Getting inspired! Jewish Homemaking
What does Judaism say?
The Jewish point of view is unlike the above list. Homemaking is greatly respected. (What I mean is that the Torah and G-d respect it - What some Jews may say or feel is not always in accordance with the ways of the Torah!) In the Temple, the Levim and Cohanim, the priests, were in charge of cooking and cleaning! They needed to cook small pancake-like offering for the afternoon service; they created sweet scents, and they kept the floor and Temple very clean. This was a job they were privileged to do!!
The Jewish home is a Mikdash Meat, or miniature Temple. So when you cook and clean, you are also serving G-d and doing a wonderful mitzvah! You are making your home a nice place for G-d to dwell in.
Not only that, but when you cook healthy meals, you are giving your family longer lives. When you serve tasty food, you allow them to really be thankful when they say their blessing to G-d. You are providing them the energy they need to do mitzvos and serve Hashem.
A home, but not a museum
What about organization? There is more peace in the home when you don't need to turn the house upside looking for something. There is a sense of comfort when things have their place and junk is not thrown on the floor.
Please, don't misunderstand me. Make sure you don't go over the edge; your home is not supposed to be a museum! Imagine the Levim telling the priests they can't bring the avoda* because they be making a mess! Let your children play, just clean up after them. (And when they're old enough, teach them to clean up after themselves.)
But they're just crumbs...
When it comes to vacuuming, we are taught that stepping on crumbs is disrespectful and, G-d forbid, leads to poverty. So when you vacuum, you're not only keeping your family from transgressing a mitzvah, but you're also making money! This is no joke.
One week, I was lax about vacuuming and picking up the crumbs. Wouldn't you know, our bank account dropped to zero!! I started to be more careful, and miracle of miracles, our bank account rose significantly. An obvious message from G-d...
Now, we can see how important our job is... But how can we improve ourselves? And what can we do to get the dirty work done with happiness and simcha?
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