Q. The Torah said in Mishpatim, that someone should not afflict or pain an orphan.
How old is an orphan? Is it one who is 10 years old? 20 years old? 50 years old? How long is one an orphan?
A. Knesses Hagedolah quoting Tesuvos Mahara Galiko (18), Divrei B’nayahu (C.M. 50) and Kaf Hachaim (156: 14) mention that for all the mitzvos and prohibitions related and involving a yossom, the age of twenty years is the accepted limit for being called an orphan (Even on the Heavenly Court, they consider twenty years the mature age for punishment). However Pesach Hadvir (5) and Kaf Hachaim (ibid.) add, that before twenty it may depend on how resourceful, mature and self-supporting the individual is. See also Sfas Hayom (C.M. 34) where he elucidates some references that seem to disagree.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit"a opinion is the same.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
Important Numbers
