ON GETTING OLDER

 Rabbi Rifat Sonsino, Ph.D

 This is a personal blog but I like to share it with you, my viewers, who have followed me for years. It has to do with getting older, and the way I try to deal with it.

 According to the Hebrew Bible, 70 was considered “old age.”—that’s when King David died (II Sam. 5:4). In reality, people did not usually live that long. It is estimated that in Biblical times, the average age at death was about 35.  I, now at 84, view myself as getting older but not old. I do not know how much longer I have but I am certain I will not reach 120, a la Moses.

I am, however, noticing some changes in my daily life:

 1.     I am much slower. I do not process novelties fast. Everything takes a bit longer. Recently we went on a Caribbean cruise with my wife Ines, but I could not keep up with her during our daily walk around the deck, so I gave up.

2.     I like my routine. There an element of security there. I walk everyday. I use the gym twice a week. But I am afraid to fall.

3.     My memory is falling. I don’t remember too many names or locations. As a Bible scholar with a Ph.D in Bible and Cuneiform studies, I used to know all the Assyrian kings by name and in the correct order. Now, as president of our residents’ association at the Willows in Westborough, MA, where we live, I don’t even bother memorizing names. For this, I rely on my wife who is much younger. 

4.     During my professional life, I have published 11 books and chaired many national committees, but these days, I live reservedly, enjoying each breath I take. Even though, last year I co-authored a new book, A God We Can Believe In and my blog has reached almost 800,000 viewers around the world, I am slowing down and do not have the energy I had before.

5.     Recently, my daughter asked me for my happiest moment in my life? In the past, I had many such occurrences: when I came to the USA, when I got married, when our children and grandchildren were born, when one of my articles or books was published, but now the best I can say is that I am content with what I have and am. In comparison to many of my neighbors, I still have it, and my mind is still working.

6.     More and more I am irritated at the narrow mindedness of many of the younger people I encounter or read about, who still believe in “miracles” –it is only a metaphor, they say-; who follow what I call a  primitive theology that is based on false hopes instead of dealing with issues with reason and rationality. But I keep my mouth shut. I will not change the world. People who are interested in my views can read my books or my blog.

7.     After I die, I am sure, someone will say, there was a man by the name Rifat Sonsino, who used to say…..but I will never hear it myself, because I do not believe in resurrection!!!

  So, my friends, I am content with my achievements for which I was fortunate, and leave it to my children and grandchildren and their generation to keep the universe going.

 I am ok with this.

 SONSINO’S BLOG, rsonsino.blogspot.com