Kiddushin 31a </em>where a widow asked <em>Reb Eliezer</em> if a father requests a cup of water, and the mother requests a cup of water which one comes first? <em>Reb Eliezer</em> responded leave the honor of your mother and do the bidding of your father as both you and your mother are required to show respect to your father. This is the reason why Yaakov was scared and worried to listen to his mother against the wishes of his mother. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;" _mce_style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;">The question one can ask is why is there a requirement to listen to the father before the mother? The reason given is that both the son and the mother must respect the father. The problem is that there is a <em>Gemara</em> in <em>Yevamos 62b</em> that says a man must show respect to his wife. The quote is that if one loves his wife like oneself and honors and respects her more than himself, he is blessed that he won’t come to any sins. The <em>Rambam</em> in <em>Hilchos Ishus 15:19</em> says that the <em>Chachamim</em> commanded a person to be <em>mechabed</em> his wife more than himself. If so the <em>halacha</em> should be the same as if one’s parents are divorced where the wife has no requirement to respect her ex-husband so the child could choose who he or she wants to honor first, as in that case the honor of his mother and father are equal. Now, in the case where one’s parents are happily married, they both need to show respect to one another so why is the halacha in the <em>Gemara</em> that the child must do the bidding of his or her father? </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;" _mce_style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;">One answer is that in the case where both the child and the mother need to respect the father is regarding all the <em>mitzvos</em> of <em>kibbud av</em> where both the mother and son have a requirement to feed the father and to give him to drink and help him get dressed etc. But regarding the respect a husband must show his wife is to make sure she gets nice clothing and have her look respectable but that is not connected to the <em>mitzva</em> of <em>kibbud av</em> therefore one must carry out his or her father’s bidding before the mother. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;" _mce_style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;">Another answer is that the <em>halacha</em> is that a woman must be <em>mechabed</em> her husband <em>al pi halacha</em>. We see this in the <em>Mishna</em> in <em>Kesubos 59b</em> that lists of all the <em>melachos</em> a woman is required to do for her husband. We do not find the same <em>halacha</em> for a man that he is required to do for his wife <em>mitzad halacha</em>. It is just a preferred way of life as the <em>Gemara</em> says if one is <em>mechabed</em> his wife more than his own self he will not come to be <em>chotei</em>. It is just a <em>midas Chassidus</em> but not a <em>chiyuv mitzad halacha</em> therefore a child will have to listen to his father before he listens to his mother. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;" _mce_style="font-size: large; font-family: times new roman, times;">The <em>Mitzvah</em> of <em>Kibbud Av Ve’Eim</em> is one of the hardest to do. Let us all hope we are <em>mekayem</em> it properly and thereby <em>zocheh</em> to <em>Arichas Yomim</em>! </span></p>
âMommy, If I Beat Cancer Once, Why Did It Come Back?â
September 15, 2026 2:34 pm
