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Halacha and Order


Question:

Hi, my question is: is there a mitzvah to keep one’s home and things in an orderly way? I ask this because I feel that I am messy by nature, and want to change to be more organized, and if I hear that it’s a mitzvah that would help motivate me! Thanks.



AskTheRabbi.org answered:

Actually, I empathize with you. I also tend to be less orderly then I ought to be.

Is being orderly a mitzvah? Although I’m not aware of any verse that says, “Thou shalt be neat”, I personally believe that being sufficiently orderly and organized is a fulfilment of the mitzvah “and you will follow in His ways”. (Deut. 28:9) This is a mitzvah for us to try to imitate God, such as being merciful to others. We see in the Creation that everything was created in a precise sequence and order, and there are numerous commands not to disturb the natural order of our beautiful world.

The Rabbis teach that a certain sense of orderliness is a very beneficial thing. A person who knows where his possessions are and knows his daily schedule is a person who can navigate his way through each day in a more organized and calmer fashion.

I don’t know of any one system that will work for everyone, since we are all different in our characters and abilities. However, one thing that I do is to write out a basic timetable of my weekly schedule so that I know where I am supposed to be and at what time. I write myself little notes if I have to bring certain things with me so that I do not forget them. Is it an infallible system? No, it is not but it is definitely considerably better than having no system at all!

The concept of living in an organized manner is seen in various aspects of Jewish life. In fact the first section of the Code of Jewish Law deals with waking up in the morning and the guidance throughout one’s day (Shulchan Aruch – “Daily Life”).

We learn in the Torah that the tribes traveled and camped in the Sinai desert on their way from Egypt to Israel in a very specific and organized manner. The verse states in the Book of Numbers (Bamidbar), “every man at his camp and every man at his banner…" 

The camps of the tribes were orderly and organized, since each tribe had a distinct character and complementary purpose within the entire make-up of the Jewish nation. The Torah is based on order: A split-second divides Shabbat from the weekdays. A hairsbreadth between kosher and non-kosher; one drop of water divides a kosher mikveh (ritularium) from one that is unfit. With the guidelines of being orderly and organized the Jewish People are able fulfill their purpose in a pleasant and successful manner.


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