Miller's Musings Parshas Vayeshev: Age Old Advice

 

בס''ד

Yosef is renowned for his standing as the most beloved child of Yaakov with the reason given by the Torah as being that he was the “ben zekunim”, usually translated as “a son of his (Yaakov’s) old age”.  This is however both curious and challenging in its correct interpretation and requires elucidation since in actual fact the word “zekunim” means only old age rather than ‘his’ old age and even if this were the case why is it given as the cause of his being the most favoured child?

To answer this Reb Yitzchok Zilberstein shilta brings the sefer Ohel Yaakov’s explanation as to why one who honours one’s parents is assured by the Torah of a long life.  In a departure from the more obvious understanding, he explains that a person that honours their father and mother would by definition be spending time with them, absorbing their teachings and gaining their sagely advice.  This will mean that even in one’s younger days they will be far less restricted in their knowledge by the follies of youth and far closer to the status of elder statesperson due to wisdom they have garnered from their parents.  The long life they acquire is therefore not strictly in the years that they live, but in the years of experience and knowledge that can be attributed to them, including those of their parents.  This, Rabbi Zilberstein explains, is one understanding of what is attributed as being the cause for Yosef’s status.  He was a child who, due to the time he spent with Yaakov, was a favourite of his and also in this perspective in his old age despite his few years.  

The world we live in is one that to an increasingly great extent belittles and undervalues the elderly, in stark contrast to the directives of the Torah with regard to those more senior than ourselves.  Yet we may mistakenly believe that the honour accorded to old people is solely for their sake or as a means to honing our own character traits.  Those both being true, an additional and significant facet of this mitzvoh is understanding how much there is to be gained from an association with those who have had so much experience of all of life’s ups and downs as well as its little foibles.  They have that oft lauded strength, the benefit of hindsight, which we can gain so much from and a knowledge of a life lived that is impossible to be gained without having lived it.  Viewed this way any opportunity to help or interact in any way with the aged is, far from being an activity of giving, actually a means to enriching our own lives in ways beyond which we could ever be capable of by ourselves. 

May Shabbos, and all we share it with, enrich our lives.

 

 

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