Madlik Podcast – Disruptive Torah Thoughts on Judaism · Geoffrey Stern

Yom Kippur: Reflecting on Age

·38 min·3 clips

Why does the Bible's list of vulnerable groups exclude the elderly, and what does Moses' conflicting description reveal about aging?

This episode explores how Jewish texts and traditions address aging, mortality, and communal responsibility for the elderly. Hosts Rabbi Jeffrey Stern and Rabbi Adam Mintz are joined by Yossi Hyman, director of JDC Eshel and the Muni 100 initiative in Israel. The conversation centers on a contradiction in the Torah regarding Moses's old age, where he states he can no longer "go out and come in" yet is described with undimmed eyes and unabated vigor. The hosts examine why the elderly are not explicitly included in the Bible's classic list of vulnerable populations—the widow, orphan, stranger, and poor. Yossi Hyman explains his work with Muni 100, a program partnering with 20 Israeli municipalities to promote "optimal aging" and prepare cities for residents living to 100 years. The program focuses on increasing older adults' presence in public spaces through daily outings, 150 minutes of weekly walking, and social participation two to four times weekly. A surprising insight is that only 2% of older adults in Israel live in institutions, the lowest rate in the OECD, which Hyman attributes to strong family structures. The hosts note that the Yom Kippur liturgy transforms the Psalmist's singular plea, "Do not cast *me* away in old age," into a plural communal prayer, "Do not cast *us* away." They suggest the High Holidays serve as a unique annual ritual where entire congregations confront aging and mortality together. The tone is conversational and educational, blending textual analysis with modern social policy. Listeners interested in Jewish ethics, gerontology, or community building will find this episode compelling, while those seeking purely theological or narrative content might find the policy discussion less engaging.

As heard by us

A Yom Kippur conversation that turns aging into a communal and civic question.

The episode frames Yom Kippur through a useful blind spot: the Torah's concern for the widow, orphan, stranger, and poor, but not often the elderly.

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Why you'd press play

If you want Torah, aging, and public policy in one conversation, start here.

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