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Family Tradition

Shabbat dinner has kept the Fingeroots together for nearly 40 years.

ALAN HITSKY ASSOCIATE EDITOR

nnette Fingeroot always had Shabbat
dinner when she was growing up. She
was raised in an observant home,
where it was part of the family
tradition.
When Ms. Fingeroot's own chil-
dren were young, after-school ac-
tivities started to get in the way
of weekday dinners. Someone
was always going to a class,
sports practice or other activity.
That's when Ms. Fingeroot and her late
husband, Ben, laid down the law: No mat-
ter what, the family would be together for
Shabbat dinner on Friday nights.
That tradition has been going on for
nearly four decades.
As each of the four Fingeroot children
grew up, married, and had children of
their own, the tradition continued.Today,
Ms. Fingeroot says, 18 people usually are
at dinner. "As many as are in town are at
Friday night dinner."
"The grandchildren are the ones who
miss it if we don't have it," Ms. Fingeroot

says. "It's our way to keep everyone up to
Both Ms. Adler and Ms. Fingeroot work
date, to start the weekend off right. It can full time, and Ms. Adler has a set routine
get very noisy — everyone has his or her when it is her turn to host. "We put 12
own opinion and everyone voices it."
people in the dining room and have a
Granddaughter Carolyn Adler agrees. table in the kitchen for the children. On
"We live so far away from each other. The Passover or Rosh Hashanah, we move all
dinners give us a chance to stay in touch." the furniture out of the family room" to
Things quiet down for the blessings accommodate more than 30 relatives.
over the candles, the wine and the chal-
When it's her turn to host, Ms. Adler
lah. Family tradition has everyone say- says her husband Mark does an excellent
ing the blessings together.
job of setting up and cleaning up. Grocery
Susan Adler, Ms. Fingeroot's oldest shopping is done on Wednesday night,
child, usually rotates hosting the dinner setting the tables is Thursday, and Fri-
with her mother. Her sister, Judy Jacobs, day she races home from work to finish
and sisters-in-law, Laura and Vicki cooking.
The family now includes nine grand-
Fingeroot, also occasionally take turns.
One person is assigned to bring the children, ranging from Bryan Fingeroot,
challah, one makes the salad, another an 18-year-old freshman at Michigan
State University, to 1-year-old cousin
brings dessert or a side dish.
In the last 12-18 months, the dinner Bradley Fingeroot.
For Annette Fingeroot, the key is fam-
has gone to an every-other-week schedule.
"For the most part," Ms. Adler says, ily, especially the grandchildren. `They've
"the kids arrange their schedules so they all grown up together with these dinners,
can come. But now that it is every other and hopefully they'll stay together."
week, it has been easier."

❑

Left: Annette Fingeroot lights Shabbat

candles.

Below: The grandchildren gather in

PHOTOS BY BILL HANSEN

the kitchen.

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