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Ethics in Everyday Life Situations

Honoring a Teacher - Honoring One's Father and One's Teacher

Situation

Some time ago, I knew a boy who came here from Israel; he used to speak about his life and school.
Much of what he said was wonderful to hear, but one thing in particular bothered me. The boy said that in Israel, the students were on a first name basis with their teachers.
Doesn't this show a lack of respect?

Is it...

1. Permitted to refer to a teacher by his first name?
2. Forbidden to refer to a teacher by his first name?
3. Permitted to refer to a teacher by his first name if he himself agrees?

Sources

Popular Halacha - IV, Ch.9 (adapted)

• 6. Most importantly, respect should be shown to teachers. By no means should they be addressed by their first names, but only by their titles.
• 7. A Torah Sage must be treated with unique honor, for by honoring him, one honors the Torah. Our Sages interpreted the verse (Leviticus 19:32):

  "Give respect to the old,"

  as referring to a Torah Sage, regardless of age. In this context, the word, "Zaken," serves as an acronym for the words, "Zeh SheKanah Chochmah," He who acquired wisdom" (Kiddushin 33a) and the honor to him takes precedence over the honor shown to an old man who is not learned.
• 8. The above-mentioned verse begins,

  "Rise before a white head."

  This refers to any man of advanced years, even to an unlearned person or a gentile. Their life experience has taught them valuable lessons, and we should therefore appreciate their wisdom and give them the respect they deserve.

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Honoring One's Father and One's Teacher

Situation

My father asked me to go to the store and buy him a cold drink. "Please go quickly because I'm very thirsty," my father explained. I ran to the store where I happened to meet my teacher. He asked me if I would watch his little girl for a few minutes while he finished making his purchases.
I didn't know what to do.

Which is correct...

1. To fulfill my father's request first?
2. To help my teacher first?
3. To help either one first; it didn't matter?

Sources

• 9. A person must rise when a Torah scholar passes by or approaches him. If the latter is a Rosh Yeshivah or a Rav who instructs people in matters of Halacha, he must stand when he reaches two rows before him and remain standing until he loses sight of him. The Chief Rabbi of a city or a country is accorded even greater honor. He is granted the respect due a Nasi of the Sanhedrin. When he enters a gathering, all must rise in his honor and remain standing until the Chief Rabbi is seated.
• 10. A king is accorded the highest level of respect, for deference to him is an honor to the nation as a whole.
  (...) such a high level of deference is [also] due the president of a country.
• 12. Torah law states that greater deference is due one's teacher than one's father. But in practice, throughout the generations, we have seen that parents have been granted greater respect. (...) in later times, when students would learn from printed texts and their teachers would merely serve as a secondary resource and a guide to their studies, parents deserve greater respect.

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