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<p style="margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0">From today's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis<br>

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<p><strong><strong>Q. Is a child required to pay for food and clothing for his parents?</strong></strong></p>

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<p>A. <span data-contrast="auto">Shulchan </span><span data-contrast="auto">Aruch</span><span data-contrast="auto"> (YD 240:5) writes that although a child is required to feed and clothe

</span><span data-contrast="auto">his</span><span data-contrast="auto"> parents, the expense must be

<span data-contrast="auto">borne by the parent<span data-contrast="auto">s<span data-contrast="auto">.

</span><span data-contrast="auto">However, if</span> <span data-contrast="auto">the parents

</span><span data-contrast="auto">cannot</span><span data-contrast="auto"> support themselves</span><span data-contrast="auto">,</span>

<span data-contrast="auto">the </span><span data-contrast="auto">children are</span><span data-contrast="auto"> obligated to provide the funds</span><span data-contrast="auto"> (if they

</span><span data-contrast="auto">are capable of doing</span><span data-contrast="auto"> so)</span><span data-contrast="auto">. I</span><span data-contrast="auto">f

</span><span data-contrast="auto">they</span><span data-contrast="auto"> refuse</span><span data-contrast="auto">,</span>

<span data-contrast="auto">a Jewish court of law </span><span data-contrast="auto">may</span><span data-contrast="auto"> force

<span data-contrast="auto">him<span data-contrast="auto"> to do so.

</span><span data-contrast="auto">Ordinarily, a Jewish court </span><span data-contrast="auto">does</span><span data-contrast="auto"> not coerce someone to honor

</span><span data-contrast="auto">a </span><span data-contrast="auto">parent</span><span data-contrast="auto"> (</span><span data-contrast="auto">e.g.</span><span data-contrast="auto">,</span>

<span data-contrast="auto">to</span><span data-contrast="auto"> stand up for </span>

<span data-contrast="auto">a</span><span data-contrast="auto"> father</span><span data-contrast="auto"> or mother</span><span data-contrast="auto">),

</span><span data-contrast="auto">because</span> <em>beis</em><span data-contrast="auto"><em> din</em> does not coerce for

</span><em>mitzvos</em><span data-contrast="auto"> that have a specified reward (honoring parents is rewarded with long life)</span><span data-contrast="auto">.</span><span data-contrast="auto">

<span data-contrast="auto">Why is kibud av v’aim<span data-contrast="auto"> different?

</span><span data-contrast="auto">The</span> <span data-contrast="auto">Aruch</span>

<span data-contrast="auto">Hashulchan</span><span data-contrast="auto"> (YD 240:6) explains</span>

<span data-contrast="auto">that </span><em>beis din </em><span data-contrast="auto">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.</span><span data-ccp-props="{"201341983":0,"335551550":6,"335551620":6,"335559739":200,"335559740":276}">

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