Curly Sue wrote:
> I went to Manhattan twice this weekend. The main purpose of Friday's
> visit was to attend Terry's daughter's art exhibit reception. It was
> well-attended (a bit crowded but not uncomfortably so) and the star of
> the show was radiant. Stan was there and we both enjoyed talking to
> Terry, and also got to meet up again with her husband. Stan and I
> spent a while talking to Terry's son as well. Terry has two bright,
> talented kids- good job Terry!

part of post snipped
>
> But this night was not over. Heading home we walked to W. Houston to
> get the train back to Queens. At that hour, some of the entrances
> were closed so we had to re-route a bit east. That's when a bit of
> good luck kicked in. I almost walked past it until it hit me that
> Yonah Shimmel was open at 12:40 am!!! So I backtracked a few steps
> and bought a couple of kasha knishes to take home. I still can't get
> over that it was open
>
Sue, not only was Yonah Schimmel open, I can assure you that the shop
had only opened a few hours before. Saturday is the Shabbath and no
work may be done nor may business be conducted by Orthodox Jews, until
after sundown, which was around seven o'clock last night.

Only then may an Orthodox Jew turn on the electric lights, take the
out knishes which he probably prepared before sundown on Friday, the
start of the Shabbath, turn on the oven and bake the knishes.

This is something that occurs in Orthodox restaurants, too. All other
businesses are closed from some time Friday afternoon on. Most of the
businesses do not open on Saturday night, except some do in Winter,
when sundown occurs very early.