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As mentioned, reverence involves treating one’s parents with veneration. This includes not sitting in their seat, not calling them by their first name, listening respectfully to what they say, not arguing with them like with a friend, and even more so not arguing disrespectfully. Also included are not to cause parents pain and being extremely careful not to disturb their sleep. However, if parents ask to be woken up, it is a mitzva to do so.
Classical sources also require standing up for parents whenever they enter or leave a room. However, when parents do not teach their children to do so, it indicates they are willing to forego this honor, and thus the children are exempted from it. Parents should let their children know if there are particular occasions on which they feel the children should stand up to honor them. In any case, if a parent comes to a child’s room to speak with the child, the child should stand until the parent sits down. Similarly, when parents come to visit their married children, the children should get up to greet them when they come in, and escort them out when they leave.
Hitting a parent is a very serious transgression. Someone who does so and draws blood (in the presence of witnesses, after being warned not to do so) is liable to death: “He who strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death” (Exodus 21:15). Cursing a parent is also a serious transgression. If a child does this (in front of witnesses who warned him about the consequences), he is liable to death: “He who curses his father or his mother shall be put to death” (Exodus 21:17). Someone who commits these terrible sins should repent immediately. This includes asking forgiveness and placating the parent who was hurt, and treating this parent with the utmost respect from that point on.
