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Rabbi Yehuda (Leonard) Blank MS, BCC
Vice President of Professional Development and External Affairs
Chair of the Chaplaincy Commission
Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim
917-446-2126 rablenblank@gmail.com
<>Thursday January 18, 2024, Shevat 8, 5783<>
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My readers might notice in my title above “Chair of the Chaplaincy Commission”. It is not a new position or title recently given. I develop professional rabbinical, spiritual, educational, secular programs, trainings, webinars and presentations for Rabbis, Rebbetzins, Chaplains and other professionals. I also am involved in doing outreach and collaborative development with other rabbinical, chaplaincy and secular organizations in addition to my weekly Moments of Inspiration. In developing the forthcoming conference for Jewish Chaplains, I am proud to collaborate with my conference Co-Chair Rabbi Dr. Doniel Kramer. We are looking forward to a meaningful and exciting program being hosted by Touro University. The Vice Dean and Executive Vice President of Touro University, Dr. Robert Goldschmidt LL.D. will be offering his greetings. The Keynote speaker will be the world renown Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser. Our two distinguished presenters will be Rabbi Dr. Hillel Fox and Rabbi Simcha Silverman. Acting as respondent is the distinguished Rabbi Dr. Doniel Kramer. I will be acting as the moderator. Please see the attached flyer. Registration is still on going.
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It is interesting to note the ages of Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon HaKohen, 83 and 80 respectively when they finally meet each other after many years apart. It is the beginning of the story of the Exodus which begins in our Torah, Parshas. Va’eira. I have often written about what it means to be older (and not old). Feeling good about oneself is important, not looking at what a person cannot do but rather what a person can do.. At a recent wedding I attended a well-known rabbi was telling me about his father whose wife was nifteres, remarried at 84 years of age and in fact the former Rosh Yeshiva of Chafetz Chaim Yeshiva zt”l also remarried in his 80’s. HaKadoh Baruch Hu can do and make anything possible.
From Relevance Pirkei Avos for the Twenty-First Century, by Rabb Dan Roth; A project of Torah Live www.torahlive.com. Distributed by Feldheim Publishers Pages 238-247.“The Sixties: More than a Senior-Citizen Discount. A Sixty-Year-Old for Wisdom. At sixty, a person attains a new level of wisdom, known as zikna. The word zaken) from which zikna is derived) is an acronym for zeh shekana chochma- the one who has acquired wisdom. The wisdom a sixty-year-old attains is the wisdom of life that is gained from many years of living in experiencing the world.
Zikna is often mistranslated as “old age.” “Old” refers to something that has passed its “sell-by-date,” something whose usefulness has expired, Indeed, the word for “old” in Hebrew-yashan- has the same root as sheina (sleep), and ishon (darkness), both of which portray negative images of inactivity and withdrawal, Translating zikna as “old” implies that the sixty-year-old is past his prime and is of secondary importance, like and old product that is better replaced by a new one.
This misnomer is taken from the Western world. Western culture tends to measure people according to their level of productivity, and therefore regards elderly people, who are no longer as productive as the younger generation, as being of lesser importance. Consider the justification often heard for why elderly people deserve respect, namely, that they worked for many years and contributed a lot to society. The emphasis is on what they achieved in the past-what they did and who they were-rather than on who they are now.”
The negative light in which secular society regards aging is clear from the way people react to the mention of growing old. If a person comments that he is getting old, his acquaintances will usually try to deny it, saying “It’s not true,” as if “growing old” were a negative and derogatory term, a phenomenon to be avoided at all costs, to the point that anyone who even suggests the thought must be comforted or corrected.
Chazal, on the other hand, views the aging process positively, noting the new level of understanding that the sixty-year-old attains. In fact, the word zakein is often used as a form of praise to connote wisdom. The Torah, for example, refers to the leaders of the generation as the zekeinim, and when the Gemara wants to rule authoritatively on a matter, it states, “Kevar hora zakein- the zakein has already ruled, implying that there is nothing more to argue about.”Ir
“The Seventies: A Wrinkle in Time” “A Seventy-Year for Seiva” “The word seiva refers to the fact that by the time a person reaches the age of seventy, most of his hair has turned white. (Though there are men whose hair is white before the age of 70). When Rabbi Elazer ben Azaria’ hair miraculously went white overnight at the age of eighteen, he commented that he was now like a seventy-year-old. He specifically mentioned seventy, and not sixty or eighty, because seventy is associate with white hair.” It is a known fact that as one ages, the body is not as strong. It is interesting to note that though a person reaches seventy and older there are those aches and pains. Yet it is not uncommon for those who are in the forties’and fifties’ start beginning to feel their bodies already showing signs of pain and weakness-well before the age of 70. There are those who are in these later years feeling strong enough for many types of activities. Unfortunately, symptoms of arthritis have already started making an impact on a person’s body, already in the 40’s and 50’s.
Retirement ages have already begun to shift back to the older ages. “We see that according to the Torah; a person never stops working in the sense of being productive and active. All he does is switch from one type of work to another. Less physical? Yes. Less creative or mentally demanding? Not at all. On the contrary, the job of advising the younger Levi’im required more knowledge and expertise than that of hauling the vessels.
Retirement is not a time to leave work in order to fill one’s time with trivialities, but rather, a time to shift from one form of productivity to another, a time to begin achieving more spiritually. The Torah informs us that Moshe was eighty and Aharon eighty-three when they first went to Pharoh to request permission to leave Egypt. According to one of the commentators, the Torah deliberately records their ages to emphasize that in the Torah’ eyes that latter years of one’s life are meant for increased achievement and productivity.”
We don’t have to look far back in history to see examples of people achieving tremendous things in their old age. Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe opened a yeshiva when he was eighty. Furthermore, he wasn’t just a figurehead, but was actively involved with each of the students.
The Bostoner Rebbe, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz, established his shul and Chassidic court in Jerusalem when he was sixty-five. At an age when most people are going into retirement and taking life easy, he was building a new community.
These Gedolim didn’t feel a loss of identity in their older years. On the contrary, they felt an added sense of identity, as they were doing what they did best, bringing together all the skills and wisdom they had gathered throughout their lives and using them for the benefit of the community. Their golden years are a culmination of their life’s work, the most thrilling and stimulating years of their existence.”
I have written about Israelis with Down Syndrome living active lives and showed videos from a wonderful organization in Israel of the phenomenal loving assistance they give couples with Down Syndrome who are able to and do get married. There are so many examples of how the Ribono shel Olam shows so much love, care and kindness He gives to Klal Yisrael. But, what about those who have immense difficulties in life for whatever reason it may be. As rabbis, rebbetzins and chaplains we have to be a source of hope even when it a seems there is no hope. We can be inspirational-can inspire others as the theme of the chaplains’ conference is “The chaplains’ mission to be a source of inspiration, faith and guidance in today’s challenging times.”
“When Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian was almost eighty, he was offered a position as a mashgiach of a major yeshiva, but declined, expressing his desire to spend his final days learning. When he went to see the Chazon Ish about the matter, the Chazon Ish told him that the promise of freshness, youthfulness, and vigor in old age (“Od yenuvun b’seiva, deheinim v’ra’ananim yiheyu”) is dependent on spreading G’s Name in the world(“Lehaggid ki Yashar H…”). Rabbi Lopian accepted the post, which he held for another twenty years, until he passed away when he was almost one hundred.
The above are spiritual considerations which suggest why strengthening one’s service to G leads to long life. But there is also a more down-to-earth, psychological factor for this phenomenon.
People have a deeply rooted need to grow. G embedded this need into our psyche so that we may fulfill the purpose for which we were created, which is to strive to grow ever closer to G and earn our place in the World to Come. An easy life may not present any challenges, but it also provides no opportunities for growth.”
“The ages of man: how quickly they pass. The twenty-year-old, filled with vigor and ambition, soon finds himself, as if in the blink of an eye, sixty years old, then seventy and eighty. If he is wise, he will welcome each new milestone, for each one has its own precious qualities and unique characteristics. The Sages of this remarkable Mishnah teach us that, whatever age, it presents us with special gifts with which to grow personally and to relate more effectively to others and to our Creator. For those who take this Mishnah seriously, there are no midlife crises, and no traumas upon reaching certain points in life.
People often say to one another, “Act your age.” But our Sages teach that it is not enough to behave a certain age. It is even more important to be that age, for each new decade of life provides a new challenge to become that which we were truly meant to be.”
In Pirkei Avos, Ethics of Our Fathers there are many attributes and passages that are meaningful on how we truly should behave such as kindness between man and his fellow ; Kaf zechus- give the other person the benefit of the doubt, don’t be in the rush to be judgmental; be like Aaron( Aharon Hakohen) a peacemaker; obtain spiritual goals: rousing one’s soul to higher pursuits and mitzvos: being nice to the young and elderly and happiness to all. (English version The Schottenstein Edition. The Artscoll Series Mesorah Publications Ltd. Ethics of Our Fathers) Perek Aleph, pasuk beis(2) “Shimon the Righteous say On three things the world depends, on Torah study, on the service of G and on bestowing kindness. The performance of benevolent acts between man and his fellow.”. Pasuk vav (6) “Accept upon yourself a teacher, acquire for yourself a friend; and judge every person favorably.” Pasuk yud beis (12)” Hillel says: Be of among the disciples of Aharon, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving people and bringing them closer to the Torah.” “In Talmudic literature Aharon is described as the great peacemaker who went to great lengths to make peace between man and wife and between feuding Jews.” Pasuk yud daled (14) He would say: If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I am for myself, what am I? And if not now, when? Pasuk tes zayin (17) Rabbi Yishmael says: Be yielding to a superior, pleasant to the young and older and be to every person with happiness.”
It is not easy to change one’s demeanor or personality. I know someone who often finds fault in others. Conversations do not always turn to being pleasant about others or everyday life situations. B H there are many mussar and inspirational sefarim in English and Hebrew to learn from, and wonderful rabbis, rebbetzins and chaplains to share one’s concerns with. It is not an easy task to be able to inspire others and who says we can do it all. It is interesting that there are many who attend all kinds of inspirational classes but have a difficult time being able to apply what they have learned and integrate those important ideas into their own lives. Giving chizuk or pastoral counseling can often do wonders for individuals and even couples. There is a young rebbetzin I know who has had tremendous success helping and guiding others in her previous educational positions she has held and the many who continue to seek her advice. She is very knowledgeable, kind, caring, shows interest in whomever seeks her guidance and advice and does so from the bottom of her heart with tremendous sincerity and humbleness. She is a confidence builder instilling lots of emunah and self-appreciation especially to those who very much need that confidence booster. She does so with lots of patience and understanding.
Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis a”h was amazing. The impact she had on the masses as well as the individuals who she gave chizuk and counseling to was phenomenal. Her legacy lives on through the books she authored, the copies of her lectures and the many video recordings she gave on various topics. Rebbetzins can and do play an important role. Female chaplains are valued and respected for their outstanding work.
Having and giving hakaros hatov is important. We see that from Moshe Rabbeinu and why he did not initiate the first three makkos. The first three makkos/plagues of the ten plagues were initiated by Aharon HaKohen rather than Moshe Rabbeinu out of his gratefulness, his hakaros hatov for having been saved by the water and the earth. As a newborn baby, Moshe’s mother placed him in a basket in the Nile River. Pharoh’s daughter who was bathing at the river reached out and brought the basket to safety. She thereby named this child Moshe/ Moses. Both the plague of Dam, the water turning to blood, and the Tzfardeia, the plague of the frogs, also began from the water. The dust of the ground from which the Kinim/Lice came from. Moshe did not do the plague of Kinim because he was grateful to the dust, that covered the body of the Egyptian who was attacking a Jewish person.
There is much for us to be maker tov to the Ribono shel Olam and to each other. To our mentors, whoever they may be, our spouses, our family members, our friends and neighbors amongst many others. We are mispallel to be good mentors ourselves and to be successful in avodas H. We thank H for being able to be the best possible rabbis, rebbetzins and chaplains. To all of my readers, each and every one of you can have those meaningful attributes mentioned above in Pirkei Avos. We truly can make a difference in people’s lives as well as our own. Most of all we should never give up hope and with emunah sheleima, with trust, betachon in H we know everything can be possible. It is up to H to decide what He wants to be possible for us. Therefore, we also remain strong and steadfast in our tefilos, in our bakashos, in speaking to H day and night for whatever we so desire and what is important to us. We are also mispallel for others. At the conclusion of reading this article, close your eyes and pray to H. Don’t forget, H loves us and we love Him. Sincerely, Rabbi Yehuda Blank
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