Every Jewish community has leaders that tend to the practical conduct of the community and its needs. This has been a system in place for many, many years. Such people that donate of themselves to this noble cause are worthy of respect. In fact, they are considered to be "עוסק במצוה" - involved in a mitzvah, and are exempt from certain other obligations.
In fact, their honor supersedes the honor of a Torah scholar: The Gemara (קידושין לג, א) states that workers are not to rise for the honor of a Torah scholar while working. The Gemara then asks from the law that states that even workers must rise before the people that bring bikkurim to Yerushalayim and ask of their welfare? The Gemara answers that indeed this is so: a worker is obligated to rise before the people bringing bikkurim and not a Torah scholar. On this the Gemara comments "see how cherished the mitzvos are at the time they are being performed for one has to rise before the bikkurim-bringers (as they are actively performing a mitzvah at that time) and is not obligated to do so for a Torah scholar (who is not actively performing a mitzvah while passing by)."
It follows that the community leaders, at the time that they are performing their communal tasks, are to be considered actively performing a mitzvah and their honor is greater than that of a Torah scholar.
שו"ת מוה"ר יעקב הלוי כלל ה' סי' צ"ח, הובא דבריו בקיצור בש"ך חו"מ סי' ת"כ סק"ט
ועי' בשו"ע או"ח סי' צ"ג ס"ד בנוגע לחיובי עוסקי בצרכי ציבור
See here
No comments:
Post a Comment