Karen Behfar
In Brooklyn, the rhythm of life often revolves around Shabbat and holidays. Week after week, kitchens come alive with the sound of sizzling pans, the aroma of simmering soups, and the hum of preparations that begin long before the candles are lit. Meals carry the words of Torah, melodies of zemirot, and the rise and fall of conversations that stretch long after the challah is gone. Tables are pulled close to make room for one more guest, and coats gather by the door in a cheerful pile. Even in November, during the quiet pause between the High Holidays and Hanukah, these familiar scenes anchor families. They are the heartbeat of tradition and the moments that turn an ordinary space into the setting for a lifetime of memories.
The Role of the Home
The home plays a quiet but powerful role in these gatherings. It’s not about size or extravagance. It’s about whether the space welcomes connection. A dining room that stretches to fit guests can transform a regular meal into an opportunity for hachnasat orchim – opening the door not just to family, but to neighbors, friends, and even strangers who sometimes become good friends. A modest backyard offers children the freedom to run while adults linger over conversation and even the smallest apartment, when it is truly yours, carries a sense of belonging that no temporary rental can match.
It’s in these moments that families often begin to reflect:
Does this space reflect the way I want to gather?
● Does it support the traditions I hope to grow?
● Is it time to imagine something new?
How Are We Evolving?
These are not simple questions, but they are honest ones. Homes evolve with us. The dining room that once held two parents and three children may feel squashed when married children and grandchildren arrive for Shabbat. The apartment that once felt adventurous and freeing in your twenties might feel cramped when hosting your parents for Yom Tov. Recognizing these changes isn’t a sign of dissatisfaction, it’s a sign of growth, and of envisioning what comes next.
Time and again, I’ve seen how the right home becomes the stage where family traditions deepen. It’s where recipes are passed down from one generation to the next, where children learn the rhythm of blessing and gratitude, and where prayers and laughter mingle around the same table. These are not just physical spaces. They are vessels of memory and connection.
Evaluate Your Space
And so, as we move through November, in this calm pause between the intensity of Tishrei and the brightness of Kislev, it’s worth pausing to look around your own space. When you gather with the people you love, whether for a holiday meal, a Shabbat dinner, or even a simple weeknight get-together, notice how your home supports those moments. Does it give you room to breathe, to host, to connect? Or is it time to begin imagining a new setting where your family’s story can continue to grow?
Because in the end, a home isn’t just where you live. It’s where family traditions take root, where they grow deeper, and where they find their forever place.