Hello and good day to you all!!! I hope this video isn't too long, its my longest video yet I believe! But y'all had so many great questions and I have so much fun answering them for you all :)
I agree that your videos can never be too long! I watch & listen as I clean, cook & go about my day. There’s something so soothing and encouraging about what you share. 🌺
Video didn't seem long, time flies having fun 😃. Feed my dog 1st so he isn't sad, hungry & smelling food while rest of us are eating, fun to know it's an Orthodox practice. Enjoyed hiking &/or camping S. Hero Vermont, Cape Cod MA, Sedona , Flagstaff, Grand Canyon AZ, Crested Bute Telluride CO {skiing}, ❤Pocono Mountains PA, Red Wood CA, Hatteras NC. My #1 ❤Adirondacks upstate NY! I would live there if I could!!
I loved your answer about lighting Shabbat candles. It’s always moving to me to think of all the people lighting candles each Friday evening. Great video as always.
Hi Chana, what a really enjoyable Q & A video. I'm a Christian but I have to say there are so many things that I find wonderful about Judaism. As an animal lover I particularly love the fact that you are required to feed Bella before the family sits down to eat as this is something I do with my dogs. Sadly I live in a rural community with no synagogue or I would definitely go to a service, but for now I will keep listening to and learning from you. Bless you. x
Yes Anne I feel the same way. I’m in a rural area as well and the nearest synagogue is about an hour or so away. Chana you have taught us all so much about Judaism and as you can see we all love to learn from you. 😊 Thank you 💜
Chana, I just wanted to say thank you for your videos! Within the past year or so, my husband has been making a concerted effort to reconnect with his Jewish ancestry, and being someone who was raised without any religion whatsoever, literally everything is 100% brand new to me. You sharing all of this great information and generally just how you live a Jewish life has been a huge resource for me as I have been navigating keeping Kosher, observing Shabbat, and really just familiarizing myself with my local community, so thank you :)
I’ve just found your channel and I’m so glad I did. You are such a sweet, calming soul. As a Christian, I love getting to learn more about our Jewish friends. Our religious are related, after all 💗 Many blessings to you!
What a treat this video was! I love these, and how comfortable and sincere you are. It’s so interesting to get to know details about your religion, and a bit about yourself. I love how you knew at an an early age you wanted to convert, and how happy you are with that decision! You are a very happy wife and mom, and that always comes through in your videos. 🙂♥️
I like the fact that your videos usually come out during my lunch break (I work from home, in London) so I can watch them while I relax before another afternoon of endless meetings :D Thank you Chana!xx
Thank you! What an interesting video. When I was a student I was a member of JSOC (Jewish Society) and went to the Kiddush a few times and I also went to the synagogue for the Sabbath morning service. I really liked it. I was a Protestant then and am a Catholic now and had no interest in converting but everyone was really friendly and welcoming and happy to explain things. The food was delicious as well!
Loved this one too! Beautiful together. Thank you for sharing with all of us. Cooking videos would be great! Enjoy Purism. Can't wait to see how your Scottish costume turned out or what you decided on to fit your gorgeous baby bump!!!💖
Thanks so much for this. I LOVE listening to you. This afternoon, I had an unfortunate incident with my embroidery module, which caused me to have to CAREFULLY stitch rip out a 4" x 6" area. Listening to you made the time pass and before I knew it, I was done. It is so interesting to hear about different cultures and belief systems. Thanks for all that you do and I hope that 'Bebe Number Four" has arrived painlessly and easily. Peace and LOVE!
Chana, I loved this video, as I do all of them. I really resonated with your comment about head covering. I decided several months ago to begin covering my hair. I started with a couple of wigs but now am "wrapping" and I absolutely love it! As you said, it is so freeing. The scarves and pins I used to wear around my neck are now getting a new life as head wraps. Thank you for your candid, upbeat, informative videos :)
I love listening to your Q and As and learning all the time. Your approach is refreshening and it's obvious how happy you are in your family life. What could be better than that. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Chana Great job getting SO many questions answered here!! I really do enjoy learning more about you, your family and your faith. I hope you have a great day! Lesley
That was another great video, Chana. You are so upbeat and engaging I never noticed time. I was waiting for bloopers too! Thank you for always being willing to teach us new things about Judaism. Have a great day!
Thanks for your kind words! To us as Jews, it’s Not a sacrament so that would not be the correct word for us to use. Life cycle is commonly used in Judaism to refer to the important events :)
Just wanted to let you know how lovely and authentic you are. Though I’m not religious, I live in a Jewish community in Los Angeles and appreciate your insight and thoughtfulness. If you’re looking at national parks I would recommend, Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon you can do them all in an 8 day road trip. I didn’t camp, I stayed at hotels, but it was still great.
I also look forward to your uploads and I learn so much about so many things. I really liked your comment about the lyrics in the music you listen to: the language you listen to becomes the language you use. So well said. You are such a delight!
If you ever make it to Alaska, I highly recommend driving the Alaska Highway and making it a road trip! I grew up in the Yukon (next to Alaska in Canada) and having a car will make a huge difference. Loving your channel and learning so much!
Chana always so nice to view your uploads.. love hearing about your life and how secure and happy you are in it 😍 that smile … so infectious .. thank you lovely lady 🌷
Oh my gosh, I had no clue about the rule about pets. Im not sure the meaning, but I absolutely love that!!! What a beautiful reminder for us to check on those we serve before we move onto ourselves :)
Hi, about tzitzis: your opinion is right first perfect the obligations and then commit to more (that’s Halacha- about taking on more obligations) your channel ROCKS 💕💕💕
Chana, I would like to thank you for all your videos, where you try to answer as many questions as possible, you do so in a thoughtful way, thinking about each answer. I have always had a curiosity learning about other religions and faiths and the way they are celebrated. I thank you for sharing yours and your conversion journey. Thank you so much. Susan ( Ireland) 💚
Hello Chana! Wonderful video, as always, very informative! Good progress on the scarf! :) Also- your videos are never, ever too long. Not long enough, more likely ;)
I really enjoy hiking. I also enjoy running but my knees do not. I put on my running pants and my knees will hurt! I'm like, "Relax, we're not going running. I just need to do laundry." LOL I love that you need to take care of your pets before yourselves. I learn so much from these videos!
Hi Chana: This was super interesting and informative. I know that "pull" toward Judaism that you mentioned very well. A tenth anniversary is kind of a big deal, imo, so maybe you'll go out to grab a bite. I always enjoy all your videos, no matter what the content. Bella IS amazing and beautiful..I love her! 🙂 Have a good shabbat coming up, and, thank you for sharing. Rosemarie 💖
Dear Chana, I think we all won't get tired to tell you how amazing you and your family are and how much we enjoy your videos🥰 while watching this one there came a question to my mind: in the background I can see pictures (one of which is a showing a wedding dress?).. would you mind to talk about them, if they have a special meaning or what they are for? Wishing you all the best, Luisa
Hello Luisa! Thank you for your kind words! The pictures in the background are by Whistler, they are prints of his paintings that we use in our homeschool for artist study :)
I know this is an old video, but I just wanted to say I love your comment about Jewish law and Bella. Taking care of the most dependent family member first.
I enjoyed the questions and answers. The thing that I found most interesting was your miniature room. When you get back to that craft, I would appreciate it if you could take us along. I would like to see what you gathered for materials as well as seeing different stages of completion. I know it may be a while before you pick it up again. I, too, have several projects I work on. By the way, your knitted scarf is coming along nicely.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I used a kit for the miniature room that I purchased from Amazon. I have done other small things with miniatures that I have created myself though.
Another great video! I hope you make it to Utah someday. We went 15 years ago and did the 5 national parks and it was one of our all time favorite vacations.
Re:remarriage. A divorced OR widowed woman has to wait three months to ensure that she's not pregnant by her former husband. As mourning period for a spouse is only 30 days, that's not an issue. A divorced or widowed man *should* wait until three festivals have passed (so could be as long as September to April or as short as May to September) but if he needs to, he can get married as soon as shivah is over. I'm a BT (ba'alot tshuva) so I wasn't raised religious. Taking a step back is excellent advice, as is finding a mentor. I don't know how I'd have gotten through my first Passover without my wonderful mother-in-law's help. The other thing I'd recommend is taking small steps instead of jumping all the way into new observances - take little bites at first. It makes it all a little less overwhelming.
I love your Q & A's!! I get to learn so much about you and your family and Sephardi vs. Ashkenazi! This video was definitely NOT too long! I was enjoying it so much and when you said that was that for today I was surprised lol. It went by so fast. Usually, if I watch a video that's longer than 25-30 mins. say around 45 mins, I start checking the time about 25 min lol while thinking, "how much longer?" lol. I didn't think that once during this video. It's comforting to know that we sometimes have the same struggles and appreciate your honesty about them. It can definitely, at times, feel overwhelming. I'm so glad I'm not the only one. Not that struggling is good and I'm not happy that others struggle but it just helps to know that other people feel the same sometimes and I'm not a bad person for my feelings. Thank you! I totally agree about the head coverings and skirts! Very freeing. You and I both live in extremely hot and humid (sticky) climates and I find that the heat is somewhat bearable in a skirt vs jeans which just trap the heat. I've also never bothered enough with my hair so, before I started covering, on days when I just didn't feel like messing with it, up in a ponytail it went. A tichel or sheitel is even easier! Take care and Shabbat Shalom!
@@jaroffireflies you're very welcome! Chana, we don't know each other in person but, when I watch your videos, especially these Q & As, and then I read the comments, I feeling like we're all a group of friends just kibbitzing away over coffee/tea. I think I've told you how I currently don't live in a community because I have to live with my family and they prefer rural to city/suburban life. Add that to the covid situation and I haven't been able to get together with my friends in the community or participate in the shul's activities for close to two years. I watch your videos (when I can anyway 😉), take a weekly Tanya class on ZOOM and talk to my friends on FB and Messenger calls and I'm not completely isolated. You've definitely been a big help in alleviating my anxiety issues! We seem to have a lot in common and for sure it helps to listen to someone talk about things important to them when those things are important to me too. Thank you so much for being you! BH
@@thecatlady6 I’m so very glad my videos are helping you right now! It’s been a tough time for so many! Hang in there! And I’m so happy you have the zoom classes!
Thank you so much, Chana! You are SO AWESOME!!!!!!!! About 20 yrs ago my husband, my younger son and I were on vacation in New England. We went out to explore a little before breakfast and saw a huge gathering of Orthodox Jews (I could tell from their attire) sitting at several picnic tables. Then we went in to get some of the free continental breakfast that was offered and we saw some members of the group going back and forth taking items such as fruit and small boxes of cereal. It was a great learning experience for my son as I explained everything to him. As always, like in the hospital...where there is a will, there's a way! Also, the person who asked about wishing a New happy holidays ..could they have wished them a happy New Year because that was coming up or do Orthodox Jews only recognize Rosh Hashana as the new year? Thx, friend!!!!!!!
Thanks so much for sharing that fun story Trish! As for happy new year, since we celebrate our new year on Rosh Hashanah, many don’t wish a happy new year around January 1st, but it wouldn’t be rude or anything to say that so yes that’s a great alternative also!
Sorry, Chana..last comment. It must be so gratifying, and yet, liberating to live your faith each day without the "superficial" worries. Society gets so caught up in the latest fashions, trends, etc. Your lifestyle is truly meaningful. Rosemarie 💖
Hi Channa, I said this before but I find this all so fascinating. I'm not one for religion but God is with me always. I can truly appreciate the insights you're giving into your religion and your passion for it. Thanks again so much for sharing!!
Thank you as always Chana for your wonderful videos! When you mentioned Death Valley/Furnace Creek, I and my family stayed at the beautiful Furnace Creek Inn! It was mesmerizing ~ all the millions of 🌟 at night...! P.S. when you caught yourself realizing you're 40, your laugh was classic! 😁
Hi Chana. Thank you for the Q and A. Lots of interesting questions and answers. Question about Bella. When will she start the service part? I grew up going camping. Not so much now. Lol. My favorite was the Grand Canyon, olympic peninsula, Mt. Rainier and the outer banks. My idea of camping now would be glamping. I hope you have a great rest of your week. I look forward to your next video.
i really like your quilts, chana. i admire needle arts as well. i'm a crocheter but i have carpal tunnel syndrome currently but i'm hoping i can get back to it. i've sewn in my youth but not for many years. my mother was a seamstress and she made her own wedding dress. oddly, i like mending things by hand because it relaxes me and it's less taxing than pulling out my machine. enjoyed this video. cheers to you and the fam.
Wonderful and informative Q and A! Your mini quilts are beautiful, loved the miniature, and your craft room is an inspiration! I know you are a cozy mystery reader,as am I and I was wondering if you have a favorite author or recommendations? One of my favorites is Elizabeth Spanning Craig, author of the Myrtle Glover mysteries, extremely enjoyable! As always a pleasure to watch and learn....
This is such an informative video. Thank you for sharing. You mentioned that you would love to go to Alaska. My son and wife live in Alaska and fortunately I have had the wonderful experience of visiting them for a whole month. It is absolutely beautiful. If it were not for the extremely cold weather I would love to live there.
Southern Utah is amazing! I love Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. Have you been to Yellowstone? It's my favorite place in America that I have visited. I live near Tucson, and there is a miniature museum there that's pretty fun, so if you ever find yourself camping in the Sonoran Desert, maybe you can drop in at the museum. What a fun hobby!
Another great video! I love the information about your camping in the Shenandoah Valley as that’s where I live 😊. I’m a transplanted Midwesterner but have lived in VA for 20 years. We love it here and have also camped all over the valley.
I suggest Isle Royal National Park. Just bear in mind, you bring everything you need with you because other than for emergencies you aren't getting off the island until the boat comes back in a week. They CAN (and do) evacuate people by plane in an emergency but it isn't all that common. On the other hand, the island is beautiful, the hiking is awesome and the wildlife is amazing.
Hey Chana, thank you for the upload. I totally enjoy your videos and am always curious to find out more things about Sephardic Judaism. I am not Jewish, and never will be but I respect all God's children and am fascinated by other cultures and religions. Your honesty and sense of humor paired with valuable background information make for an easy broadening of my limited horizon. Have a peaceful Shabbat tomorrow!
Hi Chana. That quilt is beautiful! I used to do a lot of cross stitch and needlepoint too. I only recently started picking up a project I started years ago, and hopefully I will finish it soon. I thought I would add some extra information for some of the halacha questions: After eating a hard cheese, like parmesan, one does need to wait six hours before eating meat. Women must wait 3 months after the end of a marriage to remarry. Not sure if this is what was being asked about the music, but during certain times of the year, we are not allowed to listen to music. (there are two mourning periods during the year), and if you are in mourning for a parent, we don't listen to music for a year. If you are in mourning for another relative, I believe the mourning period is a month.)
Thank you for the extra information and your kind words! You are totally correct about the hard cheese, I tend to leave that out as I’m just giving such very basic information but it is a good point to mention :)
Really enjoyed this Q&A. Enjoy all of your videos. Love all of your crafts so artistic! Saw your small watercolor on an earlier video so know you're a talented painter too. Do you ever sell your crafts in the community or at temple events? Hope all of you are safe from the latest round of covid. All good things to you and your family. Love, love, love watching every episode you share with us. l
Questions regarding modest clothing: 1. Do you overheat? I struggle with staying cool enough (why I left my home state of Arizona!), and I am always curious about folks who cover up more manage their personal temperature regulation? 2. When camping or when it's cold, can you wear leggings under your skirt?
Hello! No, I’ve never had an issue being too hot. I find the skirts and dresses much more comfortable in hot weather :) yes, I can and do wear leggings under skirts in cold weather :)
Follow-up question: if men are obligated to pray three times a day in a group, how is this compatible with having a job in a company for example? Love your channel, it's all so very interesting!
Also Orthodox Jew :)! It's harder during the winter. The three times a day are based on where the sun is in the sky - morning, afternoon, night. In the summer, with longer daylight hours, it's easier to find a group to pray with after work for the second two services (the morning service is before work). In the winter, with less daylight, it can be a lot more difficult because that second prayer service has to be before sunset but after mid-day.
Utah is an absolutely beautiful state. We’ve been to Moab, Zion, and Bryce. All are simply stunning. Although, since I’m a California girl l love Yosemite,the Sequoias, and Big Sur.
I love your Q & A's! I feel we get to know you so much more, and that's just lovely. I hope you're warm and cozy where you are, we're having a deep freeze, -25C right now. Brrr! 🙂
You're right ... Judaism is not a race but there are common DNA strands that, if we had the DNA of say Moses or Aaron or even Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, theoretically Jewish people would be able to trace their DNA back to them. This is especially true of Kohens and Levites (direct male descendants of Aaron). Kohens are the Priests and Levites are the "workers" in the Temple (when they were in Jerusalem). The best word I've heard used to answer the question "what is Judaism - a race or a religion or a nation? - is that Judaism is a family.
Chana, the other word for kipa : yarmulka really originates from 2 hebrew words with a chasidic accent: the 2 words it consists of is the hebrew words :"ירא מלכא" in transilration: "yerei malka", which means:" fear ofthe king" meaning fear of G-D, our king... and it turned into "yarmulka"... Since the idea behind men wearing it is to remind them that there is always someone above and over them: Hashem. I love your answers!
I have cats who whose schedule most times is different than ours. My Rabbi said that as long as our cats are on a schedule and we keep to that schedule than we can go ahead and eat. I've been told that you should always go with what your Rabbi says. I guess that would be this case
I enjoy your description of your community’s lived experience of religious gender roles as obligations. It makes me pause and reflect on some of my own assumptions. Thank you.
Hello and good day to you all!!! I hope this video isn't too long, its my longest video yet I believe! But y'all had so many great questions and I have so much fun answering them for you all :)
Never, never too long!! We are Chana fans!!! Lol
@@trishpolk640 Aw thanks Trish!
@@trishpolk640 I agree with you. It was interesting listening to answers to the questions.
I agree that your videos can never be too long! I watch & listen as I clean, cook & go about my day. There’s something so soothing and encouraging about what you share. 🌺
Video didn't seem long, time flies having fun 😃. Feed my dog 1st so he isn't sad, hungry & smelling food while rest of us are eating, fun to know it's an Orthodox practice. Enjoyed hiking &/or camping S. Hero Vermont, Cape Cod MA, Sedona , Flagstaff, Grand Canyon AZ, Crested Bute Telluride CO {skiing}, ❤Pocono Mountains PA, Red Wood CA, Hatteras NC. My #1 ❤Adirondacks upstate NY! I would live there if I could!!
Channa thank you for your honesty in answering the questions. Your eyes and smile show how happy you are in your chosen life. 🌹❤️Ireland
Thank you 😊💖
I loved your answer about lighting Shabbat candles. It’s always moving to me to think of all the people lighting candles each Friday evening.
Great video as always.
Thank you :)
Hi Chana, what a really enjoyable Q & A video. I'm a Christian but I have to say there are so many things that I find wonderful about Judaism. As an animal lover I particularly love the fact that you are required to feed Bella before the family sits down to eat as this is something I do with my dogs. Sadly I live in a rural community with no synagogue or I would definitely go to a service, but for now I will keep listening to and learning from you. Bless you. x
Thank you for your kind words Anne!
Yes Anne I feel the same way. I’m in a rural area as well and the nearest synagogue is about an hour or so away. Chana you have taught us all so much about Judaism and as you can see we all love to learn from you. 😊 Thank you 💜
Chana, I just wanted to say thank you for your videos! Within the past year or so, my husband has been making a concerted effort to reconnect with his Jewish ancestry, and being someone who was raised without any religion whatsoever, literally everything is 100% brand new to me. You sharing all of this great information and generally just how you live a Jewish life has been a huge resource for me as I have been navigating keeping Kosher, observing Shabbat, and really just familiarizing myself with my local community, so thank you :)
Oh wow Norah! Thanks so much for letting me know how helpful this has been to you 💖 I’m so happy to hear that! Enjoy your learning!
I’ve just found your channel and I’m so glad I did. You are such a sweet, calming soul. As a Christian, I love getting to learn more about our Jewish friends. Our religious are related, after all 💗 Many blessings to you!
Thank you so much for being here! I’m so happy you found your way here :)
What a treat this video was! I love these, and how comfortable and sincere you are. It’s so interesting to get to know details about your religion, and a bit about yourself. I love how you knew at an an early age you wanted to convert, and how happy you are with that decision! You are a very happy wife and mom, and that always comes through in your videos. 🙂♥️
Thank you so much!!!
I like the fact that your videos usually come out during my lunch break (I work from home, in London) so I can watch them while I relax before another afternoon of endless meetings :D Thank you Chana!xx
What perfect timing! For me it’s right after breakfast 😊💖
Thank you, this was a wonderful learning experience. Can’t wait for part 2
I’m so glad you liked this video!
Thank you! What an interesting video. When I was a student I was a member of JSOC (Jewish Society) and went to the Kiddush a few times and I also went to the synagogue for the Sabbath morning service. I really liked it. I was a Protestant then and am a Catholic now and had no interest in converting but everyone was really friendly and welcoming and happy to explain things. The food was delicious as well!
I’m so glad you enjoyed your experience there!
Wow. I enjoyed this Q&A so much. Your always so open with us. Have a Blessed week. Looking forward to the next video I can watch.
Thank you so much!
Literally my favourite type of vlog!!!!! I love hearing all about your life!!! Lots of love x
Yay! So glad you enjoyed!
Loved this one too! Beautiful together. Thank you for sharing with all of us. Cooking videos would be great! Enjoy Purism. Can't wait to see how your Scottish costume turned out or what you decided on to fit your gorgeous baby bump!!!💖
Thanks so much for this. I LOVE listening to you. This afternoon, I had an unfortunate incident with my embroidery module, which caused me to have to CAREFULLY stitch rip out a 4" x 6" area. Listening to you made the time pass and before I knew it, I was done. It is so interesting to hear about different cultures and belief systems. Thanks for all that you do and I hope that 'Bebe Number Four" has arrived painlessly and easily. Peace and LOVE!
Absolutely love these q and a videos Channa! Thank you for being open with us. I am learning a lot!
So glad you’re enjoying! Thank you!
Chana, I loved this video, as I do all of them. I really resonated with your comment about head covering. I decided several months ago to begin covering my hair. I started with a couple of wigs but now am "wrapping" and I absolutely love it! As you said, it is so freeing. The scarves and pins I used to wear around my neck are now getting a new life as head wraps. Thank you for your candid, upbeat, informative videos :)
Thank you Karen! And thanks for sharing about your head coverings!
I love listening to your Q and As and learning all the time. Your approach is refreshening and it's obvious how happy you are in your family life. What could be better than that. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you 😊
Hi Chana
Great job getting SO many questions answered here!!
I really do enjoy learning more about you, your family and your faith.
I hope you have a great day!
Lesley
Thank you so much Lesley! Have a great weekend!
That was another great video, Chana. You are so upbeat and engaging I never noticed time. I was waiting for bloopers too! Thank you for always being willing to teach us new things about Judaism. Have a great day!
Thank you for your kind words! This video was so long I opted not to include bloopers 😬 Mistake?
Hi, sweet Chana! I appreciate your honesty and this video. I'm having anxious days, and you always make me feel better! 🫂💕
I’m so glad this makes your day better!
I love how you describe "life cycle events" as opposed to the sacraments. What a beautiful way to express these important parts of life. Thank you
Thanks for your kind words! To us as Jews, it’s Not a sacrament so that would not be the correct word for us to use. Life cycle is commonly used in Judaism to refer to the important events :)
I always love how open and honest you are! Have a wonderful Shabbat when it comes
Thank you Eilidh!
Fabulous Q&A, I always love them. I love how genuine you are. Thanks!
Thank you!!! 💖
Great vlog, I really like the longish format! Please do a miniatures video!!!! I'm vaguely obsessed by them and your green house looks so wonderful!
I love your videos. I find them very calming in this crazy time. And I love learning new things.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you!
Just wanted to let you know how lovely and authentic you are. Though I’m not religious, I live in a Jewish community in Los Angeles and appreciate your insight and thoughtfulness. If you’re looking at national parks I would recommend, Zion, Bryce and the Grand Canyon you can do them all in an 8 day road trip. I didn’t camp, I stayed at hotels, but it was still great.
Hello Patricia! Thank you so much for being here and for your park suggestions!
In this new year be blessed! Stay happy. You have a wonderful smile.
Thank you! You as well!
Another great Q & A. Thanks Channa. I love to learn and you provide not only great entertainment, but knowledge too. Wishing you a great week.
Thank you so much!
💖Thank you for sharing with us. You witness amazingly well about your life. 💕
I also look forward to your uploads and I learn so much about so many things. I really liked your comment about the lyrics in the music you listen to: the language you listen to becomes the language you use. So well said.
You are such a delight!
Thank you so much!
I also love the movie The Great Escape. My father knew Steve McQueen and they raced cars together. Just a bit of trivia.
Oh that is soooooo cool!
If you ever make it to Alaska, I highly recommend driving the Alaska Highway and making it a road trip! I grew up in the Yukon (next to Alaska in Canada) and having a car will make a huge difference. Loving your channel and learning so much!
Thanks Jessica!
Chana always so nice to view your uploads.. love hearing about your life and how secure and happy you are in it 😍 that smile … so infectious .. thank you lovely lady 🌷
Thank you 😊
Oh my gosh, I had no clue about the rule about pets. Im not sure the meaning, but I absolutely love that!!! What a beautiful reminder for us to check on those we serve before we move onto ourselves :)
So glad that resonated with you :)
Thank you for sharing. I learned so much today. Hope you are having a great week! Looking forward to Monday’s video.
Blessings, Shawn
Thank you! Enjoy your weekend!
You didn’t disappoint! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much 😊
I learned so much, thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for watching!
Hi, about tzitzis: your opinion is right first perfect the obligations and then commit to more (that’s Halacha- about taking on more obligations) your channel ROCKS 💕💕💕
Thank you 😊
Love the Q& A’s, so informative
So glad! Thanks for watching Anne :)
Oh, wow, I LOVE the animal feeding first situation. I grew up on a farm and that was our motto, animals eat first.
Love that!
Utah is super beautiful and travel friendly right now... lots of family friendly thing in Utah
Chana, I would like to thank you for all your videos, where you try to answer as many questions as possible, you do so in a thoughtful way, thinking about each answer. I have always had a curiosity learning about other religions and faiths and the way they are celebrated. I thank you for sharing yours and your conversion journey. Thank you so much. Susan ( Ireland) 💚
Thank you so much Susan! 💜
Always informational Chana! Enjoy those days where your daughter wants to be like you!!! lol may it ever be so!
Thank you!
Fantastic video! Such great questions!! I love all of your answers. Very inspiring!!
Thank you so much. 💖💖💖
Hello Chana! Wonderful video, as always, very informative! Good progress on the scarf! :) Also- your videos are never, ever too long. Not long enough, more likely ;)
Aw thank you 😊
I really enjoy hiking. I also enjoy running but my knees do not. I put on my running pants and my knees will hurt! I'm like, "Relax, we're not going running. I just need to do laundry." LOL I love that you need to take care of your pets before yourselves. I learn so much from these videos!
The Great Escape! Wonderful Movie!!!!! Great history behind the escape as well.
Absolutely!
Happy New Year Chana and family! I look forward to more uploads of you and your beautiful family xxx
Thank you!
I absolutely love your miniatures!!!! So cute!
Thank you! They are so fun!
I just asked a question on your home tour video and only now found this video. Love your channel!
Thank you for your kind words! Great to see you here!
Hi Chana: This was super interesting and informative. I know that "pull" toward Judaism that you mentioned very well. A tenth anniversary is kind of a big deal, imo, so maybe you'll go out to grab a bite. I always enjoy all your videos, no matter what the content. Bella IS amazing and beautiful..I love her! 🙂 Have a good shabbat coming up, and, thank you for sharing. Rosemarie 💖
Thank you so much Rosemarie! Have a great weekend!
Dear Chana, I think we all won't get tired to tell you how amazing you and your family are and how much we enjoy your videos🥰 while watching this one there came a question to my mind: in the background I can see pictures (one of which is a showing a wedding dress?).. would you mind to talk about them, if they have a special meaning or what they are for? Wishing you all the best, Luisa
Hello Luisa! Thank you for your kind words! The pictures in the background are by Whistler, they are prints of his paintings that we use in our homeschool for artist study :)
I know this is an old video, but I just wanted to say I love your comment about Jewish law and Bella. Taking care of the most dependent family member first.
I enjoyed the questions and answers. The thing that I found most interesting was your miniature room. When you get back to that craft, I would appreciate it if you could take us along. I would like to see what you gathered for materials as well as seeing different stages of completion. I know it may be a while before you pick it up again. I, too, have several projects I work on. By the way, your knitted scarf is coming along nicely.
Thank you so much for your kind words! I used a kit for the miniature room that I purchased from Amazon. I have done other small things with miniatures that I have created myself though.
Another great video! I hope you make it to Utah someday. We went 15 years ago and did the 5 national parks and it was one of our all time favorite vacations.
I hope so too!
Good morning Chana and kiddos 💕 love Q&A!!
Good morning Kristin!
Re:remarriage. A divorced OR widowed woman has to wait three months to ensure that she's not pregnant by her former husband. As mourning period for a spouse is only 30 days, that's not an issue. A divorced or widowed man *should* wait until three festivals have passed (so could be as long as September to April or as short as May to September) but if he needs to, he can get married as soon as shivah is over.
I'm a BT (ba'alot tshuva) so I wasn't raised religious. Taking a step back is excellent advice, as is finding a mentor. I don't know how I'd have gotten through my first Passover without my wonderful mother-in-law's help. The other thing I'd recommend is taking small steps instead of jumping all the way into new observances - take little bites at first. It makes it all a little less overwhelming.
Thank you Debra! I appreciate your information, clarification and kind words :)
I love your Q & A's!! I get to learn so much about you and your family and Sephardi vs. Ashkenazi! This video was definitely NOT too long! I was enjoying it so much and when you said that was that for today I was surprised lol. It went by so fast. Usually, if I watch a video that's longer than 25-30 mins. say around 45 mins, I start checking the time about 25 min lol while thinking, "how much longer?" lol. I didn't think that once during this video.
It's comforting to know that we sometimes have the same struggles and appreciate your honesty about them. It can definitely, at times, feel overwhelming. I'm so glad I'm not the only one. Not that struggling is good and I'm not happy that others struggle but it just helps to know that other people feel the same sometimes and I'm not a bad person for my feelings. Thank you!
I totally agree about the head coverings and skirts! Very freeing. You and I both live in extremely hot and humid (sticky) climates and I find that the heat is somewhat bearable in a skirt vs jeans which just trap the heat. I've also never bothered enough with my hair so, before I started covering, on days when I just didn't feel like messing with it, up in a ponytail it went. A tichel or sheitel is even easier!
Take care and Shabbat Shalom!
Thank you for your kind words and input! I’m so glad this was uplifting for you and that you feel the same about skirts / head coverings!
@@jaroffireflies you're very welcome! Chana, we don't know each other in person but, when I watch your videos, especially these Q & As, and then I read the comments, I feeling like we're all a group of friends just kibbitzing away over coffee/tea. I think I've told you how I currently don't live in a community because I have to live with my family and they prefer rural to city/suburban life. Add that to the covid situation and I haven't been able to get together with my friends in the community or participate in the shul's activities for close to two years. I watch your videos (when I can anyway 😉), take a weekly Tanya class on ZOOM and talk to my friends on FB and Messenger calls and I'm not completely isolated.
You've definitely been a big help in alleviating my anxiety issues! We seem to have a lot in common and for sure it helps to listen to someone talk about things important to them when those things are important to me too.
Thank you so much for being you! BH
@@thecatlady6 I’m so very glad my videos are helping you right now! It’s been a tough time for so many! Hang in there! And I’m so happy you have the zoom classes!
Thank you so much, Chana! You are SO AWESOME!!!!!!!! About 20 yrs ago my husband, my younger son and I were on vacation in New England. We went out to explore a little before breakfast and saw a huge gathering of Orthodox Jews (I could tell from their attire) sitting at several picnic tables. Then we went in to get some of the free continental breakfast that was offered and we saw some members of the group going back and forth taking items such as fruit and small boxes of cereal. It was a great learning experience for my son as I explained everything to him. As always, like in the hospital...where there is a will, there's a way! Also, the person who asked about wishing a New happy holidays ..could they have wished them a happy New Year because that was coming up or do Orthodox Jews only recognize Rosh Hashana as the new year? Thx, friend!!!!!!!
Thanks so much for sharing that fun story Trish! As for happy new year, since we celebrate our new year on Rosh Hashanah, many don’t wish a happy new year around January 1st, but it wouldn’t be rude or anything to say that so yes that’s a great alternative also!
Your awesome and so giving with your life, thank you
Thank you 😊
Sorry, Chana..last comment. It must be so gratifying, and yet, liberating to live your faith each day without the "superficial" worries. Society gets so caught up in the latest fashions, trends, etc. Your lifestyle is truly meaningful. Rosemarie 💖
Thank you 😊 We still think about superficial things, but you’re right it’s not the focus
Hi Channa, I said this before but I find this all so fascinating. I'm not one for religion but God is with me always. I can truly appreciate the insights you're giving into your religion and your passion for it. Thanks again so much for sharing!!
Thank you so much!
Your phone is doing a great job with your recordings.. lighting is also usually great..it works for you. I really enjoy your Q & A's.
Thank you Carole :)
Thank you as always Chana for your wonderful videos! When you mentioned Death Valley/Furnace Creek, I and my family stayed at the beautiful Furnace Creek Inn!
It was mesmerizing ~ all the millions of 🌟 at night...! P.S. when you caught yourself realizing you're 40, your laugh was classic! 😁
Lol so glad you enjoyed my realizing that I’m 40 😂 And yay that y’all have stayed in Death Valley! It’s such a cool place
Hi Chana. Thank you for the Q and A. Lots of interesting questions and answers. Question about Bella. When will she start the service part? I grew up going camping. Not so much now. Lol. My favorite was the Grand Canyon, olympic peninsula, Mt. Rainier and the outer banks. My idea of camping now would be glamping. I hope you have a great rest of your week. I look forward to your next video.
We are starting the scent training with Bella soon, it's a process. I have studied how to do it and am gather what we need to get started.
i really like your quilts, chana. i admire needle arts as well. i'm a crocheter but i have carpal tunnel syndrome currently but i'm hoping i can get back to it. i've sewn in my youth but not for many years. my mother was a seamstress and she made her own wedding dress. oddly, i like mending things by hand because it relaxes me and it's less taxing than pulling out my machine. enjoyed this video. cheers to you and the fam.
I also love mending by hand! I hope you’re able to get back to crochet soon 💖
Love your quilted wall hangings. They are so beautiful. I’ve wanted to try quilting but I just don’t think I have the patience for it. 😂
Mini quilts are a great place to start because they are much simpler and quicker projects than full size quilts 😊
Wonderful and informative Q and A! Your mini quilts are beautiful, loved the miniature, and your craft room is an inspiration! I know you are a cozy mystery reader,as am I and I was wondering if you have a favorite author or recommendations? One of my favorites is Elizabeth Spanning Craig, author of the Myrtle Glover mysteries, extremely enjoyable! As always a pleasure to watch and learn....
Hello Janith! I’ve been enjoying Julie Hyzy lately. Her White House chef mysteries were excellent and I’m reading her Manor House mysteries now.
This is such an informative video. Thank you for sharing. You mentioned that you would love to go to Alaska. My son and wife live in Alaska and fortunately I have had the wonderful experience of visiting them for a whole month. It is absolutely beautiful. If it were not for the extremely cold weather I would love to live there.
I think it could be really amazing to live there!
Chana, those quilts are beautiful!
Thank you! 😊
I live near the Appalachian Trail. My grandmother hiked it in her 70’s.
That’s really incredible! 💜
Thank you so much for answering the questions. You make me smile with your happiness 😊💙
Thank you and you’re welcome
Southern Utah is amazing! I love Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. Have you been to Yellowstone? It's my favorite place in America that I have visited.
I live near Tucson, and there is a miniature museum there that's pretty fun, so if you ever find yourself camping in the Sonoran Desert, maybe you can drop in at the museum. What a fun hobby!
I have not been to Yellowstone but I would love to. I have spend many many nights in the Sonoran desert :) It’s one of my favorite places!
Another great video! I love the information about your camping in the Shenandoah Valley as that’s where I live 😊. I’m a transplanted Midwesterner but have lived in VA for 20 years. We love it here and have also camped all over the valley.
Oh wow that’s so fun! Such a beautiful part of our country :) I miss the Fall leaves!
Shout out from ND (I’m now in MN - but spent my first 35 years in ND)
Oh, my goodness your quilts look beautiful!
Thank you! 😊
I suggest Isle Royal National Park. Just bear in mind, you bring everything you need with you because other than for emergencies you aren't getting off the island until the boat comes back in a week. They CAN (and do) evacuate people by plane in an emergency but it isn't all that common. On the other hand, the island is beautiful, the hiking is awesome and the wildlife is amazing.
That sounds like heaven!
Hey Chana, thank you for the upload. I totally enjoy your videos and am always curious to find out more things about Sephardic Judaism. I am not Jewish, and never will be but I respect all God's children and am fascinated by other cultures and religions. Your honesty and sense of humor paired with valuable background information make for an easy broadening of my limited horizon. Have a peaceful Shabbat tomorrow!
Thank you for your kind words!
Hi Chana. That quilt is beautiful! I used to do a lot of cross stitch and needlepoint too. I only recently started picking up a project I started years ago, and hopefully I will finish it soon.
I thought I would add some extra information for some of the halacha questions:
After eating a hard cheese, like parmesan, one does need to wait six hours before eating meat.
Women must wait 3 months after the end of a marriage to remarry.
Not sure if this is what was being asked about the music, but during certain times of the year, we are not allowed to listen to music. (there are two mourning periods during the year), and if you are in mourning for a parent, we don't listen to music for a year. If you are in mourning for another relative, I believe the mourning period is a month.)
Thank you for the extra information and your kind words! You are totally correct about the hard cheese, I tend to leave that out as I’m just giving such very basic information but it is a good point to mention :)
Really enjoyed this Q&A. Enjoy all of your videos. Love all of your crafts so artistic! Saw your small watercolor on an earlier video so know you're a talented painter too. Do you ever sell your crafts in the community or at temple events? Hope all of you are safe from the latest round of covid. All good things to you and your family. Love, love, love watching every episode you share with us.
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Thank you so much Gail! I don’t sell things I make. Not enough time to make much these days :)
Love a fellow Shenandoah lady! I Also have a goal to do the AT!! Good luck with that one!!
Oh that’s awesome! I hope you’re able to do it too!
Questions regarding modest clothing:
1. Do you overheat? I struggle with staying cool enough (why I left my home state of Arizona!), and I am always curious about folks who cover up more manage their personal temperature regulation?
2. When camping or when it's cold, can you wear leggings under your skirt?
Hello! No, I’ve never had an issue being too hot. I find the skirts and dresses much more comfortable in hot weather :) yes, I can and do wear leggings under skirts in cold weather :)
Follow-up question: if men are obligated to pray three times a day in a group, how is this compatible with having a job in a company for example?
Love your channel, it's all so very interesting!
They do their best :) If it’s not possible they will pray alone
Also Orthodox Jew :)! It's harder during the winter. The three times a day are based on where the sun is in the sky - morning, afternoon, night. In the summer, with longer daylight hours, it's easier to find a group to pray with after work for the second two services (the morning service is before work). In the winter, with less daylight, it can be a lot more difficult because that second prayer service has to be before sunset but after mid-day.
Great informative video! I can’t wait for part two 😊
Thank you Theresa!
You are so talented. That miniature is amazing.
Thank you!
Your quilting is lovely Chana. And the miniature room. You are a lady of many talents ! Thank you video. Very interesting. 🤓🇬🇧💫
Thank you so much Kim!
I'm new to your channel I know nothing about your religion but I find it fascinating, thank you for the peek into it
Hi Andrea! Welcome! I’m so glad you’re here!
Utah is an absolutely beautiful state. We’ve been to Moab, Zion, and Bryce. All are simply stunning. Although, since I’m a California girl l love Yosemite,the Sequoias, and Big Sur.
I've been to those California spots! So beautiful Big Sur and Death Valley are my favorites :)
Hey, I’m from Alaska. It’s a great place to visit. And if you’re gutsy enough to go in winter you can possibly see the Northern Lights!!
That would be really cool! I think a winter trip would be really cool :)
You are refreshing! We share many of the same interests!
Thank you!
I love your Q & A's! I feel we get to know you so much more, and that's just lovely. I hope you're warm and cozy where you are, we're having a deep freeze, -25C right now. Brrr! 🙂
Thank you! So glad you’re enjoying these :)
Loving this vlog ! Very informative thank you so much for sharing ! 👏🏼💜
Thanks so much!
I think the best thing about Judaism is that the most important thing isn’t race but whether you’re Jewish. That’s it. It’s so accepting
It’s very accepting :) I think there gets to be confusion because so many people think Jewish is a race.
You're right ... Judaism is not a race but there are common DNA strands that, if we had the DNA of say Moses or Aaron or even Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, theoretically Jewish people would be able to trace their DNA back to them. This is especially true of Kohens and Levites (direct male descendants of Aaron). Kohens are the Priests and Levites are the "workers" in the Temple (when they were in Jerusalem).
The best word I've heard used to answer the question "what is Judaism - a race or a religion or a nation? - is that Judaism is a family.
Chana, the other word for kipa : yarmulka really originates from 2 hebrew words with a chasidic accent: the 2 words it consists of is the hebrew words :"ירא מלכא" in transilration: "yerei malka", which means:" fear ofthe king" meaning fear of G-D, our king... and it turned into "yarmulka"...
Since the idea behind men wearing it is to remind them that there is always someone above and over them: Hashem.
I love your answers!
Thank you!
You're awesome Chana-- thanks much for sharing!🥰
Thank you Mary 💖
I have cats who whose schedule most times is different than ours. My Rabbi said that as long as our cats are on a schedule and we keep to that schedule than we can go ahead and eat. I've been told that you should always go with what your Rabbi says. I guess that would be this case
You’re totally right! With our dog she likes to eat in the morning:) So checking on her before meals works for us
Another great video. Thanks so much.
Thank you
Chana, always great to see you! Happy, Healthy New Year!
Thank you Shaina! Happy new year to you as well!
THANK YOU!!! Awesome video today. Have a fabulous rest of your day
Thank you so much and you as well!
I enjoy your description of your community’s lived experience of religious gender roles as obligations. It makes me pause and reflect on some of my own assumptions. Thank you.
I’m so glad that resonated with you! Thank you for telling me :)