Moses said: "We will all go, young and old; we will go with our sons and daughters, flocks and herds; for we must observe the festival of Y-H-W-H." (Ex. 10:9)
The Gemara says: At the celebration of water drawing [the elders] used to say: "Happy is our youth that did not shame our old age" (b. Sukkah 53a). This implies that they followed the right and holy path even when they were young. Thus, in their old age they were not ashamed of the deeds of their youth. But if your youthful behavior is not holy you may be ashamed of your actions when you mature. Then you will have to break your old habits, so it is better to act with sanctity now.
Thus we understand the verse: "Teach a youth according to his way, and he will not leave it even when he ages" (Prov. 22:6). If you educate your children in this way [of holiness] they will not have to change paths in midlife. Rather they will be able to continue on the path of their youth throughout their whole life. It will be much easier for them to serve the blessed Holy One.
Thus the verse says: We will all go, young and old, meaning we will act and walk in holiness in both our youth and in our old age. Our sons and daughters, we will also guide on holy paths. Our flocks and herds, even our material occupations--business, eating, drinking and the like will all be part of our path toward the blessed One. For we must observe the festival of Y-H-W-H, meaning a fire of enthusiasm for God's service burns in us. This is easy to understand.
The Gemara says: At the celebration of water drawing [the elders] used to say: "Happy is our youth that did not shame our old age" (b. Sukkah 53a). This implies that they followed the right and holy path even when they were young. Thus, in their old age they were not ashamed of the deeds of their youth. But if your youthful behavior is not holy you may be ashamed of your actions when you mature. Then you will have to break your old habits, so it is better to act with sanctity now.
Thus we understand the verse: "Teach a youth according to his way, and he will not leave it even when he ages" (Prov. 22:6). If you educate your children in this way [of holiness] they will not have to change paths in midlife. Rather they will be able to continue on the path of their youth throughout their whole life. It will be much easier for them to serve the blessed Holy One.
Thus the verse says: We will all go, young and old, meaning we will act and walk in holiness in both our youth and in our old age. Our sons and daughters, we will also guide on holy paths. Our flocks and herds, even our material occupations--business, eating, drinking and the like will all be part of our path toward the blessed One. For we must observe the festival of Y-H-W-H, meaning a fire of enthusiasm for God's service burns in us. This is easy to understand.
Indeed, this is easy to understand. What parent does not appreciate the good habits acquired in childhood and strive to share them with children? Yet this teaching also reflects a world in which children following the paths of their parents is a primary value. What carries over from this teaching in a world where so many of us have broken radically with the way of our parents? Is shame in "the deeds of youth" the only possible result of midlife change?