The Jewish New Year: A time for spiritual and home renewal

As the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, approaches, it presents a unique opportunity to reflect on the power of renewal, both spiritually and practically. In many ways, the essence of this time of year parallels another deeply satisfying ritual: decluttering your home. The act of tidying up our physical spaces can offer insight into the personal and spiritual renewal that Rosh Hashanah encourages. Both are about letting go of what no longer serves us and making room for growth, clarity, and purpose.

Evaluating What Matters
One of the core themes of Rosh Hashanah is cheshbon hanefesh, or "taking an account of the soul." It’s a time for introspection, for examining our lives, our actions, and our relationships, much like we sift through old belongings in a cluttered room. As we prepare for a new year, we’re called to ask ourselves: What habits, behaviors, or grudges have we been holding onto that are weighing us down? What do we need to let go of to enter the new year lighter and more aligned with our values?

Similarly, when we declutter, we evaluate the objects around us. We ask whether they still serve a purpose or bring us joy, or if they’re simply taking up space. Both processes involve discernment—sorting through the physical or emotional baggage we’ve accumulated over time and deciding what to keep, what to discard, and what to transform.

Letting Go of Guilt and Clutter
Decluttering often comes with a surprising amount of guilt. We hang on to items out of a sense of obligation or sentimentality—old clothes that no longer fit, gifts we never use, or objects we’ve spent money on but have no use for. In the same way, Rosh Hashanah encourages us to examine emotional and spiritual clutter. Are we holding onto guilt over past mistakes, even after we’ve tried to make amends? Are we holding onto resentment or fear, even though they no longer serve us?

Letting go, whether of material possessions or emotional burdens, is freeing but difficult. Yet, just as clearing physical space in our homes opens room for new opportunities, clearing mental and emotional clutter allows for personal growth and transformation. Rosh Hashanah is a reminder that we are not defined by our past mistakes or failures, but by our ability to learn, grow, and create a fresh path forward.

The Joy of Renewal
In both home organization and spiritual renewal, there’s a profound joy that comes from a fresh start. The Jewish New Year is not just about reflection; it’s also about renewal—starting the year with a clean slate. Similarly, a decluttered home offers the pleasure of a clean, functional space that feels open to possibility.

Both processes highlight the importance of cycles. Just as Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of a new year, decluttering is rarely a one-time event. Both require periodic revisiting. We constantly accumulate new experiences, emotions, and possessions. Rosh Hashanah calls for annual reflection, while maintaining an organized home often means committing to regular tidying. The key in both is consistency and intention.

Intentionality and Mindfulness
Rosh Hashanah and decluttering also share a focus on intentionality. In the Jewish tradition, the New Year is not just a time to look back on what has happened, but also to think mindfully about what kind of life we want to live moving forward. We engage in prayer, ask for forgiveness, and make resolutions to live better in the coming year. This intentional reflection encourages us to set goals for ourselves, to be deliberate in our actions and choices.

When we declutter our homes, we must also be intentional about what we keep and why. Is an object useful, or is it a distraction? Does it contribute to the kind of life we want to lead, or is it simply something we’ve held onto out of habit? This practice of mindfulness—of making conscious decisions about what surrounds us—is echoed in the spiritual mindfulness of the Jewish New Year. Both processes encourage us to live with purpose, clarity, and focus.

Making Space for What Matters
Perhaps the most profound parallel between the Jewish New Year and decluttering is that both are ultimately about making space for what matters. On Rosh Hashanah, we recommit to our relationships with family, community, and God. We strive to remove the distractions and bad habits that distance us from what’s truly important. In the same way, decluttering makes room for what we value most in our physical environment—be it space for creativity, room for family gatherings, or simply the peace that comes from a calm, organized space.

The Jewish New Year is an invitation to reset, to declutter our minds and hearts, and to refocus on what truly matters. Just as we feel lighter, freer, and more at peace after a good home decluttering, so too do we enter the New Year with a renewed sense of purpose and clarity, ready to embrace what lies ahead.