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Old Age
What Should One Do in Old Age?In a world where the main measure of a person’s contribution is his productivity as a worker, a person who reaches old age often retires or is dismissed from his job. However, the old have a significant advantage over the young, as they are more stable and possess rich life experience. An employer who fires his older workers is harming himself.
In old age, one can study Torah while in a state of spiritual and physical tranquility, and can strengthen the spiritual aspect of his life.
The accepted practice of the elderly leaving their workplaces is mistaken:
From the concealed and dark aspects of the world a false understanding was generated, that since old age brings with it physical weakness, the elderly are therefore unable to work, create, or accomplish. Therefore, they are required to leave their jobs and give up their work. It is obvious that such an assumption inspires dejection and depression in the elderly: They are old, they are no longer capable of anything substantial, they are a burden on their families…
According to the Torah, in all matters of wisdom and intellect, the elderly should be the most involved:
According to the truth of the Torah, the exact opposite is the case: Aside from physical weakness, in old age one has attained the quality of “the multitude of years should expound wisdom” (Job 32:7), and: “the minds of Torah elders become composed as they age” (Mishna Kinnim 3:6). Even those who are not Torah scholars still have the advantage of intellect and wisdom, as a result of “the many experiences they have had” (Kiddushin 33a). Because of the rich life experience that elderly people have acquired over the years, young people need their advice. Since one’s intellectual capacity, which is the most essential part of a person, does not deteriorate but on the contrary, “the multitude of years should expound wisdom,” it is obvious that in matters of wisdom and intellect they should be extremely active….
As a result of the dismissal of the aged, businesses too are adversely affected:
From this it becomes clear, with regard to something that is accepted as part of the normal course of events, that when people reach old age they are partially or completely dismissed from the place where they made a living, that this is detrimental to the business and detrimental to them, even though the intentions of those who institute this policy may be good…
Old age is the time to study Torah with spiritual tranquility:
Since the elderly have reached old age with God’s blessing, the intention of the Holy One, blessed be He, is that out of “weakness of body” will emerge “might of soul,” that they should use their time…to study Torah with spiritual and physical calm, without confusion or concerns about the troubles of making a living.
Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh Leib Alter, the Sefat Emet, who was the third rebbe of the hasidic dynasty of Ger, passed away at the age of fifty-eight. When his sons were returning from their father’s funeral, his eldest son, Rabbi Avraham Mordekhai (author of Imrei Emet), said to his brother, Rabbi Moshe Betzalel: “Thank God, our father merited a long life.”
Astonished, his younger brother responded: “But our father did not even reach old age!”
Rabbi Avraham Mordekhai answered him: “It is true that our father did not live for many years, but all of his days were certainly long and full.”
When one reaches old age…he should attach himself to Sages and to books of knowledge, and his eyes will be opened to these matters, and he must not waste this precious free time.
Righteous people become mightier in their old age; they gather strength and gain power for the service of God.
“Train the lad in accordance with his way; even when he grows old, he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6); even when he is an old man, he should constantly be educating himself.
Further reading: For more on studying Torah as required, see p. 269; A Concise Guide to the Sages, p. 454.