MICHIGAN'S LARGEST TRADITIONAL SYNAGOGUE
CONGREGATION BIM DAVID

cordially invites you to join us for a

A Long Life Expectancy
Is A Mixed Blessing

RABBI MORTON F. YOLKUT

Special to The Jewish News

M

any are the
blessings of modern
science and
medicine, and not the least of
those blessings is longevity;
today the average American
has a life expectancy of well
over 70 years. At the turn of
the century the figure was
considerably lower: just a lit-
tle over 40 years.
As a result of these great
achievements in medicine,
nutrition, hygiene and sani-
tation our aging population is
increasing to the point where
people over 75, even 80, are
no longer the rarities they
were a century ago.
Yet, longevity is not an
unmixed blessing. Science
and medicine have created
another of their painful
paradoxes: they have added
years to our life, but not life
to our years; they have pro-
longed our days, but also our
suffering; they have given us
longer life expectancies, but
have not taught us how to

Shabbat
Behaalotecha:
Numbers

8:1-12:16,

Zechariah

2:144:7

spend those additional years
in happiness, in creative ac-
tivity or in dignity. In sum,
the modern world has confer-
red more years upon its
people — but has found their
minds and their goals in life
superfluous. And here lies
the tragic irony and the cruel-
paradox of longevity.
One of the worst problems
facing older people in
America today is that of
early or forced retirement.
Many of us know people who
are only in their 50s or early
60s and who are healthy and
productive but are unwanted
and finished in the world of
business. Imagine — not 75
but 55, and already too old
for our labor market and
business world. What a
shameful waste of ability, ta-
lent, and above all, experi-
ence. Such ageism, or age
discrimination, is every bit as
vicious and immoral as racial
or religious discrimination.

Morton F. Yolkut is rabbi at
Cong. B'nai David.

Our Jewish tradition pre.
sents us with a timely and
refreshing approach to the
idea of creative retirement.
In this week's sidrah we are
informed that the Levites
were to retire from their
work in the Temple once they
reached their 50th year. But
they were expected to con-
tinue to "serve their brethren
in the tents of the meeting"
(Numbers 8:25-26). This am-
biguous passage is explained
by our sages in the Midrash
in a most instructive way:
The retired Levite continued

TORAH PORTION

to do light work such as clos-
ing the Temple gates,, singing
in the choir, loading the wa-
gons. In other words some
form of creative activity was
believed essential for the well
being of retired individuals.
Moreover, the older Levites
could continue to make their
talents and experience avail-
able for the younger ones. As
Scripture often reminds us:
There is no teacher like ex-
perience, and no wisdom like
maturation.
Judaism has always main-
tained a wholesome attitude
to life, to aging, even to
death. The Psalmist prayed
to God to "teach us to
number our days wisely." The
fullest appreciation of each
precious moment and of each
blessed hour God has bes-
towed upon us — this was
the spirit of Jewish living.
We faced the matter of
aging with courage and
spirit, for we knew that the
aged always enjoyed a posi-
tion of honor in our commu-
nity. We remembered that
our most respected per-
sonalities had reached their
heights in their middle or
even later years. Had not
Moses written his greatest
songs close to his death? Had
not Rabbi Akiva turned to
study Torah when already a
middle-aged man?
In this age of unprece-
dented longevity, Judaism
reminds us that youth is not
the only blessed time of life.
It is time, therefore, to revise
our attitudes toward aging.
We can do this by respecting
and not disregarding our el-
ders, by keeping them useful
and productive and above all
by preparing now for our own
golden years.
Remember the words of
Robert Browning? "Grow old
with me, the best is yet to be,
the last of life for which the
first was made."

TRADITIONAL FRIDAY NIGHT
FAMILY SHABBAT DINNER

INCLUDING:
• Complete Catered Meal
• Kabbalat Shabbat Services
• Conversation
• Zmirot
• And More
• Birkat flamazon & Shabbat Ruach

Dinner 8:00 P.M.
Services 7:00 P.M.
CONGREGATION B'NAI DAVID
24350 Southfield Rd.
Southfield, Michigan

ADULTS . . . . $12.00

CHILDREN . . . . $8.00

Reservations must be made and
tickets purchased'by June 16, 1987

CALL: SYNAGOGUE OFFICE 557-8210

The Cultural Commission of

CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK

proudly presents

THE ANNUAL
PETER and CLARA WEISBERG CONCERT

featuring renowned violinist

ARNOLD STEINHARDT

accompanied by pianist

VICTOR STEINHARDT
TUESDAY EVENING, JUNE 16 - 8 P.M.
CONGREGATION SHAAREY ZEDEK

VICTOR STEINHARDT

ARNOLD STEINHARDT

General admission is free. Tickets will be mailed upon receipt of written request and stamped,
self-addressed envelope to Weisberg Concert, c/o Congregation Shaarey Zedek.

Patron tickets are available at $25 each. Patrons are entitled to reserved seating and attendance
at reception following the concert.

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