Sources and Explanations:
In the Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah (Laws of Honoring Father and Mother, siman 240, סעיף 5), it is written: However, he is obligated to honor him with his person, even though as a result he will be prevented from his work and will need to go begging from door to door. This applies specifically when the son has sustenance for that day; but if he does not have it, he is not obligated to refrain from his work and go begging from door to door. End quote.
Now, in the present case, where the son has regular employment and is paid monthly, and the departure is daily and interferes with his work, he is not obligated by halachah.
See also Sefer Chassidim (siman 563): when a man’s wife is in conflict with his parents and the matter borders upon shalom bayit, he must give precedence to the peace of his home. See also the responsa of the Rivash (siman 127). Therefore, although the Gemara in Kiddushin states that a man has the ability to fulfill the mitzvah while a woman does not have the ability to fulfill it, implying that he need not heed her wishes, nevertheless, since the matter will cause the disruption and violation of shalom bayit, and likewise because of concern for personal emotional strain in a case such as yours, regarding this it is said: “Your life takes precedence.” If he is not obligated to spend his money for honoring his parents, then certainly this applies to his person when he lacks the ability. Moreover, very often the matter touches upon the obligations he undertook toward his wife in her ketubah.
This response was translated automatically from Hebrew and has not yet been reviewed by a person. Therefore, it may contain inaccuracies and should not be considered a definitive reference.
