´óÏó´«Ã½

Harvey Belovski, rabbi at Golders Green United Synagogue: 
I just returned from a speaking tour to Australia – the first time I’ve been there. I received warm hospitality in Perth and Sydney and had a wonderful time discovering new places and communities. I tried the local gin in Western Australia, and, would you believe, Tasmanian whisky, both surprisingly good. When I speak overseas, I attempt to inform and inspire my audiences, but I also try to learn from places I visit. One memorable experience happened on the first morning. 
The local rabbi, a former colleague from the UK, introduced me to his predecessor, the emeritus rabbi. Nothing odd about that, but then the emeritus rabbi introduced me to his emeritus, a man of over 100. He arrived at the synagogue before me every day and still gives classes. Amazingly, there’s no sign of him giving up his driving licence. In fact, he’s recently bought a new car with an extended warrantee. When I expressed my surprise, one of his flock quipped that at least he’s given up sky-diving! 
Given the easy-going lifestyle in Australia, I half expected him to introduce me to his predecessor. This encounter got me thinking about the value of continuity and the wealth of knowledge and wisdom that older people bring to my community and every other. It’s true that the future of every church, synagogue and mosque lies with the younger demographic. Because of that, we can be tempted to marginalise the older folk, but this would be a real mistake. Ancient Jewish sources often speak about the wisdom of senior citizens. The Bible itself requires us to rise in the presence of the elderly and in religious circles, we often see young people stand up when an older person walks past. 
This beautiful practice recognises the accumulation of wisdom and experience that resides in every older person. The American philosopher Ralph B. Perry once said that, ‘Age should not have its face lifted, but it should rather teach the world to admire wrinkles as the etchings of experience and the firm line of character.’ I love this idea. We tend to celebrate youth and beauty and find the wrinkles and infirmities of old age challenging, even frightening. Yet when we see them as lines of character and experience, I believe they can inspire and guide even the youngest to a better future.