The great & big Mitzvah-"common sense"

 

RESPECTING THE AUTHORITIES  Maran Harav E.M. Shach zt"l used to say that the biggest עבירה one can do is to be an idiot and not using common sense. The Chasam Sofer seems to say that the greatest and biggest מצוה one can do is using their common sense. The Chasam Sofer writes שו"ת חו"מ ק"צ " re the מצוה רבה הגדולה to respect the head of state (king) for two reasons. a) It's common sense to do so & it's proper manners. (מצוה שכליות ונימוסית) b) We find so in the Torah. Moishe was commanded to respect פרעה the evil king & אליהו הנביא ran in front of אחאב who was עובר על כל התורה yet there is a duty to show respect to the head of state. (even the Tziyoinim?) *WHOEVER IS DISRESPECTFUL IS AS IF HE DOESN'T PUT ON TEFILLIN." *Perhaps, a head without brains is a קרקפתא דלא מנח תפילין You can't put Tefillin on such a head. אמבצי