While You Are Waiting…
for more delicious Frume Sarah tidbits…
take a look at Tzedek-Tzedek who took a turn at hosting Haveil Havalim this week.
What’s the Point?
I’ve been asked many times to explain the purpose of my attending the 2009 Hazon Food Conference. SO let me lay out the stated goals of the conference in order to provide some sort of paradigm for my own goals and then my personal experiences.
Goals of the Food Conference
Be a clearing house for ideas:
Inspire and motivate participants to think more deeply and broadly about their food choices and food systems.
Build Jewish community and a Jewish Food Movement:
Provide a vibrant and joyful model of Jewish life that embraces Jewish tradition, learning, and spirituality, as well as sustainable and healthy eating.
Expand horizons:
Inspire participants who are more familiar with contemporary food issues to see the Jewish connections; equally, engage and motivate more Jewishly-knowledgable participants to explore contemporary food issues locally and nationally.
Challenge and inspire participants:
To take health and the health of the community and earth into account in making decisions about food and eating.
Strengthen leadership capacity:
For volunteers helping to create the conference, as well as for volunteers and professionals who serve as change agents in their own communities.
Convey a sense of importance and joy around food issues:
Impart the understanding that contemporary food issues are significant, and that positive change is possible through education, community, and cooperation.
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Over the past couple of years, I have begun to consider more and more of these food issues. When faced with new information, my factory default is to read. Books such as Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and The Omnivore’s Dilemma ignited a desire to learn more about what we eat and what we ought to be eating. But for these new ideas to feel personally authentic, I needed to restate them within a Jewish framework. And that is where Hazon enters the picture.
Each of these goals is worthy of its own post. And so I will take my time with each one in order to share my thoughts as well as reflect back on whether or not each particular goal impacted my own experience.
I hope that you will join me on my journey…
Packing List — The Revisit
Having survived my very first Hazon Food Conference, I now take a look back at the “suggested” list with some reactions and additions.
Essentials
Travel Coffee Mug and Reusable Water Bottle
So I brought both my KPCC Travel Mug and a really cute reusable water bottle. They were too large and rather clumsy, but completely necessary. So I purchased a really cool Hazon travel mug!!
Casual, comfortable clothes for the conference and Shabbat.
Holy Smokes — it was cold here!!! SOOOO glad that I brought cozy sweaters AND my wool pea coat. Most people DID dress nicely on Friday evening and many for Saturday as well. Note to self: two skirts next year. Nicer one for Friday evening and a denim one for Saturday.
Warm clothing including; Fleece jacket or sweater, gloves, hat
Really glad that I brought the coat, scarf, and gloves. Definitely need a new (and cute!) hat for the evenings.
Toiletries
As mentioned in the pre-conference post, I travel with my own toiletries. Never used the provided hair dryer.
Sunglasses
Totally needed! When not raining, it was very, VERY sunny here.
Alarm Clock
Our room was outfitted with an alarm clock. Which we never used!
Rain gear (umbrella, boots)
It really came down one day so I was glad that I had the boots with me. Glad that I had the umbrella too…but it was taking a shluffy in my room the day that it rained 😦
Earplugs
I did have them with me…but unnecessary. My roommate, who was super, super nice, didn’t snore. A welcome change…
Medication you need to have with you (ie, inhaler, epi-pen)
In my carry-on bag!
Some cash for the Sunday Shuk/Market
About $100 was sufficient. A couple of CDs so that I can bring back some new melodies to our community, the Food for Thought Sourcebook, and some gifts for the fam.
Your Hazon t-shirt
Had there been an official Hazon Food Conference T-shirt, I TOTALLY would have bought one. I’ll be suggesting a T-shirt in my post-conference eval!
Jewish stuff
So you may recall that I was undecided about which tallit and which siddur to bring. I ultimately decided to bring my ordination tallit, but then had to decide whether or not I wanted to wear it. More on this when I write about my Shabbat worship experience.
As for the siddur, I knew that I didn’t want to bring the Mishkan. I cited bulk as part of the reason, but in the end, I brought an equally bulky siddur. My little Rinat Yisrael went missing a couple of days before the trip. I was thinking about bringing my traveller’s ArtScroll, but DadGiraffe was just horrified with the political vibe I might be giving. So he l-e-n-t me his brand-new Koren Siddur.
{{sigh}}} I am totally in love!!!
Encouraged:
Yoga Mat
So of course I didn’t bring a mat. Nor did I bring any yoga attire. But I could see myself maybe thinking about trying yoga in the future. The problem is that it’s so damn early!
Walking shoes
OK — this place is REALLY spread out. So comfy, supportive shoes were necessary just to get from location to location. I didn’t take any long hikes. Though I wouldn’t rule it out for the future.
Dancing Shoes
Didn’t need anything other than my regular shoes.
Cycling clothing
Um…no.
Frisbee
Did not see a single person playing frisbee. Though I did not see a single person playing frisbee, I have been informed of one 6 year old who engaged in the activity on Friday afternoon, just prior to Shabbos. [Which, as I recall, was in the midst of my pre-Shabbos shluffy.] My limited understanding of the game, therefore, leads me to conclude that there must have been at least two people who played frisbee at the conference.
Games
Had Frume Sarah actually been moved to engage in game-playing, the social hall at Asilomar provided plenty of options.
Journal, notebooks, pens
Totally needed for note-taking during sessions. PC recently gave me a new moleskine journal. Such a difference. The paper is so creamy and porous. It just soaks up the ink.
Reusable shopping bags for your Sunday Shuk purchases
In addition to the reusable bag that my hair salon gave as a holiday gift this year, each conference participant was given a Hazon Food Conference ChicoBag.
Reading materials (the Conference book group selection was Epitath for a Peach)
Spent any free reading time exploring my RebGiraffe’s NEW Koren siddur.
Seeds for swap at the Sunday Shuk
Still no.
Musical instruments
No need. There were a few people with guitars, drums, and flutes. Everyone else added their voice.
ADDITIONS
Business Cards
Luckily I thought to grab some as I headed out the door last week. It was the easiest way to exchange contact info with people.
Flashlight
It was mighty dark at night. Asilomar is situated on 107 acres, has over 300 guest rooms, and nearly two dozen meeting spaces. It took me most of the conference to feel confidant that I knew where my room was located.
Ergonomic Pillow
Never thought that I would become one of those people who travel with a pillow. However, since that nasty bout of meningitis last year, my neurologist introduced me to the wonders of an ergonomic pillow. What I really appreciated was that he didn’t push a really fancy-shmancy (read: expensive) pillow. He said that this one from Ikea would do the trick. The only drawback? I have become so accustomed to the tremendous support that it provides that it is difficult to get a good night’s sleep without it!
Messenger Bag
This wasn’t really a purse kind of conference. My computer bag (sans computer) worked in a pinch, but think I’ll bring my cute messenger bag next time.
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Stay tuned for more experiences and impressions…
Haveil Havalim is Live…over at I’ll Call Baila
Chinese Food and a Movie
Greetings from the Hazon Food Conference!!!
It’s erev Nitl Nacht. So what would be more appropriate for a gathering of 630 Jews from 29 states and 5 countries to do this evening than Chinese food and a movie!
Of course, Chinese food at a sustainable, crunchy food conference was a miso soup that had tofu and seaweed and a stir-fry with seasonal veggies and tofu. I really, REALLY don’t like tofu. But I must admit that the stir-fry was delicious. Extremely flavourful.
Movie options:
Food, Inc.
Vanishing of the Bees
The Garden
A Home on the Range: The Jewish Chicken Ranchers of Petaluma and “Song of a Jewish Cowboy”
Supersize Me: A Film of Epic Portions (Teens only)
What’s on Your Plate (Grades K-6)
Any guesses on which movie Frume Sarah viewed this evening????
Inclusive Hilarity
In just a few days, the majority of the world will celebrate Christmas. On the 8th day following the day that is set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the secular New Year will be observed.
In preparation for these worldwide celerbations, a local paper shared how to say Merriy Christmas and Happy New Year in 81 different languages.
Now, I don’t know about you. But whenever I see anything like this, I always look to see if we’ve been included.
I am happy to report that not just one but TWO of our languages were represented.
Now before you completely fly off the handle, you should remember that there are about 140,000 Christians who live in Israel. Most of them (about 120,000) are Christian Arabs. Although…I am wondering if Christian Arabs use Hebrew as their vernacular or Arabic. Given that they are living in a predominantly Hebrew-speaking country, it stands to reason that there would be an appropriate greeting in Hebrew.
That being said, this is what our local paper had listed:
Mo’adim Lesimkha and Shanah Tova.
Once I picked myself off of the floor, I remembered that the proper greeting for Christmas should have read:
Chag Molad Sameach. Happy Birth Festival.
The second Jewish language they included was Yiddish.
I have no answer for this one. Are there Yiddish-speakers who celebrate Christmas? Other than Colin Powell?
It’s All About Timing
A mother’s schedule is a finely balanced house-of-cards. It really doesn’t take much to send things into a freefall.
I knew the schedule was tight. A therapist once told me to allow time for the universe to burp. With the addition of each child, I learned that more buffer is needed in order to keep the schedule from unravelling.
8:30am Leave the house
9:00am Drop all three kids at Winter Camp
9:30am Physical Therapy (did a compressed program today)
10:30am Leave for Camp
10:40am Pick-up Poppyseed
10:50am X-ray
11:30am Arrive EARLY for 11:40 orthopod appt.
And it was going so smoothly too…
Until we arrived at the imaging center. It seems that the imaging center — which, BTW, is BRAND-NEW, was having technical problems.
Lady at the counter: I am so sorry but the Xray machine isn’t working today. I need to sent you back over to the old building.
FrumeSarah: Wow — what a pain that must be for you guys.
Lady: Not at all. Just sorry that we have to inconvenience the patients.
FS: No worries. It’s just across the parking lot and we’ve got time.
Lady: So just tell them that you are #28 and that you need to take the films with you.
Poppyseed and I walk over to the old building.
FrumeSarah: Hi. My daughter needs an Xray and they sent us over here from the imaging center.
Woman at the counter: Did you register?
FS: Register?
Woman: Yeah. Register. You need to register.
FS: They didn’t say anything about registering. The gal just told me to come over here.
Woman (sighing): Well, do you have your orders?
FS: No. The gal over at the imaging center took them.
Woman: Well, you were supposed to wait and get registered and then waited for them to walk you over.
FS: I didn’t know that.
Woman: Well, didn’t they tell you that?
FS: No. The gal told me to come over here.
This poor woman just about lost it! She called over to the imaging center and spoke with someone who told her that she had told me to wait and register and so forth.
Woman: Well, I just spoke with Erica and she says that she told you.
FS: She didn’t tell me that. She told me to come over here.
Woman: Are you sure she didn’t tell you to wait and register?
At which point, it was all I could do to control myself.
FS: Don’t you think that if she told me to register and wait to be walked over here that I would have, in fact, registered and waited for someone to walk me over here?
Women: Oh. Well, Erica is sending someone over with all of the paperwork.
Five minutes pass. And a technician walks in. With paperwork. For some other patient.
Woman: Where’s the paperwork for this little girl?
Tech: I wasn’t told about paperwork for this little girl.
Woman: Erica told me that she was giving you the paperwork.
FrumeSarah: Apparently Erica is confused about what she is telling people.
The net-net? We nearly missed our appointment! I called at 11:30 to say that we were running about 10 minutes late. The receptionist told me that we needed to get in the door by 12:00 noon or else they were going to lunch and we’d need to reschedule.
11:57am.
Whew!
Oh. And Poppyseed’s arm??
A-OK!
Haveil Havalim #248 — Welcome to Tevet
Founded by Soccer Dad, Haveil Havalim is a carnival of Jewish blogs — a weekly collection of Jewish & Israeli blog highlights, tidbits and points of interest collected from blogs all around the world. It’s hosted by different bloggers each week and coordinated by Jack. The term ‘Haveil Havalim,’ which means “Vanity of Vanities,” is from Qoheleth, (Ecclesiastes) which was written by King Solomon. King Solomon built the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and later on got all bogged down in materialism and other ‘excesses’ and realized that it was nothing but ‘hevel,’ or in English, ‘vanity.’”
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Chanukah
Though Chanukah 5770 is now a thing of the past, it provided many interesting posts this past week!
Good News from Israel shows that America has not cornered the market when it comes to the commercialization of a religious holiday. Check out his pictorial observation at Only in Israel: 21 Chanukah Hebrew Ads.
This is one busy guy! Good News from Israel has also been busy collecting Chanukah videos from around the globe. One hundred seventy-one, to be exact!
In honour of Chanukah, Lady Light shares a humourous post (The Essential Oils of Chanukah) and a more serious one (They Tried to Kill Us…).
Get an interesting perspective of what it is like for an Israeli to travel outside of Israel. David is abroad for Chanukah and shares his thoughts at Israelity in The Travelling Israeli.
Also from Israelity — Rachel shares some pictures of what Chanukah looks like in Jerusalem in Foto Friday – Hanukkah in Jerusalem.
The Writer Formerly Known as The East Village Mamale gives us Festivismukkah!
Midianite Manna shows us that the Chanukah story can teach us a really basic life lesson in Mom’s Lessons from Chanukah.
For next year — a fun Chanukah treat to make! Hanukiah? Chanukkiyah?…Cupcake Menorah.
Or, there’s always Shammai’s Chanukiah over at The Edible Torah.
The JazzRabbi reminds us the importance of sharing Chanukah family memories in The Potato Chanukiah – A Family Story for the 6th Nite. [JazzRabbi is new to the blogosphere — Baruch HaBa!]
Oil is reason for OUR season! In celebration,Homeshuling gives us not one, not two, but THREE posts on oil!!!
OY — Frum Satire is at it again! Woman Sues Missionary Organization That Gave Her Faulty Menorah.
The Maccabees aren’t just for Chanukah, according to Maya at How to be Israeli.
Can one ever be thankful enough? Geshmack Dvar Torah ponders this very question in Being Thankful — For What?
Hadassah and her family certainly had much for which to be thankful in Our Chanukah Miracle.
What does football have to do with Chanukah? Everything, as it turns out. Yechezkel makes it so clear in Fumbling the Ball in the Red Zone – A Chanuka parable.
SO with whom would you have sided? The Hellenists or the Zealots? Rebgiraffe, in his debut guest post right here at Frume Sarah, helps us understand the internal struggle at the time of the Maccabees and what that means for us today in What’s it All About?
Speaking of this, A Chassidishe Farbrengen comments on Hellenism vs. Torah — The Perennial Struggle.
Speaking of A Chassidishe Farbrengen, he also weighs in with Chanukah: Absolute Truth, Not Pluralism!
How one family deals with the psak regarding the Chanukah lights in the home of one who permanently resides in The Land in Holy Land, Holy Lights by Isramom
When it comes to lighting the chanukiah, this week’s Geshmack Dvar Torah wonders Is There a Hidur Mitzva after the Mitzva is Done?
Hallel is typically recited on Chanukah. Artzeinu discusses why on Chanukah and not on Purim in a Chanukah Dvar Torah.
Is it really better to give than to receive? Seraphic Secret shares a heart-warming gift-giving story in Tuesday Weld and , Um, Chanukah.
And I share some thoughts about a loving gift that I received in Nothing Says Happy Chanukah…
And so it Ends. A pictorial wrap-up over at Around the Island.
Leora has also wrapped up with week with both photos and blog suggestions in Review with Stained Glass Menorah.
Israel
You can’t always believe what you read. Get a more accurate understanding of the Deir Yassin Massacre Hoax over at Best Hoaxes and Pranks.
Netanyau could learn something from some Yorkshire folk-wisdom. Tzedek-Tzedek offers A Yorkshireman’s Advice to Netanyahu.
Get caught up with a variety of issues regarding Religion and State in Israel here and here
Listening to a newscast prompted Batya to share her thoughts in Typically Delusional Left.
Exciting new things are happening for artists and art-lovers in Jerusalem. A New Artist “Incubator” Opens in Jerusalem at Agrippas 88 in the center of the city.
Chaviva was An Israelite for 10 Days.
Over at Esser Agaroth, Yoel Metzer makes some very compelling arguments in Why Make Aliyah.
The Torah from Zion sheds some light on this strange development: The Jerusalem municipality is using Jewish tax dollars to give away free X-mas trees.
Some interesting things to see by foot in Jerusalem thanks to Batya in Jerusalem, Never Dull.
The West Bank Mama remembers the war in Gaza in Operation Cast Lead, One Year Later.
Maya is learning How to be Israeli and is teaching us along the way important lessons such as Don’t Call Between Two and Four.
Judaism
The lie that just won’t go away. Best Hoaxes and Pranks gives the background on the Dangerous Fraud of the Elders of the Protocols of Zion.
Ben-Yehudah rejects the notion of Judeo-Christian Values.
Batya questions tradition in Are There Really 613 Seeds in a Pomegranate?
Who helps a rabbi become the rabbi that he or she is? The Rebbetzin’s Husband answers the question in The Making of a Rabbi.
Over at Artzeinu, a look at last week’s Torah portion in Parshat Vateishev: Man is Safer in Eretz Yisrael…ALWAYS!
And yet, not all are safe (or free) in Israel, according to Tzedek-Tzedek. “When We Were Slaves in Israel” should pry us from our complacency and demand that we right this wrong.
A Chassidishe Farbrengen shares his approach to The Key to Understanding Torah.
In response to an EU call to divide Jerusalem into the capitol of two states, freelance writer Morey Altman (Jerusalem Report, Jewish Independent, etc.) looks at some of the historical details the EU missed in Jerusalem, Jerusalem.
Ilana-Davita shares her shock at discovering her co-workers lack of compassion in Stingy or Selfish?
A Mother in Israel takes a look back at her Ten Best Comment Threads from the past (secular) year.
Tzedek-Tzedek takes a visit to Turkey and shows us the importance of understanding the culture in Is Turkey Kosher?
Looking for some new Jewish music? Check out Reunion by Julie Silver – Review & Giveaway over by the Ima. She’s giving away Julie Silver’s latest release!
Mazal tov to Hadassah for having her poem, Friday Night Lights, featured on Chabad.org.
Leah has a great way to use Twitter for mitzvot in Twitter Challa!
Been thinking about those cows that the Pharaoh saw in his nocturnal visions? Take a look at what Geshmack Dvar Torah thinks about this in Cow Spirituality. What?
Barbara’s Tchatzkah’s gives us the Flow of Spirituality.
The Jew & The Carrot reports on the Climate Change Bus Tour that has been winding its way across the United States in Topsy Turvy Time.
Personal
I know that I am not alone in welcoming back Chavi from her self-imposed blogging break. She returns with I’m Here to Start a Fire…and boy, does she!
Remember what it’s like…waiting for your date to arrive? Be swept into Frum N’Flipping’s experience, Until He Shows Up.
We typically think that aliyah is for the young. And while it is easier to do in one’s earlier years, it is STILL possible to go home…no matter what the age. Batya shares some snapshots of her father’s experience here and here.
At what moment does fatherhood begin? Jack shares his journey in How Do You Become a Father?
Israeli poet, Zelda, wrote that each one of us has a name. Lady Light expands on this in The Importance of a Name (or, What’s in a Name, Part II).
Beneath the Wings takes control of her life in Nobody Can Fix Your Life for You.
It’s been six months since the death of Shira’s mother, z”l. She shares some perspective in Six Months of Kaddish: Lost in the Transportation.
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And that concludes this week’s edition of Haveil Havalim. I hope that you enjoy these varied posts!!
Next week will be hosted by I’ll Call Baila. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Haveil Havalim using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.
Packing List
For a change of pace, Frume Sarah has decided to venture out of her comfort zone and attend a conference where she knows virtually no one AND where the focus is Judaism and its role in contemporary food issues.
I must admit that I am a little nervous. And I’m not sure which part fills me with more trepidation; not really knowing anyone or being in an environment filled with people who engage in healthy, spiritual practices such as yoga, raw eating, and deep-breathing. Frume Sarah is not from the deep breathers.
I was feeling a bit more confidant until I received the suggested packing list from the conference organizers. It was a good reminder that Frume Sarah will be woefully out of her element.
2009 Food Conference Packing List
Essentials
Travel Coffee Mug and Reusable Water Bottle
OK — so far, so good. I’ve got my KPCC Travel Mug as well as several chic reusable water bottle options.
Casual, comfortable clothes for the conference and Shabbat.
I actually checked around on this one because casual to one person is another person’s fapitzed. Layers, I’ve been warned, is the name of the game. They also added a note that while there are some who have the custom to wear special clothing for Shabbat, the dress code is still casual. Guess I’ll be leaving the Rabbi-suits at home.
Warm clothing including; Fleece jacket or sweater, gloves, hat.
Jacket or sweater?? Really?? I’m going with jacket AND sweater. Better warm than sorry.
Toiletries
The lovely Asilomar Conference Center provides basic amenities such as shampoo, conditioner, soap and even hair dryers. However, that doesn’t BEGIN to cover my toiletry list.
Sunglasses
Check.
Alarm Clock
Check.
Rain gear (umbrella, boots)
Hm…will I be wearing my rain gear AND my sunglasses at the same time?
Ear plugs
Alright this one had me stumped. I’m guessing in case my roommate snores? Will get back to you on this one.
Medication you need to have with you (ie, inhaler, epi-pen)
Always good to remind people of this one!
Some cash for the Sunday Shuk/Market.
How much is “some?”
Your Hazon t-shirt
This is a tough one as I don’t actually own a Hazon t-shirt. Is there one in my future???
Jewish stuff
Jewish stuff??? An interesting catch-all phrase; Jewish stuff. I might have used “Prayer Garb” or “Ritual Items.” Further explanation pointed to a range of prayer opportunities during the conference and over Shabbat, including shacharit as well as the following:
“If you wear…” suggests present tense. So the kippah and tefillin stay home. Tallit???? Yes…no…which one??? My Bat Mitzvah one? My ordination one? PC has a wool one and they said to bring warm clothes…
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We have a limited number of siddurim, if you have one you use regularly, you should bring it.
As for a siddur, I just don’t know. Am I making a public statement by which siddur I use? The Mishkan is bulky. Plus, I don’t really use it for my personal davening. But I am a Reform rabbi and that is our Movement’s siddur. And I do, generally speaking, believe that there is a great deal of strength in having a Movement siddur. On the other hand (as my friend, Tevye, is fond of saying) I enjoy a more traditional prayerbook for my own praying. I was given a copy of Rinat Yisrael 16 years ago by a mentor and it is very dear to me. Here’s an image — Frume Sarah garbed in a wool tallit gadol AND the suggested fleece hat WITH a copy of Rinat Yisrael in hand during Shachris!
Encouraged:
Yoga Mat
A yoga mat??? Apparently there are many opportunities for both yoga and meditation during the Conference. But again, Frume Sarah is not from the deep-breathers.
Walking shoes
This one has me completely stumped. Would these be for one’s normative transportation? In which case, it is not altogether clear to me why one needs a reminder to put on one’s shoes. Is this an indication of some form of recreation?? One which requires a shoe with greater support?
Dancing Shoes
Again, more details are needed. What type of dancing will we be doing that requires separate shoes?
Cycling clothing
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Bicycle & Helmet (Asilomar only provides beach cruising bikes. You must wear a helmet if you intend to ride)
I don’t even OWN a bicycle let alone a bicycle helmet. In fact, how many people own a helmet if they do not actually own a bike?
Frisbee
Not on your life.
Games
Frume Sarah doesn’t play games.
Journal, notebooks, pens
Always. No reminder needed.
Reusable shopping bags for your Sunday Shuk purchases
Would have expected nothing less!!!
Reading materials (the book group reading is Epitath for a Peach)
I don’t think that I’ve ever left the house without reading material. Should I bring books on the topic or something completely different for a mental break?
Seeds for swap at the Sunday Shuk
Um…no.
Musical instruments
Piano…too heavy. Guitar…too fragile. Voice…just right.
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The conference begins this Thursday. You can be certain that Frume Sarah will have much to report upon her return.
Shavua tov!
Nothing Says Happy Chanukah…
Like a carbon monoxide detector.
So last night, I was listening to Neal Conan interview Amy Dickinson, of “Ask Amy” fame, about the worst gifts people have ever received for Christmas. Some of the gifts were shocking. Sometimes funny-shocking. And sometimes sad-shocking.
What would “Ask Amy” say about a carbon monoxide detector? Would her reaction be the same as it was to the guy who wrote in about his father who once gave his mother snow-chains for her car?
CONAN: Here’s an email from Steve(ph) in Beaver Dam, Arizona. In the early 1960s, my father put a set of tire chains for the family car under the Christmas tree as a gift for my mother. It was not well-received.
Ms. DICKINSON: Oh, boy.
CONAN: Yeah.
Ms. DICKINSON: I tell you, that is one Christmas morning – I can still – I can feel it. I feel for that whole family. And look, he was just…
CONAN: You have to wonder who was wearing the chains at the end of the day.
Maybe it’s better to ask a rabbi rather than an advice columnist. Because those very same chains were given by a man whose motivation might have been the desire to keep his family safe on icy roads. A gesture to be appreciated as a sign of caring rather than a sign of disdain or a lack of imagination.
Back to a carbon monoxide detector. Carbon monoxide kills. It IS a silent killer. And it is preventable.
SO PC’s gift to our family for this final night of Chanukah is not exciting. But it is one of the truest expressions of love.
Thanks PC. We love it. And we love you.
Frume Sarah is Shabbos-observant -- in a Reform way, that is. Please note that from Friday afternoons until one hour after sundown on Saturday evenings, Frume Sarah will be unavailable, in observance of the Jewish Sabbath.
Comments made during this time will be held in a queue, to be moderated afterwards.
Thank you for your understanding...and gut Shabbos!!! 
Frume Sarah's World 