The Hasidic mother, the Iranian visitor, and a Shabbat surprise

The Times of Israel · Elham Golkhandan · 2026-11-04 00:08 UTC

I went to Brooklyn looking for cafes and long walks. Instead, I found myself in a stranger’s kitchen

Brooklyn had become unfinished business.

On an earlier visit to New York, I had walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. But crossing a bridge, I had decided, did not count as getting to know a borough. I wanted tree-lined streets, old brick buildings, independent bookstores, and cafes where people could spend an unreasonable amount of time over one cup of coffee. Especially that last part.

So when I had a few days of vacation in October 2026, I drove from Toronto to New York with a clear intention: this time, I would give Brooklyn the attention it deserved.

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