[Avodah] Is a child required to pay for food and clothing for his parents?

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, Mar 11, 2019 at 03:24:25PM +0000, Professor L. Levine via Avodah wrote:
: From today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis
: A. Shulchan Aruch (YD 240:5) writes that although a child is required
: to feed and clothe his parents, the expense must be borne by the
: parents. However, if the parents cannot support themselves, the children
: are obligated to provide the funds (if they are capable of doing so)...

This is an involved sugya in Chazal (Mishnah Yevamos 7:5, Y-mi Yevamos
42a, Bavli Yevamos 69b, Qiddushin 32a, Pesiqta Rabasi 31:1). "Mishel av"
and "mishel atzmo" become something of buzz-phrases.

:                                     ... The Aruch Hashulchan (YD 240:6)
: explains that beis din has the authority to coerce members of society to
: maintain social welfare, and children have a moral obligation to provide
: for parents who are destitute.

And leshitaso, supporting one parents mishel av, or feeding children
who have reached adulthood, can come from one's tzedaqah funds. And they
are first in the "aniyei irekha qodmin" type sequence. See AhS YD 251:3-4.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Life isn't about finding yourself.
micha at aishdas.org        Life is about creating yourself.
http://www.aishdas.org            - George Bernard Shaw
Fax: (270) 514-1507