The Torah states: “You shall rise before the graybeard, and show deference before the elderly (Leviticus 19:32). The basic meaning of the verse is that one must respect old people who have reached the age of a zaken, a “graybeard,” which is seventy years old. In addition, the Sages extended the meaning of this verse to apply to Torah scholars as well, as they interpreted the word zaken (elderly) as an acronym for zeh kana ĥokhma, meaning: “this one has acquired wisdom.” In other words, one must show deference and respect to people who have Torah knowledge.

When a wise or elderly person passes by where one is sitting, one must stand up in his honor. It is a mitzva to give one’s seat to an old person and to extend a hand to help him walk.

The halakha of honoring Torah scholars comprises three ascending levels of respect: First, one must respect every Torah scholar; second, one must respect a scholar who has taught him Torah; third, one must be especially respectful of the Torah scholar who is also his primary teacher.

Respecting a Torah scholar is similar in some ways to honoring one’s parents. Just as parents are partners in the creation of their child’s material existence, and one is therefore obligated to honor them, likewise a scholar who teaches Torah becomes a partner in creating the spiritual life of the student. This is even more true if that person is his primary teacher.

The honor due to Torah scholars includes the obligation to stand up when they approach, not to sit in their permanent seat, to refrain from contradicting them, and not to issue a halakhic ruling in their presence.