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category:  Jewish Law

Age for orphans

The Rav Name: Rabbis of the Da’at Institute
  • Question

Until what age is a person considered an orphan, in terms of the laws relating to being careful not to cause him/her pain, etc.?

  • Answer
The criterion for being considered an orphan in terms of people being careful with their feelings, etc., is until such time as the orphan is not in need of someone to rely on. Recent Torah authorities maintain that above the age of twenty, the status changes even if the orphan is not particularly adept at managing. However, of course one should not rely on the fact that an orphan is no longer halachically under orphan status, and one should always behave properly to them, even when their status has changed.

Sources

פסקי תשובות ח”ב ע’ שכ