Diane Schulder Abrams' memoir, 'My Grandmother’s Candlesticks,' explores the pivotal role of her immigrant grandmother in preserving Jewish continuity and reflects on the experiences of contemporary female elders.

Rose Schulder, Diane's grandmother, was a matriarch known for her kindness and wisdom, passing down her silver candlesticks to Diane as a symbol of her Jewish values.

The memoir fulfills a promise made to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who encouraged Diane to document her grandmother's life during their meetings starting in 1974.

As an accomplished attorney and feminist, Diane contributed significantly to the Women's Liberation Movement, collaborating with influential figures such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Florynce Kennedy.

Reflecting on her upbringing, Diane discusses the tension between her feminist activism and traditional Jewish beliefs, particularly during her formative years in the 1960s.

Despite her strong Jewish identity, Diane experienced a crisis of faith in her teenage years, which was intensified by her public schooling.

Her marriage to Bob Abrams, a Bronx borough president, further deepened her reconnection to her Jewish roots and community involvement.

The book emphasizes themes of feminism, Jewish identity, and family continuity, celebrating the balance between professional accomplishments and traditional values.

Diane encourages readers to reflect on their own family histories and the importance of cultural legacies.

Now at 87 years old, Diane aims to capture both the known and unknown aspects of her grandmother's life within the Orthodox communities of New York's Lower East Side and Williamsburg.