Observance

I’m curious about what a certain phrase means. What does “patar mitzvos” mean? You see, I am Jewish, not so knowledgeable about religion, but I work with an Orthodox woman who just got married Sunday. I was invited to the wedding. It was not the first Orthodox wedding I have been to, but it was the first with separate seating for men and women at the reception. But there was one man sitting in the women’s section who actually had a place-card there. And he was at my table, together with his mother. He was in his early 20s and his mother told me he was autistic, but he didn’t appear visibly handicapped. He actually seemed very smart and gregarious and he liked me a lot. In fact I liked him so much, if I were closer to his age, I’d be interested in marrying him. But I’m 52 and divorced with a grown son and I obviously couldn’t marry him. The wedding was a very worthwhile experience. His mother was a very nice lady, around my age, and I feel I found a new friend in her. Unlike most guests there, who were dressed formally, she was wearing a plaid top and jean skirt. This made me feel comfortable around her, as I wasn’t so well dressed up myself in a turtleneck and khaki skirt. And she just seemed so relaxed and not overbearing. I exchanged contact info with her, and we plan to get together more in the future when we have more time. She, like me, is a divorcee, close to my age. I asked her out of curiosity why her son was sitting in the women’s section. She said he was “patar mitzvos” and he wanted badly to be with his mother, and my co-worker’s parents honored this request. What does that term mean? And I am curious why that would allow him to sit with the women.

If a person has a physical disability (such as a peptic ulcer, hyperacidity, diabetes) so that he cannot fast - then what he can do? Can his parents or brother fast for him?

I heard that drinking wine is not good for one's health. Is it compulsory to drink wine during Kiddush? Can the blessings of Kiddush be recited only wine? Can a Jew recite Kiddush over water or honey instead of wine?

Just saw the recent question from someone else about honoring parents. I’ve always wondered if ‘obey’ is a part of honor part of this commandment requires one to obey one’s parents very strictly under all circumstances (with the obvious exception of a parent’s command to violate Torah law). For example, is one strictly required to obey one’s parent asking for a favor or chore, even if s/he is too lazy? Is one required to obey one’s parents’ wishes to enter a certain profession, even if s/he does not wish? Is one required to obey a parent’s command to refrain from engaging in a certain activity that many people normally do that in itself does not violate Torah law? Is one required to obey one’s parents’ command not to associate with a specific person?

Two questions: (1)With regard to the mitzvah of shooing away the mother bird and taking her eggs, the reward for which is longevity, is it true that if the nest is on one's own property, it is not eligible for the completion of this mitzvah because it is on one's private property rather than in the public domain? (2) So if a nest with eggs appears several times on one's property and because the reward is longevity just like with honoring one's parents, is it possible that the Divine message within the repeat occurrence could possibly be to remember to honor one's own parents? Seems like a likely connection since Hashem communicates with us always. Please elaborate on this, if you will, in terms of this particular mitzvah and its relationship to longevity. Thank you so much.