Despite a busy life, Saranna listens patiently, speaks articulately and loves completely. Photo: Laura Moss for AOL
Saranne Rothberg's life is like a sitcom and the majority of the action takes place in her large kosher kitchen. The basic premise for this show is that there's this petite 40-something single Jewish mother, who's all about the food and none of the guilt, and one of her ambitions is, as she puts it, "to help as many people as I can and love as many people as I can." (Down boys!).
The protagonist is a breast cancer survivor who became a
charity founder, activist, and comedian. She is as spiritual as she is down-to-earth. She sleeps very little claiming, "I live on cancer time!" She has three land lines and three cell phones and usually talks one into retirement before noon. Though she leads an extraordinarily busy life, she listens patiently, speaks articulately and loves completely.
Her best friend and sidekick is her beautiful and talented daughter, Lauriel, who is on the verge of breaking into the entertainment biz. Lauriel is constantly making light fun of her mom's crazy busy life. They live in a lovely house in New Jersey, sophisticated but not stuffy, with 7 bedrooms, 8 bathrooms, a movie theater and a fabulous always-open kitchen.
There is a diverse cast of supporting characters. There are the weekly regulars, of course, such as the interior designer, the home concierge and the make-up artist. But on any given day the cast could include a couple of entertainment producers, school friends, cancer patients, repairmen and religious leaders. Cast members are from all faiths, observant Jews, non-practicing Jews and non-Jews. All are welcomed with open arms and lots of food. "When people are relaxed and nurtured," Saranne believes, "anything is possible."
The show is educational. Each episode begins with a kitchen tour where Saranne dispels kosher myths and talks about what it means to her. "We make Kosher fun!" she says, opening doors and drawers, showing off her color coded containers and plates, and passing food around to taste. Everyone is made to feel comfortable and empowered in the key room in the house.
The show sometimes uses flashback for dramatic effect. We see Saranne as a young girl eating a TV dinner with her single dad. We see her delivering a speech to the United Nations, visiting an orphanage in Myanmar and at a town hall meeting in Atlantic City planning a new playground in a former derelict lot. These segments are inspirational.
Mixed in with all the laughter is the element of surprise. Akin to the Rachel and Ross saga, the audience is always left wondering if Saranne may have a pink satin cape with a big "S" on it somewhere in her closet.
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A Kosher Comedy without Intermission
Saranne Rothberg's life is like a sitcom, and the majority of the action takes place in her large kosher kitchen. The basic premise for this show is that there's this petite 40-something single Jewish mother, who's all about the food and none of the guilt, and one of her ambitions is, as she puts it, "to help as many people as I can and love as many people as I can."
Laura Moss for AOL
A Kosher Comedy without Intermission
Mother (left). Daughter (right). Best friends. They moved into this 2006 home in 2008. In a new house, the kitchen is kosher by default, but Saranne invited a rabbi to come and bless it nonetheless. People just love to come to their home, hang in the kitchen, and eat their kosher food. "Once people come over, they never want to leave. The house has inviting energy," says daughter Lauriel.
A Kosher Comedy without Intermission
When she was diagnosed with cancer in 1999, Saranne adopted a macrobiotic lifestyle. In this discipline, she discovered an elevated connection to food. She became acutely aware of its nourishing, nurturing and healing properties. This healthful thoughtful way of living complimented the spiritual path she has always traveled. Becoming kosher seemed like a likely next choice. In 2006, she introduced kosher to Lauriel, but before they made the full commitment, they did a six month trial using paper plates and cups and trying out recipes.
A Kosher Comedy without Intermission
"When I first saw the kitchen, I thought, 'Oh man! Can I entertain here.'" Saranne's old kitchen was smaller than the center island. Divided into three areas: the working kitchen, the family room and the sun room, there is never really a need to leave (save for the bath or bed). That's not to say that many a guest haven't slept on the sofa under one of the many chenille lap blankets floating around (they have). Saranne loves a good sale and is not shy to ask for a better price. The distressed leather and fabric sofa was from Neiman Marcus. The manager worked with her on price. The red barstools, which gave Saranne the pop of color and shapeliness she wanted, were on sale at Pier 1. She does not like to wait for furniture. She'd rather take a floor sample with a minor ding and get it home immediately.
A Kosher Comedy without Intermission
The Rabbi Korer, Rebbetzin and daughter Rivka come bearing chocolates from Belgium. This is one small way they express their gratitude to Saranne for sharing the keys to her former house when they first moved from England. They used her place as a launch pad from which to start their American life. Rabbi Korer is the teen rabbi at the Chabad shul to which Saranne belongs. "He's so cool," Saranne explains. "He plays video games with the kids and runs marathons." Saranne loves mixing antiques with new things. One of her most treasure possessions is the antique Louis Vuitton luggage that she bought at auction years ago. Here in the family room she uses one as a coffee table and another as an end table. When it comes to decorating comfort is her number one priority. Twenty-two month-old Rivka can attest to that
A Kosher Comedy without Intermission
The aforementioned Belgian chocolates, scrumptious and kosher!
A Kosher Comedy without Intermission
Biscotti, the opportunist, displays his ability to get a gnosh from the trash.
A Kosher Comedy without Intermission
The great thing about a Kosher kitchen is that it's organized. Everything has a place. Saranne believes, "The more order you have in the home, the greater freedom you have to be creative."
A Kosher Comedy without Intermission
Though drawers, containers and stickers separate the meat from the dairy, Kosher law permits cohabitation within one refrigerator as long as the temperature is regulated below a certain point.
A Kosher Comedy without Intermission
Ten year old Lara Meisner is auditioning for a part in Comedy Cures' Patient & Caregiver events. Saranne befriended her mother, Joy (seated), while they were both in treatment for breast cancer. The music lets others in the house know that there's something special going on. Interior designer Pamela Bayer (wearing boots) was upstairs supervising a bed delivery and home management professional Susan Suchoff (in black sweater) was filling the house with fresh flowers.
A Kosher Comedy without Intermission
"We're famous for desserts," says Saranne. At any given time there may be oatmeal cookies, banana nut muffins, brownies or cheesecake.
A Kosher Comedy without Intermission
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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)
Saranne - You just keep getting "better"!! What an inspiration you are to me and, I'm sure, millions of others. Can't wait to see this program. You go girl!! Bobbie
Replyi'm gonna puke in my hat..... 7 bedrooms modest???? wanna help folks.... sell the big house live in one fitted for your small family and donate the money... then I'll be impressed.....
Saranne, I've only known you for a short while and you have made such a wonderful impact on me. I admire your ability to make all around you glow with joy! Congrats on your 10th anniversary. Keep the laughter and the love flowing! I'm grateful to Fran for introducing me to her dear friend. Donna
ReplyWhat a great idea for a show! I wonder if my favorite funny girl, Fran Capo, eats as fast as she talks?
ReplySaranne,
ReplyWhat an absolutely beautiful home you have! You look fantastic....you and Lauriel look like sisters. I would love to get together with you and your daughter one of these days. You dad must have been so proud of you. Think about you often.
Suzy
Hi Saranne,
Wow! Great to see you and be re-inspired by the positive, energetic, intuitive and loving ways which lead your life. Truly inspiring my dear! My love to you!
Sar...
ReplyAlways such a good time at your home. Love that I can go into your fridge and always make something happen!
Cant wait to hear Bonde perform, couldnt happen to better girls, go Laurel!!
Hugs and kisses to you always,
Em
Wonderful article! I was a single mother, too, and I am very spiritual. But I disagree with the notion that single mothers are best friends with their children. It may be for a time, but don't depend on that close "friendship" to last as an adult friendship will, because children are growing and evolving. For example, my daughter is not speaking to me now-hasn't for years. I have two granddaughter adn have only seen the first twice when she was a baby-only held her once. Before someone younger says. "You must have done something!' no, I didn't. As a single mother, I want to tell all single mothers to never let go of your own individual identity. The empty nest syndrome happens to us, too, and society hasn't investigated or acknowledlged that. Society is still determined to not accept single parenthood at all levels.
ReplySocial research shows that a two-parent family with a mother and a father is the healthiest uprbringing for a child. Many single mothers are single through no choice of their own. Society understands that. "Alternative lifestyles" have wreaked havoc on children and society as a whole. It is difficult to parent whithout a husband/wife. It helps to have money, as this woman shows.
I wish I had a friend like you in my life right now. I don't even own a stove.
Replysee if her generosity extends to the poor like yourself... I doubt it
I have not seen the show yet, but she sounds like she has her mind and heart in the right place. We don't know her personal business, or who or what she donates to. What's with the haters?? Why are people so upset with the size of her house and the number of bedrooms? Who knows how she landed there initially.? Start being happy for other human beings, and maybe you will eventually align youself with abundance and prosperity. If we resent others good fortune, we will resist all that we want. Sending all the love I have to everyone out there......
ReplyDeborah
Boo hoo. 7 bedrooms and 8 baths? Sounds like someone has a bit too much time and/or money on their hands. The article doesn't say if she is divorced or widowed, so I will assume divorced as is common these days. Can I have the name of your attorney? Must have been some settlement!!
ReplyComing from a single parent household, eating off paper plates for 6 months is nothing, I'll just leave it at that.
Reply(boetica 10-25-2009 @ 5:04PM
ReplySocial research shows that a two-parent family with a mother and a father is the healthiest uprbringing for a child. Many single mothers are single through no choice of their own. Society understands that. "Alternative lifestyles" have wreaked havoc on children and society as a whole. It is difficult to parent whithout a husband/wife. It helps to have money, as this woman shows.)
Boetica,
From reading your previous posts. One can see you have a real issue with single parents, unplanned children ect. It sounds as though you my dear are in serious need of therapy! Where do you get your "research" that you talk about? Children benefit from a home filled with love and discipline. It doesn't matter at all if it is a single parent home, a Mother and Father, or two parents of the same sex! I know children who turned out terrible in conventional families, and I know children who are wonderful productive members of society who lived in unconventional families.
It's people like you who LOVE to use fear and hate, to propagate lies to push your puritanical agenda. We do not live in the 17th century! Happy families come in all forms!
I agree.. who is funding this diva anyways
ReplyI'm sure this woman is what her friends say she is; funny, kind and emotionally generous. But I find it hard to take a person seriously as a genuinely dedicated charitable soul when they live with one other person in a 7 bedroom, 8 bathroom, movie-theatre-equipped house (!!!). And "down-to-earth"? Call me cynical, but, um, that is not one of the things that leapt out at me from this article.
ReplyYou're right though in saying that her life is like a sitcom: a cavernous, shiny, expensively equipped kitchen, a makeup artist, and an interior designer ("Oh, I'm just taking delivery of the new bed for the 4th guest room. We thought the other one was looking a bit passé.")
This article would have been so much more interesting if you had bothered to go into why Saranne Rothberg went kosher - saying it was "a likely next choice" after a macrobiotic diet doesn't explain a thing. Why did they move in to a house with a full kosher kitchen and not go kosher for 8 years?
Maybe there is a digestible explanation for these 2 pampered women living in their mansion while talking grandly about charity. Maybe the extra 5 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms are used by cancer patients who live out of town or something. But did you really expect people to just read this uncritically and go "aww, how nice. What a nice lady"? Come on. Don't be so lazy.