1490 - Kavod Talmidei Chachamim - (Klal 69 Siman 9) - Tircha on the Tzibbur - 1

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1490 - Kavod Talmidei Chachamim - (Klal 69 Siman 9) - Tircha on the Tzibbur 1

We are beginning siman 9. The Chayei Adam writes that a talmid chacham is directed by Chazal to try to avoid a situation in which he causes people to stand up for him. There is an element of chiddush in this psak, because the talmid chacham is taking a mitzvah away from people. However, this concept is sourced in the Gemara, where we see that amoraim would make a point of avoiding situations in which others would have to stand up for them. Obviously, if he is concerned that people will not stand for him, he should certainly avoid causing people to stand up for him, because he is being machshil (causing) them in an aveirah. Nevertheless, the Gemara was talking about situations in which the other amoraim would certainly stand up, and the conclusion still appears to be appropriate to avoid causing them to stand. Certainly nowadays, with the concern we discussed previously (shiur 1487) that people do not stand up properly, it is appropriate to try to avoid such situations.

We learned from the Shach that generally, talmidei chachamim are mochel on their kavod in order to avoid issues with people who are not talmidei chachamim (see more in shiur 1487). Even if we do not stand up for talmidei chachamim in general, there is a separate chiyuv to stand up for one’s rebbe. The primary chiyuv is to stand for one’s rebbe muvhak, the person from whom one learned the majority of learning, but that is almost unheard of nowadays, as we have multiple rebbeim. Nevertheless, we do not apply the Shach to a rebbe. While it may be a challenge to distinguish between one chacham and another chacham, a rebbe is clear. Therefore, the halachos of kimah apply to a rebbe.
On the other hand, the rebbe has an obligation to teach his talmidim how to act properly. The rebbe is caught in a bind: on the one hand, he should not burden his talmidim (by making them stand up for him); on the other, he needs to teach them that they are chayav to stand up for him.
There is a concept in halacha that the rebbe is allowed to be mochel on his kavod. If a rebbe sees that his talmidim are not standing up for him, he should be mochel, in order to avoid trapping them in an aveirah. This will also avoid an issue of lifnei iver. The general mechilah suggested by the Shach does not apply to one’s rebbe by default (because of the difference between a rebbe and talmid chacham mentioned above), so the rebbe should deliberately be mochel on the kavod.
If, after the rebbe was mochel, a talmid stood up, the talmid still fulfills the mitzvah. If a talmid is among a group of people who do not know that the rebbe was mochel, the talmid should stand up with the group, to avoid suspicion of acting inappropriately.
A rebbe should not always be mochel, and should occasionally expect of his talmidim to stand up for him, in order to teach them the concept of kavod hatorah. We will discuss this point further in the next shiur, be’ezras Hashem.

Summary
A talmid chacham should try to avoid situations which cause others to stand up for him.
Even if we apply the Shach to talmidei chachamim and seivah, it does not apply to a rebbe, and one must stand up for the rebbe, unless the rebbe is mochel.
A rebbe should be mochel if he knows that his talmidim will not stand up, but, either way, should occasionally expect of his talmidim to stand up in order to teach them kavod hatorah.
If, after the rebbe was mochel, a talmid stood up, they still fulfill the mitzvah.
If a talmid is among a group of people who do not know that the rebbe was mochel, the talmid should stand up with the group, to avoid suspicion of acting inappropriately.