CHAPTER SIX - The Aging Process: Late Life Questions

C: EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

27. THE ELDERLY – RESPECTED OR REJECTED? [Sections 3,5]
(An hour and a half to two hours, twice, plus preparation and a possible visit).

The aims of this four-part activity are:

• To consider the theoretical Jewish approach to the elderly;
• To examine the practical present-day reality; and
• To evaluate how close the theory and the practice come to each other.
  If they are found to be far apart, the question to be examined is:
• Why and what can - or should - be done about it.

Preparatory Activity:

• A week or so before this activity, group members are asked to observe one or two older Jewish people in their family, their community or their neighbourhood. They should also try and speak to them about their way of life today, whether they are treated well (and whether they are satisfied). Afterwards, they should prepare some kind of a case report on the person, based on the answers, including whether they seem happy.
• On the day of the activity, the group presents some of their case stories to each other. This can be done initially as small groups and then in the group as a whole.

Discussion of Jewish Thought

• Present the following text excerpts to the group and use them to explore and analyse Judaism’s attitude towards how the old should be viewed and treated.

  Grey hair is a crown of splendour: it is attained by a righteous life.
  Proverbs 16:31
  Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?
  Job 12:12
  Do not treat a man with disrespect when he is old,
  For some of us are growing old…
  Do not neglect the discourse of wise men,
  But busy yourself with their proverbs,
  For from them you will gain instruction.
  And learn to serve great men.
  Do not miss the discourse of old men,
  For they learnt it from their fathers.
  From them you will gain understanding,
  And learn to return an answer in your time of need…
  How beautiful is the wisdom of old men…
  Rich experience is the crown of old men
  And their boast is the fear of the Lord.
  Ben Sira 8:6-9; 25:5-6
  Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your G-d. I am the Lord.
  Vayikra 19:32

• Does the group like the quotes? Are they good ideas?
• For how many of the elderly that the group observed are these sayings true? The majority/The minority?
• Are the quotes unrealistic? If so, why?
• What do they believe happened to society that created a situation where these ideas are not universally observed.
• In small groups, participants work out a suggested code of rules towards today’s elderly that they would like to see observed as norms within the community.
• Finally, groups work on ideas for a campaign to improve and enhance the status of the Jewish elderly within the community. It should include advertising and public relations, together with a suggested programme of actions and activities. All the ideas should be listed and a programme compiled from this, in which they would like to participate, or which they would like to present to the community.
• This programme could be followed by a visit to a Jewish old age home.
• Following the visit, the group could discuss their impressions; they might like to make some kind of a practical decision to take on an obligation towards the elderly in the home, or in the community, as a result of these activities.