In a world that constantly tells us we need more—more success, more space, more stuff—it’s hard to know when we’ve reached enough. New phone models and operating systems are released before we can learn the current ones, our homes get fuller even as we run out of closet space, and our social media feeds suggest that everyone else always has a little more than we do. What does it mean to be truly content with what we have?
Parshat Shoftim is known for its famous call to justice: Tzedek, tzedek tirdof. “Justice, justice shall you pursue.” (Deut. 16:20). But among its many laws governing leadership and society, there’s a more subtle commandment that speaks volumes: “You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary marker…” (Deut. 19:14)
This verse may seem mundane, but it’s deeply ethical. It safeguards not just property, but the principle that what is mine is mine, and what is yours is yours. It’s about honoring sacred space, whether physical, emotional, or communal.
Each morning, we say a series of Birkot HaShachar—blessings for waking up and stepping into the day. One of them is: Baruch atah … she’asah li kol tzarki. “Blessed are you … who has provided me with all I need.”
This simple blessing is a daily reminder to embrace sufficiency. When we internalize that we have enough, we are less likely to covet what belongs to others, less tempted to cross boundaries, and more inclined to respect the space and needs of those around us.
The Torah’s prohibition against moving a boundary marker is not just about land; it’s about a mindset of enoughness. It challenges us to build a society rooted in fairness and gratitude, not greed.
This week, consider: where in your life do you need to redraw a boundary, not to take more, but to better honor what already is? Can you approach your home, your work, and your relationships with the quiet confidence that you have enough? By living with gratitude and respecting the sacred boundaries of others, we turn the morning’s simple blessing into a daily act of justice.
– Rabbi Eve Posen
Source: The Art of Enough
