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Posted May 1, 2008, by Rabbi Judy Abrams. Please refer to
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THE YERUSHALMI'S DEFINITON OF OLD AGE
© Judith Z. Abrams, 2008
The Yerushalmi here tells us that if
one is condemned to excommunication, he will die at fifty years
of age. But what if someone was excommunicated and doesn't
die at 50? Here¹s the Yerushalmi's explanation:
As to death at the age of 52, that is
the age at which the prophet Samuel died.
He who dies at 60 dies in the way the
Torah refers to death.
Death at the age of 70 is death as an
act of love.
Death at the age of 80 is true old age.
From that age onward, life is a life
of pain. (Y. Bikkurim 2:1)
The Gemara goes on to give prooftexts
for each of these assertions. Compare these with Pirkei Avot:
50 is the age of counsel
60 is old age
70 is satisfactory old age
80 is strength in old age
90 is stooped over
100 is as if he had died and passed from the world. (Pirkei Avot
5:25)
Both texts look at old age past 80 as
a burden. These passages show that people did live extraordinarily
long lives in the ancient world. If one could survive childhood,
one did have the chance of living a very long time.
Discussion Questions:
- Have things changed much in 1500 years?
Is life past 80 a life of pain?
- Is great old age something to desire
or something to avoid?
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