FOR B'HAALOS'CHA
HAPPY FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY – TO ME!
This coming Thursday, 14 days into the Hebrew month of Sivan, is my birthday on the Jewish calendar.
This year, I am marking a special milestone: It is my fiftieth birthday.
Although a birthday is an individual celebration usually and exclusively reserved for the person involved, nonetheless, I take the liberty of sharing this information with you, my dear friends, as I occasionally do with other personal and family happenings and anecdotes involving my personal and communal life. Besides, I hope that the following words will inspire me and perhaps others as well.
In preparation for this important milestone in my life, the past five Good Shabbos Emails have contained teachings either about the number fifty in Judaism, or ideas generated by Psalm 51, the Psalm recited by those who have turned fifty.
Looking back at the previous five essays, the number fifty represents remarkable cogency in Judaism: 1) The fiftieth year of a fifty-year cycle is the Jubilee Year, the year which is sanctified and liberty is proclaimed across the land. 2) Fifty righteous people would have saved even the wicked people of the cities Sodom and Gomorrah. 3) The census of the Jewish people presented numbers divisible by fifty. 4) The Torah was given on the fiftieth day of the Omer counting. All of this emphasizes how the number fifty represents a personal cleansing and purification, and offers an opportunity of sanctity and transcendence.
Psalm 51 also provides a measured sense of responsibility for one’s actions, as well as a sense of clarity in how the Almighty wishes to see a sincere heart, not just meaningless actions for the purpose of display.
In essence, the number fifty provides the person deeper insights of a new beginning and a focused direction, leading to greatest heights.
According to the above, a verse in this week’s Torah portion, “B’haalos’cha,” seems to be quite disturbing. The Torah maps out the mission of the Levite tribe members during biblical and Temple times. They are to be treated with extra attention, “for they are dedicated to Me from among the children of Israel.” (Bamidbar (Numbers) 8:16.) The Torah describes how, following their initiation, the Levites performed their service (as enumerated in the previous two portions).
After this exciting development, the Torah adds the following point: “This is (the rule) for the Levite: He is qualified to serve in the Tent of Meeting from the age of twenty-five years and upwards. From the age of fifty, he is withdrawn from those qualified to work, and he may serve no longer. He may position himself around the Tent of Meeting to help his brothers perform their duty, but he may not perform the service.” (8:24-25.)
It seems as though retirement age is a must for a fifty-year old. That’s it. He has lost his job, and the “old man” is no longer qualified…
Is this really so? I am sure many of us know of people who just got started at fifty. Most presidents of the United States have been over fifty when elected. Many careers have begun after age fifty. Even those already in the workforce, continue on without batting an eye at fifty. The retirement age in most countries is not before sixtieth birthday, or even well past it. Many people are working into their eighties and nineties. What message is the Torah transmitting, especially to those turning fifty?
It is about a new beginning. The Sages of the Talmud teach in the fifth chapter of Ethics regarding a person in his or her sixth decade: “At fifty, a person (is qualified) to give counsel.” The Sages deduce this statement from this week’s Torah portion regarding the Levites. The Torah is teaching that when a person turns fifty, it is not about old age, slowing down, and heading for retirement in the literal meaning. It is, rather, about utilizing acquired talents to the fullest. Since the person has arrived at the great milestone of fifty years of age, the Torah expects that person to share, to guide, to assist, and to provide counsel to all who need it.
It is about prioritizing. Anyone between the ages of twenty-five and fifty can perform the manual and physical services expected of the Levites. When, at the age of fifty, the Torah instructs those who may still be very capable not to continue in the work force, the Torah is suggesting that the over-fifty group has different capabilities and other focuses. It is time to work by helping others. It is time for a new start.
And this is consistent with another connection to fifty, regarding Moses. The Torah records the final moments of Moses on this earth in this way: “Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo.” (D’varim (Deuteronomy) 34:1.) When spelled in Hebrew, the word “Nebo,” teach the mystics (Nun-Beis-Vov), can be read “Nun Bo,” or “the fiftieth is in him.” This is in reference to the statement of the Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 21,b): “The world was created with fifty gates of understanding, and they were all given to Moses except for the fiftieth.” On the last day of his life, however, Moses was granted access to the elusive “fiftieth gate.” The “fiftieth” was, indeed, “in him.”
Moses had completed all that he could, and his mission on this earth had ended. From here and on, a new focus was expected. Moses was thus elevated to the highest level, the fiftieth.
Moses, at this stage, was taken to heaven. For those remaining on earth and actually turning fifty years old, it is hoped they last for at least another seventy years living in this world. It is also hoped that, at fifty, one clearly acquires abilities that are liberating, cleansing, and transcending. The expectations are now higher.
For those celebrating their fiftieth birthday this time, or this month, or this year, please have a happy birthday, and a successful and productive decade. For those yet to arrive at this milestone, preparing now for this milestone will go a long way to enjoy this time properly when it arrives. For those past their sixth decade, your efforts are focused elsewhere. May they be filled with beautiful successes.
My wish is that every friend of mine reading these words, and even those who will not read them, be blessed with good health for them and theirs, with great success and only beautiful news constantly.
I also hope that every single one of you will please have me in mind for all good wishes, so that, with your help, I can do my utmost to improve myself and, with the help of Heaven, hopefully do at least something good, if not lots of good, for the rest of the world as well.
SUMMARY: According to the Torah, age fifty – as in the number fifty – introduces a new beginning and different horizons and vistas. Happy fiftieth birthday – to me!