Moving Day

When the movers arrive, with the packed boxes and wrapped furniture, it's a day of anxiety and bustle. Is anything damaged? Is anything missing?
As we unpack and arrange our belongings, we can't help but take pride in our possessions. Indeed, we make our home our own by what we have, what we've accumulated. We "move in" by setting things up.

When we have our possessions with us, arranged to our liking, reflecting our personality, that's when we feel we have fully "moved in" to our house, made it our home.

This concept of "moving into our home," of taking possession of our possessions, recalls a well-known story about the Maggid of Mezritch, successor to the Baal Shem Tov.

A wealthy merchant during his travels had occasion to pass through Mezritch and, having heard of the Maggid, decided to visit him. Going into the street where the Maggid lived, the man was a bit confused. His confusion grew as he approached the Maggid's house: it was not even a well-to-do dwelling, much less the mansion he had expected. Once inside, the man could not hide his shock.

The Maggid, seeing how perplexed the man was, asked what was troubling him.

"With all due respect," the wealthy merchant began, "I don't understand. A man of your reputation! I expected a more magnificent dwelling. But I can understand that in a small village such as Mezritch, a house suited to your station might be too glaring. But here, inside your home, surely there should be some lavish furnishings or other possessions worthy of a great Torah scholar, a leader of the generation."

"Tell me," the Maggid replied. "You are a man of wealth and stature. In your room, in the inn where you are staying, what have you there?"

"Just some items necessary for travel. A change of clothes, my account books. That sort of thing."

"What of your furniture, or other possessions worthy of your position?"

The merchant laughed. "It would indeed be foolish to carry my paintings, my antiques, my chandeliers throughout my journeys. No, in that room, there is barely a table to write on. It is only a temporary dwelling, so what of it? But in my home, ah, there I have such possessions, such works of art, such fine furnishings, that reflect my accomplishments and the wealth I have accumulated."

"Why, it is the same with me," said the Maggid with a smile. "This world is a temporary dwelling, and all my possessions here are few and only what I need for the journey. But in the world to come, ah, there, I assure you, I have accumulated many treasures. There I have all my possessions, the Torah I have learned and taught, and the mitzvot (commandments) I have observed and have encouraged others to observe."

If we remember the words of the Maggid, then, in a sense, every day is Moving Day! For we can always move into our spiritual home, set up our real furniture and display our real possessions - our Torah and mitzvot.