CHILDREN'S SUPPORT OF PARENTS Walter Jacob
QUESTION: Can the community force children to support their | parents? Can the community refuse to support them on the basis of | the children’s obligation?(Rabbi R. Kahn, Houston , TX )
ANSWER: The basis for the support of parents by their children is the fifth commandment:“Honor your father and your | mother...”(Exod. 20: 12). This has been taken as.one of the main sources for most aspects of the child-parent relationship. The | question of financial support of parents by their children led to a division of opinion between the scholars of Babylonian and Palestinian Talmud. The authorities of the Palestinian Talmud felt that children had to support their parents and, of course, were also | obligated to honor them through their personal service and devotion. This could be compelled by the community(J. Kid. T1b). | The Babylonian authorities, in one long discussion, felt that although honor and devotion was due to the parents from their children, financial support was debatable. Arguments were | presented on both sides, but ultimately the decision freed a son from any obligation to support his parents(Kid. 30a). Emphasis was placed upon. personal service rather than on financial obligation. That service was to be rendered by a son, even ifitled toa considerable financial loss. Such service could be forced by the community. Other discussions indicate that sons were forced to Support their parents financially(Hul. 110b; Ket. 49b, 50a). There are also numerous stories in the Midrash which emphasize this. This was the position ultimately taken by tradition.
The debate among the later authorities does not deal with the need to support parents, which is taken for granted, but whether this could be compelled. The answer in most instances turned out to be positive, as this is a charitable duty and the