What Judaism Has to Say About Retirement

Rabbi Lance J. Sussman

This week’s Torah portion is Korach: Numbers 16:1 – 18:32

In 1982, my father, Charles Sussman, retired. He was only 57 years old but was beginning to have health issues. By adding two years beyond his earliest possible retirement age of 55, he was able to improve and permanently secure health benefits for himself and my mother. My Dad had a good pension, beginning with his military service in World War II, and then as a teacher, guidance counselor and district-wide administrator in Baltimore County. On the day of his retirement, the school system touted my dad’s achievements at a special luncheon. Fortunately, Dad was able to enjoy a long retirement before passing in 2010. My father’s retirement served as a powerful model for my own thinking about retirement even though I was only at the beginning of my career.

In this week’s Torah portion Chukat, from the Book of Numbers, Chapter 20, we read about the decision of Moses to retire. The Exodus had been proceeding through the Sinai desert.

It was a difficult experience for Moses and for the people. A rough terrain, communal politics and, most of all, thirst, were major challenges. Moses appealed on high to find water. He was to “strike a rock” to make water flow but he was tired and hit the rock twice in anger. A divine decree was then announced that Moses would not lead the people into the Promised Land. In other words, he was told that he was going to retire. Of course, he was more than double the age of my own father at that moment in his life!

I was planning to work to age 72. Ten years before that, my synagogue administrator suggested that I attend a rabbinic pension seminar to learn about the process of retiring from the pulpit. To my surprise, I actually enjoyed the sessions I attended over a three-day period and walked away from them with a powerful message: “retire to something, not from something.” It was a good thing I went to the seminar, as a health issue resulted in me taking an early retirement from the pulpit. My last year in my pulpit became a grand celebration of my work in the congregation. Remembering the advice I had been given, I also started to formulate plans for my post-pulpit years and concentrate on scholarship, writing and teaching. So far, so good, and I have had success in meeting my new goals.

Retirement from the pulpit has also given me the opportunity to reflect on Judaism’s view of retirement. Moses’ retirement proved to be unusual, as Judaism does not believe in mandatory retirement, with the exception of the ancient Levites. On the other hand, retirement in Judaism does not mean disconnecting from life and sitting down in a rocking chair for thirty years. In retirement, one should continue to contribute to society in various meaningful ways. Judaism also teaches respect for our elders and associates old age with wisdom gained from a life of learning and experiences.

Of course, it is impossible to talk about aging without discussing health. Genetics, lifestyle and even luck all shape how we grow older. Retirement is a particularly significant milestone in one’s life when all these factors become more acute. For good mental health, it is essential that we retire to and not from something in our later years, to remain engaged by life and maintain a positive attitude. It is also the responsibility of the community to care for its older adults, honor them, and provide for their physical, social and mental needs.

For many years, my good friend and colleague, Rabbi Richard F. Address, has been working on the concept of “sacred aging” by writing and lecturing on the topic, as well by hosting a podcast by the same name. I encourage you to visit his website at jewishsacredaging.com. It is a remarkable resource on retirement and about growing older, including an impressive list of articles he wrote.

Lance J. Sussman, Ph.D., is rabbi emeritus of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel and a past chair of the Board of Governors of Gratz College.