I May Be a Golden Girl But That Doesn't Mean I'm Old

Have you ever watched the “Golden Girls” on TV? Considering that the show, which ran from 1985-1992, is about the lives of four widows in a retirement community in Florida, it’s amazing how many people my age remember the show. It was a big, award-winning hit.

And I just realized that I am a Golden Girl.

How old do you think the characters were in the show? I thought they must be, at least, in their 60s. I was recently shocked to learn that Blanche Deveraux, played by Rue McClanahan (above), was scripted as being 47 years old when the show began.  What?!?  She’s an old lady. I’M 47!!!!! So, you see, I am a Golden Girl. It’s been a rough week…

I know I am not old. I know many people who are in their 80s, 90s, or even 100+ who don’t act old. One such person liked to say, “Age is only a number – and mine is unlisted.” There is a chronological age, and there is an attitudinal and perspective age. The goal is to always approach life with as fresh, vibrant, and energetic perspective as possible.

Sukkot is a holiday of many messages. One is the message of freshness.

The Mishnah (Sukkah 3:1) teaches that lulav ha-yaveish pasul, a dried out lulav is disqualified and may not be used. Why is a fresh lulav required?

Rashi says that the problem with yaveish is that it lacks hiddur, it is not beautiful enough. In other words, we try to fulfill the mitzvah in as an ideal way as possible. A completely dried out lulav doesn’t even qualify for the base-line requirement to be considered as passable.

Rabbi Avin, in the Talmud Yerushalmi, says that the problem with yaveish is due to the verse in Tehillim that we read during Hallel, “Lo ha-meitim yehaleil kah – The dead cannot praise God.” Part of the performance of the mitzvah of the Four Species is the na’a’nuim, wavings, during Hallel. A dead, dry Lulav has no place in such a joyous activity.

Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher, the Ba’al Ha-Turim, explains that Lulav has the gematriya (numerical value) of chaim, life. Both are 68. That, he says, is why a dry lulav is unfit. A lulav signifies life, so it must be fresh since that is how life is meant to be lived.

Throughout the Sukkot holiday, we encounter rituals and symbols of beauty, joy, and vitality – etrog, lulav, sukkah, Simchat Torah, and more. Taken together, they create an atmosphere of freshness that is meant to combat any negative or stagnant feelings that may make us feel “old.”

So, I’m OK with being a Golden Girl. Age is a number. Jewish life is a glorious joyous, fresh adventure. L’chaim!