The Rebbe's revolutionary view on aging and "retirement," and -- by extension -- on life, work and productivity.
21 Comments Posted
The article "Growing Old" has been very helpful to me. I am "a curious gentile" living in Louisville, Kentucky. I am 60 years of age, and in a few years I will face retirement from my work as a teacher. I very much dread that, because I enjoy teaching. Now I see that there will be a lot more to do when I "retire." For one thing, I will have the luxury of more time to study Scripture, and for another I will be able to volunteer in the community.
Thank you for this marvellous direction, this new lease on life! It is good to have so clearly stated that "old people" have great worth.
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What an enlightening and eye-opening article! If only the millions of elderly zkenim would be able to access such a helpful piece of work from a computer!
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The articles written by the Rebbe are so wise and relevant. As a retired teacher, I am inspired to volunteer my years of experience to teach adults who have never learned to read. As a non-Jew who is learning about the Jewish religion, this is a wonderful site, with clear explanations and wisdom for whatever are our current concerns in life. Thank you!
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When I was a child my Father would play the same record over and over. My Yiddishe MaMa. He missed his mother he had loved dearly. Just as my heart aches for my best friend, my beloved Mother, may my parents rest in peace.
MaMa would tell me story after story. The depression, trolley cars, entertaining soliders at the JCC, dating, how difficult it was to find a job or nice apartment during the war. She would show me photos of how women dressed in the 1920's. Explain how Bubbie made gelfiltafish and everything else from scratch and how hard Bubbie worked along Zadie's side. But when the Sabbath came they raced to shul.
Unfortunately Rebbe the words you have spoken of our society in regard to devaluing the elderly, hold great truth.
Each person has great worth to offer and an abundance of gifts to share.
More often than not, the elderly have the greatest gift of all to share - time. Wiith this time you shall receive life's greatest lessons.
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this is a masterpiece!! very soulfully indited
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Everyday that I open my eyes, I wonder what G-d expects me to accomplish for my family or humanity in general.
I have become weak and tired from a heart condition but that is no excuse according to this most excellent article. So, I pray, I ask G-d what he wants me to do....still no answer. Now, fear enters. I must find out what my "last mission" is and must begin soon. And so, I pray again and think, "Is this my mission?" Have we taken the act of praying as not important, not contributing as G-d wishes?
And so I pray and wait for the answer.
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THE DISPLAYED LITERATURE GIVES WONDERFUL INSIGHT, AND GREAT WISDOM. I am very much so a new convert. Forty three years old and just comming into awareness of who I am and how I view myself. An awakening if you will. I appreciate this web sight. Looking forward to reading much more.
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Thanks for this essay. At 45, I have been starting to feel like everything is already getting worse. I'm not so beautiful as I used to be. I'm not as healthy as I used to be. My memory and energy are not what they used to be...
People tell me, "but you still look young." I know I do. My husband still thinks I'm beautiful and other men still look at me with appreciation (even when they think I don't know). But I do know I won't be attractive in this way forever. And I feel like I'm losing everything good.
So, thank you for reminding me that I'm more than my face and body and hair.
It's hard for a woman who's starting to show signs of age. Even slight signs. But you've reminded me that I'm still worth something.
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If one cannot be as productive as one would wish, and is passing middle age, how can one regain, renew or indeed begin a new beginning that one has never had? I was told recently by a friend who works at a well-known national retirement organization that there are many Jewish woman across the country, many of them never married, who are very unprepared and uneducated financially for retirement - this time period of life.
Does Chabad recognize this and offer any assistance?
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Thank you for the insightful article by The Rebbe.
I am 62 - have had somewhat of a checkered career and do not really feel that I have contributed as much as I could have to society. Commerce was not my favourite so I turned to teaching - where I achieved a fair amount - and more important, felt that I was doing something worthwhile.
I am now training adults and in many cases feel that I am contributing a lot to the betterment of their lives. My health has become "somewhat dicey" but, thank G-d, I am still able to train. My problem now is that I feel that I need to change the direction of my training - and I do not know in which direction to take this. I pray for guidance here - and maybe I was directed to The Rebbes Article. Perhaps getting involved in teaching/training the elderly is a "brainwave" picked up here.
Thank you, Chabad, for your tireless work and guidance. May it lead many people to using their lives with more meaning.
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what a refreshing and reassuring feeling i have after reading the article on aging ...it was wonderful...
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As a society we must accept that there are many jobs which require manual labour- for example cleaners or builders. I can understand that the contribution of older people in feilds where only a storg and learned mind is required but, just as a weakened brain like a mentally handicaped persons who not do for a job as a nuclear scientist or doctor, a weakened body ,as an older one inevitably is, can do a manual job. Could this be an exception to the ideas in your article? As always, thank you Chabad for your tireless work.
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I am almost 81, still looking pretty good as is so important to everybody it seems (in the case of women) and busy contributing to the community. But I must always ask, when I read or hear of a man's notable achievements, about the woman he has at home-- cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, etc., rearing or having reared the children almost single-handedly, what about her contribution? Her's is devalued by rarely ever being mentioned.
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Although I live in America, I do not believe old people are inferior in any way to middle-aged or younger persons. Now that I am 61, I am more convinced than ever that my most productive and best years are ahead of me. G-d has richly blessed me to live in a community with very loving elderly and disabled people who understand the importance of family and stories and legacy. They inspire me to write about their lives and to tell their sacred stories and my own. We offer a blessing to the younger generation G-d wants to bring through His white and gray headed partners. May their hearts be open to receive it!
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This was a wonderfully inspiring statement. As one whose retirement is looming, and whose purpose in life is being questioned, I find it very helpful to hear these words.
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My life is better and I am happier now than ever, at 81! Nowdays, 80 is called the beginning of the period of old, old age. Modern medicine has come to my rescue a few times, but all in all, it is a very interesting time of life-- really fascinating! I abandoned my stoicism and learned to cry when my youngest child died at age 48, and do feel often the various losses that pile up as the years roll by. So I cry often when reminders of the past pop up, but the tears are brief. I feel gratitude, mostlh. My children have "turned out" to be all-around good citizens, and my grand children, and greats, too! Yes, it is a fine time of life! Not sure what G-d has to do with it, though, as I don't believe in a god that bestows blessings where "he" will, and witholds good capriciously and plays favorites. But, then, that is a deity for you.
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im a 45 year old mother of eight. i have a great frind on my street and her name is mitzie,she is 82 years old and she is like a mother to my always there with her worldly wisdom and advice. what would i do without her.i pray that hashem gives her a very long life.my children and husband love her also. we need the elderly around us to give us courage and strength to deal with lifes hardships after all they have all been through it before and can guide us.......rachel
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Upon reaching this age, I pray that G-d in his infinite mercy, will bless the people in my life who have made reaching this age so worthwhile. Not one of my siblings or my parents lived beyond this age. I pray I have done them proud. I have had the privilege to live my life and the honor to use my memories of them to strive for a spiritual and meaningful existance. Having known them gave me the tenacity to succeed and the ability to remember and be grateful for their lives.To those I share my life with now, I am beholdant beyond expressing. They bring the "joy" to living in these years that replace the nagging arthritis, the lack of youthful energy and the wrinkles that know no boundaries. How fortunate I am that when they need a few "sheckles", when they seek some parental wisdom or a grandparental moment of praise...I am there for them...alway with love and appreciation for the respect they show to me. What can I do with all my spare time now? Pray for them with all my might!
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I read the following "words of wisdom" recently:
1) "If you don't learn to laugh at trouble, you won't have anything to laugh at when you are old!"
2) "Eventually you reach a point when you stop lying about your age and start bragging about it!"
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What encouraging comments for us people reaching advanced years! I was so down-hearted for so much of the first half of my life, it is gift to have lived long enough to figure out for onesself the purpose of life, and to experience the wonder of children, grand children, and dear lovely greats (with a good mother)-- the latter great grandchildren acquired instantly when a grandson married a young woman with two children!
They all live 275 miles from my city except for one daughter and her husband who have come to my rescue a number of times and I don't know what I would do without them!
Meanwhile, I live alone with my cat, take voice lessons, sing and play the piano at nursing homes, work as a volunteer ombudsman-rep for the State of Michigan for two nursing homes in the area, and teach English as a Second Language in a local literacy program, even though my formal qualifications are as wrinkled and dated by now as I am!
Sincerely,
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