What significance, if any, does Judaism attach to gray/white hair or to a person's hair turning gray/white? Does this significance hold true equally for men and women?
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VaYikra 19:32 states:
מִפְּנֵי שֵׂיבָה תָּקוּם, וְהָדַרְתָּ פְּנֵי זָקֵן וְיָרֵאתָ מֵּאֱ-לֹקיךָ, אֲנִי ה.
Rise before the hoary head, and honor the face of the elderly, and fear your G-d, I am HaShem.
(My translation)
Mishlei 16:31 states:
עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת שֵׂיבָה; בְּדֶרֶךְ צְדָקָה, תִּמָּצֵא
The hoary head is a crown of glory, it is found in the way of righteousness.
(JPS translation)
Pirkei Avoth 6:8 states:
רבי שמעון בן יהודה משום רבי שמעון בן יוחאי אומר:
הנוי והכח והעושר והכבוד והחכמה והזקנה והשיבה והבנים נאה לצדיקים ונאה לעולם.
שנאמר: עטרת תפארת שיבה בדרך צדקה תמצא. ואומר: עטרת זקנים בני בנים ותפארת בנים אבותם. ואומר: תפארת בחורים כוחם והדר זקנים שיבה. ואומר: וחפרה הלבנה ובושה החמה כי מלך ה' צבאות בהר ציון ובירושלים ונגד זקניו כבוד.
Rabbi Shimon the son of Judah would say in the name of Rabbi Shimon the son of Yochai: Beauty, strength, wealth, honor, wisdom, sageness, old age and children are becoming to the righteous and becoming to the world. As is stated (Proverbs 16:31): "Old age is a crown of beauty, to be found in the ways of righteousness." And it says (ibid. 20:29): "The beauty of youths is their strength, and the glory of sages is their age." And it says (ibid., 17:6): "The crown of sages are their grandchildren, and the beauty of children their fathers." And it says (Isaiah 24:23): "And the moon shall be abashed and the sun shamed, for the L-rd of hosts has reigned in Zion, and before his elders is glory."
Rabbi Shimon the son of Menasia would say: these seven qualities enumerated by the sages for the righteous were all realized in Rabbi [Judah HaNassi] and his sons.
(Chabad.org translation)
