I spoke with Ruth's mother Sarah by phone on 28 December 2004.  Sarah, 72, was born in Brooklyn, New York.  She now lives with her husband Jacob.  She has two daughters.

When asked how her Judaism resembles her mother's, Sarah responded that her mother emphasized doing good deeds, or mitzvahs. Sarah says that there are two benefits to these actions: the recipient receives a kindness, and the giver receives "a wonderful feeling."  Sarah credits her mother for teaching this lesson:  "If you have something good to say, make sure you say it to the person.  If you don't have anything good to say, just look blank."

On a shelf of a bookcase, Sarah keeps her parents' prayer books, her father's kippa, and her mother's scarf and brown beret.  She also keeps her Friday candles there, which she lights while wearing her mother's scarf. The candlesticks and Kiddush cup, wedding presents from Sarah's parents, are treasured objects, reflections of Sarah's Conservative Judaism.  Though she doesn't use them, Sarah displays her great-grandmother's brass candlesticks.  Sarah has two large photographs nearby, one of her parents when they were married and one of her father's mother, for whom Ruth is named.  Sarah will pause before these photographs to pay respect.

Sarah treasures a mirrored candy box that belonged to her mother.  In this box her mother kept Sarah's brothers' linen baby gowns and a lock of her younger brother's blonde hair.  Her mother also kept an anniversary card that Sarah drew, which lauded her mother in her roles as cook and nurse.  Sarah says her mother was orderly, a bookkeeper, but Sarah feels she is the opposite: she has huge boxes of keepsakes from her children's school years.

Sarah remembers how her parents observed the holidays.  On the Sabbath her parents had people in their home for cake, wine, or liquor after service.  Her mother worked hard to prepare for Passover; for example, she put down new paper on every shelf.  Sarah asserts she does not work hard like her mother: she is lax about all the dishes, pots, and pans for Passover.  Still Sarah keeps a Kosher kitchen, except for the utensils.  When I asked Sarah why she is not as observant as her mother, she said she didn't know but some of the tradition "doesn't hold me."

Sarah hopes to pass on to her children the "idea of good deeds, caring for others."  While she doubts her ability to fulfill all 613 mitzvahs, she has emphasized the importance of respecting others and trying to do good deeds.  Sarah would be sad if her daughters did not observe the holidays because "it's nice to get together."  While the dishes may change, the family gathering is important.  She feels that the nature of religious observance may have skipped a generation in her family because Ruth more closely resembles Sarah's mother who was more traditional in her practice.