What Do We Really Need?

Today our “lift” came – the last remaining material possessions from our last home in the U.S. arrived in Israel, and its contents now fill our small living room in Jerusalem.

As you may recall, when we decided to move to Israel last year, we gave away, donated, or threw out 93% of our worldly goods. We invited newly married couples to come over and take what they wanted. I told them people helped us when we started, and it is our pleasure to help them.

What did I keep? Many boxes of photo albums and my husband’s “Seforim” his library of Jewish books of study. Some art pieces, some kitchenware, and only 2 or 3 pieces of furniture. Besides our bed, I kept a cedar chest that was my paternal grandmother’s, and a fold-down table that I light my Shabbat candles on that was my maternal grandmothers.

Inside the cedar chest are hand-knit baby blankets that my mother-in-law made for our children’s children. Each one comes with a handwritten note from her to them. It says in part that when you read this, I will be gone, but I made this blanket for your babies — remember me with love.

What do we really need? Very few things, but much more love.