One of my most fondest memories with Grandpa happened one time when we were visiting Allentown. Grandpa decided that on that particular visit I would spend a day with him and see how he lives his daily life. As a pre-teen at the time I was used to sleeping in, but Grandpa warned me the night before that I had to be up before 8:30 for breakfast. When 8:30 arrived, I was up and ready for the exciting day ahead. Grandpa set his day up on a strict schedule: 8:30 was breakfast, between breakfast and lunch was time put aside for reading and any other household chores, 12:30 was lunch which consisted of egg white wraps and tuna, between lunch and dinner was time set aside for more reading and learning, and lastly dinner was at 6:30. I was amazed by Grandpa’s determination to stick to the schedule, and even more amazed that I was able to stick to it as well. Looking back at that time helped me realize that Grandpa’s daily schedule didn’t simply come from a love of organization and productiveness, but it was also a characteristic deeply rooted in Jewish ideals. 

In a letter written to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, a man wrote about his disorganized and scattered state of mind. In response to the letter, the Rebbe said, “for a person to be successful in what they do—and in general, to act correctly, to know what they truly want, to make good decisions, etc.—one must have as much peace of mind and body as possible. This requires living a properly organized life in the literal sense of the word.” The Rebbe did not just get this idea out of thin air, we see it in the Jewish calendar as well. There is a set time and place for everything, and while we might want Pesach to last all year round, the calendar ensures that we continue to stick to a routine. While that is just one short example, there are many more that pop up in chumash, mishna, and other time bound mitzvot. 

Grandpa showed me how to bring this idea into fruition that day, and since that time, I have always tried to keep that characteristic with me while I went through school and planned activities.
Grandpa, I am so lucky to have you as a role model in my life. I hope this year is one filled with brachot and smachot. I love you so much, happy birthday!