The Big Jewish Book for Jews

September 6, 2010
Successful humorists Weiner and Davilman (Yiddish with Dick and Jane) deliver a new volume in which they outline the basics of being "really Jewish." They explain that within American society, Jewish traditions are either vanishing or evolving into popular culture. From clothing, to names, to sayings, the public at large is adopting elements of Jewish identity historically limited only to Jews which, in the view of the authors, is having an impact on the meaning of sacred traditions and practices. As an alternative to the growing trend, the authors school today's Jewish youth in embracing their heritage with detailed lessons in cooking far too much food for gatherings, delivering back-handed compliments, and many other "Jewish" traditions. With a heavy dose of sarcasm and practical charts and guides on a range of topics (how to use the Bible to tell if your wife is unfaithful; how to be passive-aggressive; how to not accept the first table you're shown at a restaurant), this treatise manages to be both hilarious and sincere.