Many, many years ago -- when network TV was more or less still kosher -- Johnny Carson had a centenarian (a person who has reached the age of 100 years or older) as a guest. The guest mentioned that he had a lady friend. Johnny Carson looked surprised and said, "Oh, for companionship?" The guest answered, "Yes, that too." Obvious laughter, cut to commercial.
Why is that funny? Substitute "teenager" or "celebrity" for "centenarian" and the whole interview never would have happened. That "joke" for them is simply that they expect that a centenarian is, nebbich, too old to have any fun in life. He is proud to report that he is just as disgraceful a human being as he ever was.
We know differently. Chazal know full well the challenges that we face our entire lives. I first discovered this when learning masechta Kiddushin, which relates a frightening and inspiring challenge that Rav Amram Chasida/The Pious One faced and triumphed. (Kiddushin 81a, also see the Guard Your Eyes website's excellent article: The Battle of the Generation). The gemara (Ta'anis 23a/b) relates an incident when the world needed rain, so a contingency was sent to Abba Chilkiyah, a grandson of Choni the Circle Maker, to ask him to pray for rain. The incident is fascinating. The gemara also chooses an interesting way to present the events (unique in Shas, as far as I know). The incident is told from the perspective of the rabanan that were sent to ask for Abba Chilkiyah's prayers. They observed a series of very odd behaviors of Abba Chilkiyah, not the least of which is that he won't talk to them nor even return their greeting. At the end, they question Abba Chilkiyah about every detail and he responds directly and honestly. It is a masterpiece of practical Torah outlook and presented like a mystery. If you haven't learned it yet, please do so soon. You will thank me.
One of the events is when Abba Chilkiyah's wife comes to greet him dressed up and wearing makeup. When asked about that, Abba Chilkiyah replies that she doesn't want him looking at other women. Yes, you probably should read that again. Abba Chilkiyah is a sage worthy of being asked by Chazal to pray for rain; and, in fact, rain came when he davened. (It actually started from the side of the attic where Abba Chilkiyah's wife was davening. I am serious, you'll really enjoy and get a lot out of that gemara.) The desire to "at least look" does not ebb with years nor wisdom. Moreover, the Yetzer HaRah is ever creative and keeps coming with new angles for each protection.
As I have mentioned, we now watch the daily videos six days a week on WhatsApp from וימאן on guarding one's eyes. During the school year, we had two grandchildren in the morning who watched them with us. I was walking my granddaughter (she is 11 going on who knows what) to school and said I'd like to cross the street at one point. She asked why, and I said, "the gemara says it is better to walk behind a lion than to walk behind a woman." (Eruvin 18b, "R' Yochanan says: better after a lion than after a woman; better after a woman than after an idol worshipper; better after an idol worshipper than behind a shul when they are davening." Yes, that all needs explanation, see gemara, Rashi, and others there. Not my topic for now.)
My granddaughter thought that was pretty cute, so now whenever we go somewhere together, she'll warn me: "Zeidy, there is a lion up ahead." (She was very busy with her diligence at Trader Joe's last week.) It occurred to me that this is such a great scheme. No one wants to be caught even "just looking" by his granddaughter. But they are not always watching (or at least that's what we think). But this makes it a game for her and keeps us both on our toes. Another great reason to have grandchildren close!
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