GEN1436 There is no Jewish concept of retiring from Judaism. … The classic story about a Jew who wished to “retire” was Jacob in the Bible.   After experiencing all the turmoil of fighting with his brother, running away, working for twenty years, and having a family, the Torah says that Jacob dwelled in the land of his fathers [this verse].   Rashi comments [on Genesis 37:2] that Jacob wished to rest peacefully for the remainder of his life. God said that this is not the lot of the righteous [“When the righteous wish to live at ease, the Holy one, blessed be He), says to them: “Are not the righteous satisfied with what is stored up for them in the world to come that they wish to live at ease in this world too! Genesis Rabbah 84:3], and subsequently the entire episode of Joseph and the brothers transpired, causing great anguish for twenty-two years until the family was reunited after relocating to Egypt.   It seems that the Torah does not want Jacob or any other Jew to simply “retire,” whether it be from Judaism, from work, or from life itself.  AMEMEI 83