The Organizer

Dear Devorah,

We’re going away for Yom Tov, and I’m already overwhelmed. I never know when to start packing, and every time I try, I either forget something important or overpack the things that don’t matter. I want to be more organized this year – and calmer.

Any tips for packing like a normal human and not like I’m moving cross-country with seven suitcases?

– Too Many Bags, Too Little Time

Dear Too Many Bags,

Packing for Yom Tov should come with hazard pay. You’re juggling outfits, toiletries, errands, and a toddler who thinks your neatly folded pile is a trampoline. Meanwhile, the kitchen’s calling, the carpool’s honking, and Amazon just delivered three more things you forgot you ordered.

The good news? You don’t need a color-coded spreadsheet, and you definitely don’t need to be up at 2 a.m. rolling socks into perfect little bundles. You just need a simple, doable system – one that works even if you’re packing for nine people and squeezing them all into two guest rooms.

Here’s my method for packing like a calm, functioning adult… give or take a few meltdowns.

Step 1: Don’t Start With a Suitcase. Start With a List.

Let’s be honest: if you’ve ever searched for your phone while holding it, you’re probably not mentally tracking ten outfits, four toothbrushes, white shirts, Shabbos shoes, chargers, allergy meds, and 47 snack options. That’s why you need a list.

Start one now – before the chaos begins. Don’t overthink it. Just jot things down as they come to mind:

● “We need nail clippers!”

● “Wait – do we have formula?”

● “Someone remind me not to forget the Machzor.”

Use whatever works: the Notes app, a sticky note, the back of your electric bill. Anywhere you’ll actually see it and keep adding to it.

And here’s the trick: save your list. Reuse it next Yom Tov. I have a Pesach list from 2016 that still makes the rounds. No need to reinvent the packing wheel every time.

Step 2: Set Up a Drop Zone

Packing doesn’t have to begin with a dramatic suitcase explosion the night before you leave. Start earlier – just not with folding.

Pick one designated spot in your home where all Yom Tov-related items will go. A hanging rack, a guest bed, even an empty suitcase propped open in the corner.

This becomes your Drop Zone.

Whenever something arrives – dry cleaning, Amazon orders, the shoes you finally found in the right size – drop it in the zone. Ironed the boys’ shirts? Lay them in the zone. Bought new tights? Into the zone.

It doesn’t feel like packing, but it is. By the time you’re ready to zip up, half your items will already be gathered and waiting – neatly, calmly, and without panic.

Step 3: Pack by Category

Now that your Drop Zone is thriving, don’t just dive in. Before a single sock hits the suitcase, stop and regroup. The biggest packing mistakes happen when you skip this step.

Instead of tossing things in at random, lay everything out by category. You want to see what you’re bringing – outfits, essentials, gear – so you can think clearly and pack with intention.

Group like this:

● Clothing: Lay out full outfits for each person – yes, down to socks, tights, and accessories. Want to be extra? Rubber-band or bag each outfit together.

● Yom Tov Essentials: Shabbos lamp, machzorim, Sukkos projects, esrog boxes, etc.

● Tech: Phone chargers, timers, white noise machines and whatever else prevents meltdowns.

Packing this way helps you avoid overpacking, underpacking, and the dreaded suitcase scavenger hunt when someone needs toothpaste at 11:42p.m.

Step 4: Think Inside the Bag

Let’s be honest: some places come with closets, shelves, and actual hangers. Others come with… the floor.

If you’re living out of a suitcase, you need more than hope – you need containment. No need for fancy packing cubes. Ziplocs, labeled grocery bags, or random pouches from around the house work just as well – as long as everything has a home.

Here’s how to break it down:

● Toiletries: One bag per person. Label if needed. Trust me, sharing toothbrushes is not a bonding experience.

● Socks + Undergarments: One bag per kid. Nothing should be free-floating through your suitcase.

● Meds: Band-aids, Motrin, allergy meds – whatever you’ll want on hand before you need it.

● Hair Accessories: Brushes, bows, elastics, bobby pins, headbands, gel

The goal: grab what you need, when you need it – without your entire suitcase exploding across the guest room floor.

Step 5: Pack Like Someone’s Definitely Going to Spill

Let’s drop the fantasy: Yom Tov isn’t happening on a soundstage. It’s happening in real life – with grape juice spills, surprise weather, and children who suddenly hate the exact headband they begged for.

So be sure to pack for real life:

● Bring one extra outfit per kid. Maybe two if you have a professional spiller.

● Toss in backups of the easy-to-forget stuff: hairbrush, safety pins, phone charger, toddler’s favorite spoon.

● If it’s cold: pack hats, gloves, and whatever thermal layer your five-year-old might actually agree to wear.

And here’s the real trick: Make peace with imperfection.You will forget something. Someone will spill. Someone will cry over the wrong tights.

It’s not failure – it’s just Yom Tov with kids and you’re doing great!

Step 6: Pack With Arrival in Mind

Packing isn’t just about getting everything into the suitcase. It’s about what happens when you open it back up.

Because let’s be honest – your goal isn’t to win a medal for the neatest fold. It’s to land at your destination and actually function like a human. That means not digging through layers of shoes and sweaters just to find your machzor.

So before you zip up, think about what you’ll need first:

● Pajamas for tired kids?

● Toiletries for a quick erev yom tov shower?

● Your husband’s cufflinks? 

Put those items at the top. Pack with Day 1 in mind – not just the moment you leave the house.

It’s a small shift, but it changes everything. Because when you pull up and everyone’s cranky, tired, and asking for snacks – you’ll be the one who knows exactly where everything is.

Step 7: Do a Final Sweep – and Then Let Go

The bags are packed. The outfits are rolled. The toiletries are zipped. You’re done… almost.

Take one last walk around the house. Check the fridge. Open the medicine cabinet. Look behind the bathroom door. You’re not doing this to stress yourself out – you’re doing it to catch the obvious: the tallis bag still hanging on the hook, the baby bottle drying by the sink.

Then? You stop.

Because at some point, the best thing you can pack is your own peace of mind. Will something get forgotten? Possibly. But 95% of what matters is already packed – and the rest, you can borrow, improvise, or live without.

Final Thoughts

Let’s be honest: packing for Yom Tov is rarely graceful. Someone’s going to forget something. Someone’s going to cry over shoes. Someone’s going to sit on a suitcase to get it to close.

But here’s the good news: once you’ve got your systems in place –  list made, Drop Zone humming, bags sorted – you’ve already won. Because you’re walking in calm, capable, and one step ahead.

Will something still get forgotten? Probably. But with the big pieces handled, you’ll have the mental space to roll with it.

And if you remembered the lulav, the Machzor, and the kids? You’re basically a professional.

You’ve got this.

Happy Organizing,

Devorah