I TORAH PORTION I Saturday, November 12, 1988, 8:30 P.M. Let The People Rejoice In Their Many Years RABBI IRWIN GRONER Special to The Jewish News And Abraham was old, ad- vanced in age; and the Lord blessed Abraham — bakol — with everything. Our sages sought to unders- tand what the Torah intend- ed to impart with the word "everything." They said Abraham demanded from God something that had never been bestowed upon man. Although Abraham had everything — material posses- sions, children, power and Shabbat Chayei Sarah: Genesis 23:1-25:18, I Kings 1:1-31 success — he demanded old age. God said to him: "You asked for something very good and precious. You will have old age." This passage of the midrash may seem bizarre to the modern mind because one of the most universal fears and concerns of our time is the fear of growing old. In every generation, men and women have sought fantastic ways to prevent the onrush of advan- cing years. Our era is distinguished by its effort to stem the tide of time. Whole industries are set aside for this enterprise, pro- vidng cosmetics to conceal wrinkles, chemicals to dye the hair, garments to conceal or disclose those silhouettes appropriate to youthful, rather than mature, persons. Why this desperate effort to hide one's age? First, age is erroneously believed to be a sign of uselessness and inef- fectiveness. In some in- dustries, men and women are displaced for the universal crime of getting older. Second, youth is considered more desirable because it is associated with strength, vitality and excitement. Since youth is deemed the time of vigor, energy and joy, the onset of advancing age is viewed with trepidation and distress. But Abraham demanded age, and God blessed him by granting it to him. The midrash suggests that Abraham perceived a pro- Irwin Groner is rabbi of Congregation Shaarey Zedek. found human truth: Every age has its unique beauty, its particular zest, its charac- tristic blessing. Every season has its place in nature; every period in life has its special significance. What do you consider the most beautiful of all the seasons? The time of spring with its budding trees and leaves and the sense of nature's renewal? What would it be like to have a year without the twilight of an autumn day, when the setting sun fills the colored leaves with a beauty that spring can never know? What about the soft snowflakes of winter, which no season can duplicate? Who can say that youth is better than age? Just as life is incomplete without each season, so does each age bring a different dimension of experience. For this reason, the sages list the qualities of each age: At the age of 30, a person has reached his full physical power; at 40, one attains understanding; at 50, the time for counsel; 60, for mature age; 80, a time of great spiritual strength. When John Dewey, the philosopher, was 90, a young teacher said to him: "Pro- fessor, I hope I'll be present at your hundredth birthday." "Why not?" Dewey respond- ed. "You look healthy enough to last until then." Dewey had a sense of humor about his age. I have found that people of advanced years have a certain mellow wisdom. They have dealt with sorrow and have overcome it. They have dealt with passion and have disciplined it. They have found peace and meaning. For Abraham, old age was not a punishment, but a reward. It can be a reward for those who retain the interest and alertness of victorious liv- ing. It is a reward for those who continue to fill their days with mental and spiritual adventure. 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