CHAPTER SIX - The Aging Process: Late Life Questions

C: EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

29. Ritually Aging [Section 12]
(An hour and a half)

The aim of this activity is to explore the question of ritual in general, and ritual for the aging, in particular.

• Group members are asked why we, as Jews, tend to celebrate a bar or bat mitzvah. A list of reasons should be written up on poster board.
  [Hint:
  Reasons might vary from, “to make people part of the community” to, “ to acknowledge physical or emotional changes”.]
• Those who had a ceremony are asked to say what they felt they gained in the wake of the celebration. This list of answers should also be written up and posted on the wall, or board.
  [Hint:
  The answers might vary from, “Cool” or, “Loved being the centre of attention” to, “More adult”, or “More part of the community”. They might even be indifferent, or negative.]
• Discuss with the group what people can gain from being part or the focus of rituals.

Notes:

• This question draws together much of the material that the group has already encountered in previous sections of the programme and provide a good indication of whether the ideas are being internalised or not.
• It might be appropriate here to review some of the ideas on ritual from the Introductory Chapter: emphasising the idea that ritual tends:
  • to correspond to some objective change in a person’s life; and
  • to infuse that change with meaning, both in the eyes of the individual and in the eyes of the surrounding community

• Does the process of aging represents one such change?:
  • Is there an aging ritual in Judaism or not? Discuss why this might be.
  • Might it be a good idea to create some kind of a ritual to mark the transition to old age?
  • What might this do for the participants?
    [Consult the second list on the board for relevant items.]
  • What might it do for the community?
• Does the group feel that it is valid to try and create new rituals? [Hint:
  Bar Mitzvah is a relatively modern ceremony in Judaism, the Bat Mitzvah even more so.]
• In small groups, participants suggest some ideas for a ritual entrance into old age:
  • When should the ritual occur?
  • What should it mark?
  • Should it be at the same age for men and women?
  • Should it be connected with any season of the year, any festival?
    Each group suggests the elements that, in their opinion, should be included within a ritualised celebration for old age.
• Presentations and exchange of ideas take place in the larger group, with each team explaining the elements that they chose, as well as questions of age and time asked above.
• Share with the group the fact that, in the last twenty years or so, some Jews have started to celebrate such rituals, especially women. Discuss the reasons underlying and messages from these ceremonies.
• If possible, introduce the text of the Savina Teubal ceremony (see Bibliography), and explore its meanings in the context of the age, time and purpose of all ritual ceremonies.