13. If a teacher declared *Nidui* for his own honor, all of his students are obligated to ostracize the *Menudeh* (person under *Nidui*). However, if a student declared *Nidui* for his own honor, the teacher is not obligated to treat [the offender] as a *Menudeh*. Nevertheless, everyone else is obligated to treat him as *Menudeh*. Similarly, one who is *Menudeh* to the *Nasi* (Head of the court) is [therefore] *Menudeh* to all Jews. [Conversely], one who is *Menudeh* to all Jews is not *Menudeh* to the *Nasi*. One who is *Menudeh* to his city is *Menudeh* to other cities. [Conversely], one who is *Menudeh* to another city is not *Menudeh* to his own city.
Q1: Why do the teacher’s students have to ostracize the *Menudeh* of their teacher? Is it part of the honor for their teacher – or because his rulings have a different level of authority over them?
YE: Honor for the teacher – the teacher is not operating here as a *Poseq* (Halakhic decisor) – so their obligation toward following his rulings – if such an obligation exists at all – is irrelevant.
Q2: Why does the *Nasi* seemingly “represent” all Jews regarding *Nidui* and his honor?
YE: Since the Nasi is the chair of the court, his honor is an embodiment of the honor of the court and, indirectly, the honor of Torah. One who offends him is offending the court and the Torah – and his *Nidui* applies to everyone.
Q3: What is the rationale behind the “his city/other cities” law?
HH: Two possibilities: 1) Since his kinsfolk and his friends live in his city, his city is supposed to be indulgent towards him. So, if even his own city ostracizes him, he must have done something really serious. 2) A city has a special level of authority with regard to its regular inhabitants that it does not have with regard to foreigners.
Additional questions [AD (Aviva Dayan Q4b: Could there be such a thing as an imposter? YE: Since the first experience with him which gives us reason to believe that he is a *Hakham* is a clear demonstration of his wisdom and knowledge – it’s highly unlikely. Q4c: Could there be such a thing as a ‘reverse imposter’ – a person who is a *Hakham* but pretends not to be? YE: Sure there could – but the Talmud (BT Sotah 22a) warns us against “the one who is ready for instruction and does not instruct” – equating him with the one who “is not ready to instruct and instructs.” Q5a: To what extent does a personÕs public behavior determine whether or not he/she is a *Hakham/a* (and can a woman be classified as a *Hakham* at all and why or why not; if not, is there anything parallel that would apply to her?) YE: The “public behavior” issue is addressed above. As to the status of a scholarly woman, such a notion does exist in the Talmud – where the *Isha Havera* (lit. – “woman-peer” – a scholarly woman) is compared, in some Halakhic respects, to the *Haver* (BT Kiddushin 56a, Sanhedrin 8b, 41a). It would certainly seem that if someone had the great fortune to study with Nechama Lebowitz, for example, that he or she should treat her with all of these measures of honor – and, of course, if any of us see her or meet her, the measures of respect accorded a *Hakham* would be appropriate. Q5b: To what extent does a personÕs private behavior determine whether or not he/she is a *Hakham/a*? How is this private behavior monitored (if this question is relevant) YE: See MT De’ot, Chapter 5, for a full presentation of the “lifestyle” of the *Hakham*. Q6a: To what extent does a person’s attitude determine if he/she is a *Hakham/a*? YE: See above (answer to Q4a). Q6b: If attitude matters, why do we do all these things for the *Hakham*? Wouldn’t all these ‘fringe benefits’ tempt the *Hakham* to deteriorate – as in, enjoy the benefits and be lax in studies, or become full of *Ga’ava* (haughtiness)? Wouldn’t it also tempt imposters? YE: Just because we do these things “for” the *Hakham*, that doesn’t automatically lead him to the negative attributes presented in your question. Remember – he doesn’t need to accept all of these “honorifics” – and is encouraged to forgo them (as we have seen several times in R). Tempting impostors? – maybe – but they would have a hard time keeping up the act. In reality, the burdens and responsibilities of the Hakham far outweigh any privileges he may be afforded. See MT De’ot Chapter 5. See also BT Yoma 86a, where the responsibity for others’ love for God rests, to a great extent, on his shoulders! Rambam, Copyright (c) 1999 Project Genesis, Inc.