Standing is a sign of respect TB Horayot 13

Standing in the presence of somebody is a sign of respect. In the TV show The West Wing Pres. Bartlet has to remind Dr. Jacobs that in the White House when the president stands everybody stands. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CPjWd4MUXs). 

Although he was correct in insisting that people respect the office of the president no matter what the person thinks of the president, he was wrong in embarrassing her in public the way he did. As the high holidays approach and we reflect upon our behavior in order to become the best version of ourselves, the Gemara reminds us embarrassing somebody is a terrible sin. “the tanna who recited mishnayot and baraitot in the study hall taught a baraita before Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak: Anyone who humiliates another in public, it is as though he were spilling blood. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said to him: You have spoken well, as we see that after the humiliated person blushes, the red leaves his face and pallor comes in its place, which is tantamount to spilling his blood. Abaye said to Rav Dimi: In the West, i.e., Eretz Yisrael, with regard to what mitzva are they particularly vigilant? Rav Dimi said to him: They are vigilant in refraining from humiliating others,” (daf TB Baba Metzia 58b, Sefaria.org translation)

Returning to daf TB Horayot 13 we learn of the importance of the respect due to the leaders of the Jewish people by standing. “The Sages taught in a baraita: When the Nasi of the Sanhedrin enters, all the people stand and they do not sit until he says to them: Sit. When the deputy Nasi of the Sanhedrin enters, the people form for him one row from here, on this side of the path that he takes, and one row from there, on the other side of it, in a display of deference, until he sits in his place, and then they may be seated. When the Ḥakham, who is ranked third among the members of the Sanhedrin, enters, one person stands when he is within four cubits of the Ḥakham, and another sits, i.e., when one is no longer within four cubits of the Ḥakham he may sit. And all those whom the Ḥakham passes do this, until he sits in his place.” (Sefaria.org translation)

When I was a rabbinical student at JTS, my classmates and I would stand when Dr. Saul Lieberman and Dr. Moshe Zuckerman would enter the classroom and any other room we would find ourselves together as a sign of respect. They were two of the greatest scholars I had the honor of studying with. Reflecting back though, I wonder why we also didn’t stand for some for other younger faculty members at the time. Certainly teachers like Rabbi Joel Roth and Rabbi Meir Rabinowitz, talmudai Ḥakhamim, in their own right should have been respected by standing as well.