But that is for another column that I may write some day. But at least I go through the motions of attempting to mitigate the household whirlwind that always accompanies the advent of the great holiday of freedom and redemption. Since I have acquired a sizable library of books over the years, this is no small task. I am a procrastinator when it comes to executing household chores. Nevertheless, I have a great sense of anticipation when it comes to the pre-Pessah cleaning of my books and placing them in correct order on my library's shelves.
Books are memories.
I remember the circumstances and places where I purchased most of my books. I can identify which are the books of my youth and spring and which are the ones I bought in my later years. I remember that this is the book that I used when studying with this particular holy teacher and, even though he is now long since gone, he is still alive to me as I again open and look into that book. I carefully dust the two books that I have from my grandfather's library and remember the piece of sugar that he put in my mouth when, as a child, I correctly interpreted the words of Rashi for him. That sweetness has never departed from me.