What do the Jewish Texts and thinkers say about retirement?

That is an interesting question. Certainly, we can understand that everyone reaches a point in their lives when their profession is too difficult or too tedious to continue. However, while we can retire from earning a living, we should never feel as if we can “retire” from life’s responsibilities. This can be illustrated by a saying from “Ethics of our Fathers”, known in Hebrew as “Pirkei Avos.” In Chapter 2, Mishnah 20, “Rabbi Tarfon used to say: You are not required to complete the task, yet you are not free to withdraw from it.” In other words, although it is impossible for any one person to complete all of God’s service, one must realize that so long as we live, we must attempt to actualize our potential in the service of God.

Sincerely,
R’ Daniel Fleksher