Q. Does one have to stand to honor an elderly woman if she is not an eishes chover?
A. Sefer Chasidim 578, quoted by Beis Yehudah, (Y.D. 1: 28); Sefer HaChinuch and Minchas Chinuch 257:3. Yechaveh Da’as (3:72) quoting Teshuvos Geonim, and mentioning that it also seems so from the Rambam in Sefer Hamitzvos. Chida, Bris Olam on Sefer Chasidim (ibid.) and others maintain that it applies also to an elderly woman.
However, Ben Ish Chai, Ki Seitzei 16, quotes the Arizal who seems to hold that one need not rise for an older woman.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that since some women may feel uncomfortable if men stand for them, it would depend on the minhag of the place. However, younger women should stand for them.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
