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Beit Midrash
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Isaac is born unto him when he is already a century old and the Akeidah - his supreme test in life - occurs when he is one hundred thirty-seven years old. The Torah tells us that Avraham lived for one hundred seventy-five years. Thus, much of his accomplishments and influence on his generation occurred during the later, mature years of his life.
The rabbis always recognized age and maturity of years as an advantage in life. Though physically our bodies weaken with advancing years, spiritually and certainly experience-wise we are able to grow stronger and wiser. The Talmud phrased it succinctly: "Even if great wisdom is not apparently present in one, but age and experience is certainly here."
Respect for the elderly is a basic tenet of Judaism. The Torah commands us to rise in honor of the aged and to give allegiance and respect to elders. Even if God forbid they are no longer mentally acute, they are nevertheless deserving of this honor and respect. The rabbis used a metaphor to illustrate this point - that even the broken and shattered shards of the tablets of Sinai (that were broken by Moshe) also resided within the Holy Ark.
We live in an age that worships youth. Most product and consumer advertising is directed towards the youthful market. Fortunes are spent to somehow disguise the fact that we are growing older. I know from my rabbinic experience that every congregation wants to have a thirty year old rabbi, preferably with twenty years of experience on the job.
It is widely known that people in their fifties will not be deemed to be employable by most corporations and business concerns. Thus a vast pool of experience and talent, accumulated wisdom and practicality, lies unexploited and disregarded. There are many forces, both economic and social in play here that lead to these types of policies but the end sum is the same - being older is a detriment in our society’s workplace and milieu and it is definitely a disadvantage.
What would our father Avraham say to such a situation? I cannot speak for him but it is clear that even until his last days he did not see himself retired from guiding, advising and inspiring his generation. Even in his later decades he was recognized as the "prince of God who resides in the midst of our society."
The Torah says of him that at his demise he arrived with all of his days in hand. All of his days were exploited and dedicated towards the fulfillment of the Godly mission that he had set for himself. Age becomes an asset and an ornament to great figures such as Avraham.
Since I am no longer young myself, some may view this article as being a self serving one. Be that as it may truly be, it does not diminish in my opinion the truth of the message that age brings with it experience, guidance and is therefore most worthy of respect, honor and care.
Care for aging parents is not an easy challenge to overcome. The senior citizen and nursing homes that now abound and are such a part of our economies and lives provide a partial answer to this challenge. But they are certainly not the complete solution to the problem and difficulties raised in caring for aged people. It is clear that the advances in medical treatments and the lengthening of expected life spans have made the problem much more acute now than it was even fifty years ago.
There are families that see the caring for their aged members a privilege and an honor. Not everyone rises to that level of selflessness. We constantly read of family tragedies that are occasioned by the problems of caring for the aged members of the family.
Somehow it is a matter of attitude towards the elderly that can change a burden into a privilege. And it is this attitude that the Torah comes to emphasize and inform. May we all be blessed to come to the fullness of our lives with all of our days attached to us in serenity and achievement.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
