Halacha: Proper Respect While a Rabbi is Speaking

One must have utmost respect towards Rabbis and Talmidei Chachamim, as the Torah and Chazal have warned us in numerous places.

When a Rabbi is giving a drasha, or saying a Dvar Torah in Shul, one should pay very close attention to the speech, and not do anything else at that time.

It is not Derech Eretz to learn from a Sefer or read Tehillim, and especially not to be on the phone or talk to someone else during that time.

Someone who does so is acting disrespectfully to the Torah, and the Talmid Chacham, ch'v'sh.

This goes without saying that one must make sure not to walk out of the lecture for any reason other than an emergency.

If one knows one will need to leave, one should either do so much before the speech, sit in a place that the Rabbi will not recognize ones exit, or explain beforehand that he will have to leave in the middle.

It is also not proper to fall asleep in the middle of the lecture. One who does so is sinning and causing others to sin, as this will weaken the interest of those around him.

One should even awaken those who have fallen asleep, unless they are known to be angry and will come to anger if woken up.

Sources:

• (1). V'ayn Lamo Michshol Vol.3 page 45
• (2). Eved l'Ovdei Hashem page 27
• (3). Kaf HaChaim Siman 151:29