Aging Gracefully

As the tide is finally changing in Egypt, and Hashem is ready to bring about the redemption, we are introduced again to the heroes of the story.

We are told that Moshe Rabbeinu was eighty years old when he stood before Pharoah. Aharon was eighty- three. Avraham Avinu was seventy-five when he began his mission of teaching the world about monotheism.

We see how Judaism gives so much respect to the elderly and the important role they play. There is a difference between שיבה that is a reference to one who is advanced in years, and זיקנה, that refers to being elderly in terms of the Torah knowledge that he has acquired.

We are commanded to show additional respect to both of these individuals who were blessed with שיבה or זיקנה.

However, it is the זיקנה that really stands out. Even in our lifetimes, we have been able to see how revered men like Rav Ovadia Yosef, Rav Kaduri, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach זצ״ל were. Each of these holy Torah giants had funerals with hundreds of thousands of people attending. Every word they uttered, was deeply cherished.

We continue to turn to our elders for guidance and direction. This only serves to prove how important it is to work hard and study Torah diligently. We do not do this for recognition and accolades. But when we have devoted our lives to Torah study, our senior years are filled with the younger generation seeking to glean from our knowledge. This idea is reflected in the psalm of Shabbat, עוד ינובון בשיבה דשנים ורעננים יהיו, “They will still be fruitful in old age, vigorous and fresh, they will grow.” להגיד כי ישר ה׳, “to declare that Hashem is just.”

This is how the Torah views the smoothness of growing old.