Honoring Torah Scholars – 17

1. It is a positive commandment to rise to one’s feet when a Torah scholar passes nearby, even if that scholar is not elderly, and even if he is not one’s teacher, as long as the scholar is more knowledgeable than the person and is worthy of teaching him(Shulchan Aruch, YD 244:1).

2. Similarly, it is a mitzvah to rise before any elderly person, even if he is an ignoramus, provided that he is not a sinful person. “Elderly” in this context means that the person is seventy or older. According to the Arizal, it refers to someone over the age of 60](ibid. and Ben Ish Chaim, Ki Setzei).