Sharing Wisdom

Multigenerational relationships are mutually beneficial.

hey shall speak about Your
Greatness, one generation to
another." (Psalms 145:4)
Grandparents have been in the news
lately. Some are in the courts seeking
visitation rights to see their grandchildren.
Others, who are actively raising their
grandchildren, are demanding they be
granted the same respect extended to anyone
serving in a parental role.
In the Jewish community, these are not
new issues. We have understood for years the
necessary bond across the generations. Just
as parents and children need one another, it
is obvious that grandparents and
grandchildren ought to share in each other's
lives, too, and even great-grandparents and
great- grandchildren, if the opportunity
exists. Such multigenerational relationships
are mutually beneficial, for our greatest
sources of knowledge come from both the
elderly and the young.
"You shall rise before the aged and show
deference to the old." (Leviticus 19:32)
In the Torah, the word for elderly, zaken,
also means "wise." In Pirke Avot, Chapter
Four, Rabbi Yosi bar Yehudah emphasizes
the wisdom of the elderly by comparing
people with fine wine that grows better with
age.
The Commentaries explain that even
those who lack "book learning" or college
degrees nonetheless can teach us much,
because their life experience alone brings
them knowledge, and more significantly, a
richer understanding of God.
"Out of the mouths of babes You have
established strength." (Psalms 8:3)
Like the oldest among us, the young
children are also a source of wisdom and
closeness with God. In the Song of Songs,
Rabbah 1:4 describes how God refused to
give the Torah until Moses could prove that

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Israel was worthy of this
gift. Moses declares:
"Give us the Torah in
recognition of the
Patriarchs. Give us the
Torah in recognition of
the Prophets." God
rejects these suggestions
Rabbi Elliot
— the Patriarchs and the
Pachter
Prophets demonstrate
strength, but they are flawed characters. God
approves only Moses' final plea: "Give us the
Torah on account of the children." It is the
children who can be counted on to renew
the value of Torah in every generation.
In the Talmud, Bavli Niddah 30b, we are
told that prior to birth a child is instructed
in all the words of the Torah and its
commentaries. However, all is forgotten
once a child enters the world. The birth of a
child reminds us of our duty to "relearn" all
that we once knew.
Consider further the wisdom of the
youngest members of our community. I
heard a story about a 4-year-old boy whose
parents had just brought home their
newborn younger son. The big brother
insisted on spending some time alone with
the baby. The nervous parents reluctantly
agreed, then listened closely over the baby
monitor. They heard their older son say to
the newborn, "Please help me remember
what God looks like; I'm starting to forget."
"May God bless you . . . and may you see
children's children." (Psalms 128:5-6)
Enrich your life with the presence of
parents and children, grandparents and
grandchildren. Whether part of your family,
or in the community, seek out the
companionship of the elderly and the
youthful. In them, you will have found
wisdom, you will have found the face of
God.

.77.4.01M. *2•,01.1.0...be

Rabbi Elliot Pachter is spiritual leader of Congregation B'nai Moshe

CHILDREN & TEENS

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Annette and Company
School of Dance

28857 Orchard Lake Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
(248) 553-0305
Contact Person: Annette Bergasse, owner

Offering tap, jazz, hip hop and ballet. Beginner
through advanced. Home of dance champions and
dance professionals.

Birthday Parties

Jewish Community Center - Kahn Bldg.
6600 W. Maple Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48322
(248) 661-7679
Fax: (248) 661-3680
Contact Person: Polly Prime

Jewish Community Center - JPM Bldg.
15110 W. 10 Mile
Oak Park, MI 48237
(248) 967-4030
Fax: (248) 967-0060
Contact Person: Erica Dills

Birthday parties available for children age 1 -12
and include sports, swimming and games for
groups up to 30. Toddler gym parties.

Eugene and Marcia Applebaum
Jewish Family and
Parenting Center

4200 Walnut Lake Road
West Bloomfield, MI 48323
(248) 681-5353
Fax: (248) 681-4251
E-Mail: jpc@shaareyzedek.org
Website: www.shaareyzedek.org
Contact Person: Janet Pont, director

Offers classes, programs and events for expectant
parents, families, parents and grandparents.
Family parties for holidays, Shabbat dinners and
guest speakers are available to the entire
community.

in West Bloomfield.

JN • SOURCEBOOK 2000 •

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