"Common sense" The great Mitzvah

 

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 by not using common sense. The Chasam Sofer says 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 of showing respect to the head of state (king) for two reasons. a) It's common sense to do so & it's proper manners. (מצוה שכליות ונימוסיות) 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. *Being disrespectful to the authorities (even the Tziyoinim) is just as bad as not putting on Tefillin," According to the Chasam Sofer, those who shout at the police "Nazim" (Nazis) or "Shiksa" are the same עוברי עבירה as those who don't put on Tefillin. *Perhaps, a head without brains is a קרקפתא דלא מנח תפילין You can't put on Tefillin on a brainless head.    אמבצי