Hilchos Talmud Torah – Chapter 5: The Honor and Awe Due to a Teacher
- The Obligation to Honor and Fear One’s Teacher
A person is obligated to honor and fear his Torah teacher even more than his father.
While a father brings a child into this world, a teacher brings him into the World to Come.
Accordingly, in cases of conflict—lost objects, assisting with burdens, or redeeming captives—the teacher takes precedence, unless the father is also a Torah scholar.
Disrespecting or disputing one’s teacher is equated with disrespecting the Divine Presence itself.
- Disputing a Teacher and Issuing Halachic Rulings
A student may not establish himself as a teacher or issue halachic rulings without his teacher’s permission during the teacher’s lifetime, even if the teacher lives elsewhere.
Issuing rulings in the teacher’s presence is especially severe.
However, to prevent a sin or desecration of God’s Name, a student must speak up—even in his teacher’s presence.
- When and Who May Render Halachic Decisions
A student who is not qualified to rule but does so is foolish and destructive.
Conversely, a qualified scholar who refrains from ruling when needed withholds Torah from the world.
Only a student truly worthy of issuing rulings may do so, even after his teacher’s passing.
- Conduct Toward One’s Teacher
A student must:
- not call his teacher by name,
- greet him with reverence,
- stand and sit only when instructed,
- not contradict or oppose him,
- not pray or walk beside him,
- show deference similar to that shown to a king.
Departing from one’s teacher must be done respectfully, without turning one’s back.
- Standing Before One’s Teacher
A student must stand for his teacher from the moment he sees him until the teacher is completely out of sight.
A student is also obligated to visit his teacher on festivals.
- Serving One’s Teacher
A student should perform for his teacher all services that a servant performs for his master.
Preventing a student from serving diminishes his fear of Heaven.
Treating the honor of one’s teacher lightly causes the Divine Presence to depart.
- Correcting and Quoting One’s Teacher
If a teacher errs, the student must correct him respectfully, attributing the teaching to the teacher himself.
Teachings should always be quoted in the teacher’s name.
Upon the death of one’s primary teacher, the student must rend his garments permanently, as for a parent.
- Who Is Considered One’s Primary Teacher
These strict obligations apply to one’s primary teacher—the one from whom most of one’s wisdom was acquired.
Even one who taught a single matter must still be honored: the student must stand before him and mourn him at his passing.
- Deference to Greater Wisdom
A person with refined character does not speak before someone wiser than himself, even if he never learned from him.
- A Teacher May Forgo His Honor
A teacher may waive the honor due to him, but the student must still maintain respect internally and in conduct.
- Mutual Honor Between Teacher and Student
Just as students must honor teachers, teachers must honor, love, and encourage their students.
Students are likened to children who bring joy and merit in this world and the next.
- Students Enhance Their Teacher
Students sharpen their teacher’s understanding through questions and challenges.
Through them, the teacher’s wisdom grows, just as a small flame ignites a great fire.
