וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם
וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם
Moses sent twelve spies to scout the Promised Land. Ten returned fearful, warning of danger and uncertainty. Only two—Joshua and Caleb—kept faith with God. In the end, they alone were permitted to grow old and enter the land, Joshua as Moses’ successor and Caleb as a revered elder and warrior. The rest of their generation never made it out of the desert.
That’s the Torah portion for Shabbat, June 13, just two days before World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. And it resonates, because alongside its themes of faith and leadership, the story also raises quieter questions about aging, belonging, and moving into an unfamiliar future with dignity.
Aging, like entering the Promised Land, is a step into the unknown. It can hold blessing, purpose, and continued connection. It can also bring uncertainty and vulnerability. The difference often lies in how communities show up for those growing older. That’s why Sacred Spaces created Seivah: Sacred Aging, an initiative to help Jewish organizations move toward a future where growing older is a stage of life to be honored and protected.
Elder abuse is a significant problem, and no community is immune. The World Health Organization estimates that globally 1 in 6 older adults have experienced abuse and neglect. An analysis of calls to the National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) resource line found that family members were the perpetrators in nearly 47% of incidents. These astonishing facts are a call to action.
The National Center is the hub for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day materials in the United States. And Sacred Spaces is fortunate to have Lori Mars, NCEA’s director, serving on its Seivah Advisory Council. She explains, “It was important for me to join the council because I strongly believe in Seivah’s purpose. To increase the capacity of Jewish organizations to recognize, respond to, and prevent elder abuse, and to advance institutional and communal culture change to support Jewish people aging with dignity and autonomy.”
For communities that have not yet begun to name and address elder abuse, World Elder Abuse Awareness Day offers an entry point. For those already engaged in this work, it provides an opportunity to deepen and expand the conversation. Rabbis might incorporate the topic into sermons or lift up those experiencing elder abuse during prayers for healing; Lori credits her rabbi with distributing information about the commemoration every year. JCCs and JFCS can host programs or health fairs; and Federations can help convene community-wide awareness efforts. The goal is to eliminate barriers so people who need support can get it. “Elder abuse can be prevented,” Lori says. “But it’s up to each of us as individuals, organizations, and communities to engage collectively in abuse prevention and awareness efforts.”
The Tanakh recounts that, after Joshua’s death at the age of 110, the Israelites continued to serve God faithfully during the lengthened years of the elders who came after him (Joshua 24: 31). Note the use of the plural “elders.” In contrast to the fearful generation of the spies, which left only Joshua and Caleb, the generation that entered the land built a supportive community in which older adults could thrive. We have the opportunity to do the same.
What you can do for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day:
