In today’s parasha, there is a reference to
advanced age. In chapter 47:7-9 we read:
7 Joseph then brought his father
Jacob and presented him to Pharaoh; and Jacob greeted Pharaoh. 8 Pharaoh
asked Jacob, "How many are the years of your life?" 9 And Jacob
answered Pharaoh, "The years of my sojourn [on earth] are one hundred and
thirty. Few and hard have been the years of my life, nor do they come up to the
life spans of my fathers during their sojourns." 10 Then
Jacob bade Pharaoh farewell, and left Pharaoh's presence.
The question Pharoah asks of Jacob can be literally
translated as “ How many are the days of the years of your life?” This question gets an answer that in this day
and age might seem strange. Jacob
basically says he is not elderly, because at 130 years of age he is not as old
as his father and his grandfather before him.
He explains that he has aged, however, because the life he has lived as
a wanderer has been difficult.
The Rabbis commented on this passage by stating that people
may grow up without growing old; they may grow old without growing up. In other words, it is not one’s chronological
age that matters, but what one does with his/her years that matters.
In the case of you, Ben, I would say the Rabbis would have
looked at you today at age 95 and said that you have grown up without growing
old. The days of your life have been used in ways that have made a difference. Those
of us who know you today think of you as an elder statesman at Tifereth
Israel. You manage to come out for
services and programs no matter what the weather, no matter what the time! You delight us with your sense of humor, you’re
gentle and kind no matter how you’re feeling, and you show great concern for
the future of the world and the young people who will be inheriting the Earth
in the years to come. You are up to date
on current events, can add perspective about the past, and although you speak
quietly, what you have to say is instructive.
Although you retired from the Workman’s Compensation Court in 1996, it
is obvious to those of us who know you that it is not a stretch to call you
YOUR HONOR. In fact, having you in our
presence is an honor!
Ben, you are constantly sowing seeds for the future. You have
supported the establishment of a library at the Harris Center for Judaic
Studies and a study room at the UNL College of Law. When a group of young men gathered to re-establish
a chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu on campus, you attended as the oldest living member
of the original Sammy House at UNL to show your support for their endeavor.
Anyone who has lived for 95 years knows that life is filled
with both blessings and challenges. A major blessing in your life was your
lifelong soulmate, Aloha. When she
battled health issues at the end of her life, you remained by her side,
advocated for her well-being, and never stopped loving her. You came to shul to say kaddish for her for a
full year, showing respect for her memory and for Jewish tradition. Out of that simple act, came new friendships
at our shul and a sense of belonging that I hope have made your past few years
with this congregation as meaningful as the days when you were much younger and
there were more individuals your own age present. I know that I speak for all of us who have had
the privilege of being with you on every Shabbat, that we treasure your
friendship immensely.
Ben, we are delighted that you have chosen to share this
special birthday with us today. We
cherish your example of how to live every day of life with purpose and how to
grow up while not growing old! Ad Meah
V’Esrim!
Shabbat Shalom.
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