Honoring Our Parents
Clear. Practical. Timeless.

One should always respect his parents even in a case where they did not raise him.

Regarding spending time at a mother’s house or a father’s house, the Yalkut Yosef writes that at a certain age a child can decide where he would want to spend more time if Beit Din did not assign custody. Each case is different, and one should consult his Rabbi or Da’at Torah.

The Chazon Ish writes that intentionally ignoring a parent or pushing off a task they requested can violate the obligation of mora — reverence for one’s parents.

With messages and email, an immediate response may not always be expected, but one should still avoid making a parent wait unnecessarily and respond as quickly as reasonably possible.

The Chazon Ish writes that one should speak with a parent for as long as needed in order to help reduce the parent’s stress and anxiety. If a parent asks for more frequent calls or visits, that request should be taken seriously.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l is cited as saying that concern over losing learning time is not a reason to refuse such a call, and that a person will not lose out from honoring his parents properly.