This is a guest post from Rebekah Saltzman, Professional Organizer
Every Pesach I feel like I have less. Less food. Less dishes. Less clothing. Less furniture.
And most of all, more happiness.
Pesach is the perfect time for you to review your relationship with the things that fill the space of your home.
Why? Let’s have a look…
Slavery
The concept of slavery meant human slavery, but not slavery to material goods. Are we owners of our things or do they own us? How much time, effort, and energy do we spend taking care of things. Things that we may not like. Things that may not have any use for.
If you’re a Marie Kondo fan, you know she recommends touching every object and seeing if it sparks joy – I’m much more practical.
If you don’t like it, and it has no use, it needs to go.
This Pesach, stop being a slave to your possessions.
Exile & Aliyah
The Jewish people have been in exile for centuries. Expelled from country after country after country for no good reason. Now I know I’m a bit of Jewish mom here, but didn’t you ever wonder what would happen if you had to leave everything?
What would you take? What would you miss if you couldn’t take it? Did you learn anything about what’s really important to you?
So, this was the first real Aliyah – straight from Egypt to Israel via 40 years in the desert. They didn’t send a lift, they didn’t come with 7 suitcases sides-splitting on an airplane, heck, they didn’t even take an ocean liner. These Jews walked 40 years and sinned so severely on the way that they never even made it to Israel.
If you’re moving from NY to NJ or NY to JLM remember the first Jews on their Aliyah trip took a lot less than you. Watch out for golden calves and try not to complain about the airplane food.
Redemption Time
During the original Pesach G-d redeemed the Jews from slavery, and as they journeyed, redemption from their idol worship.
This Pesach, take back your freedom. You don’t have to buy something every time you go out. You don’t have to buy it because it’s on sale. You don’t have to buy 10 of them so you don’t run out.
Part of freedom comes from trusting that Hashem will provide everything that you need.
I’ll say it again because it’s so important.
Trust that Hashem will provide for you.
That’s it. No and. No but. No if. No or.
But what if what you have isn’t enough? Numbers 11:18-20 tell a great story:
18 “Say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, “Oh that someone would give us meat to eat! For we were well-off in Egypt.” Therefore the LORD will give you meat and you shall eat.
19 You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days,
20but a whole month, until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you; because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before Him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?””
Trust that Hashem will provide for you – and stop stockpiling! You can download my Painless Pesach Guide.
This is a guest post from Rebekah Saltzman, a Professional Organizer based in Haifa, Israel. Rebekah holds a degree in fashion design from Parsons School of Design, and for many years worked as a graphic designer. Rebekah’s passion for the environment and helping people improve their lives drove her to change careers.
