“A politician is a person with whose politics you don’t agree; if you agree with him he’s a statesman.” – David Lloyd George, 20th Century British Prime Minister.

It’s amazing the names some people call a politician with whom they disagree.

On his deathbed–told that Joseph has arrived to visit–Jacob provides a singular honor to his son, forcing himself to straighten up and sit on the bed. This sign of respect, the sages teach, was due to the office Joseph occupied.

The third patriarch, who the Talmud praises as the greatest of the forefathers, the synthesis of Abraham’s kindness and Isaac’s inner strength, also acts similarly when he sees the Pharaoh.

Respecting the office is crucial, even if one doesn’t want to respect the officeholder; even if the officeholder doesn’t deserve respect. All too often we commingle our opinions on politics or on some policy or another with the office.

Jacob didn’t. We’d do worse than to follow his example on this.

Words to consider. Ideas to ponder.

Howie Beigelman, formerly director of state aff airs at the Orthodox Union, is a public aff airs & strategic communications consultant. He resides in Springfield, NJ

By Howie Beigelman