The Big Jewish Book for Jews

Everything You Need to Know to Be a Really Jewish Jew

By: Ellis Weiner, Barbara Davilman

Narrated by: Ellis Weiner, Barbara Davilman, Yuri Rasovsky, Lorna Raver

Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

If both Ike Turner and Isaac Bashevis Singer are Jewish, what does “being Jewish” even mean? The assimilated Jews of today are lost, and they need to relearn the old ways so their identity comes to mean something other than laughing knowingly at Curb Your Enthusiasm and being ambivalent about AIPAC. What they need is The Big Jewish Book for Jews, a hilarious compendium of instruction, handicrafts, and lore that will help them rediscover the traditional wisdom, skills, and recipes, going all the way back to Moses and the original Exodus from Egypt, when God was the only GPS you needed.

The Big Jewish Book for Jews brings together Jewish wit, inspiring tales, classic skills, and even pickle recipes, for the instruction and edification of the modern Jew. Listeners will learn how to sacrifice a lamb unto the Lord, the rules of Canasta, how to build a pyramid (both the Bernie Madoff and the Egyptian kind), and how not to accept the first table you are shown to in a restaurant. Through this funny and informative reference, listeners will build a connection to their ancestors and finally understand what it takes to be the Jew-est Jew of all.

©2010 Ellis Weiner, Barbara Davilman (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Delightfully charming

This book is filled with so many cute anecdotes. It's altogether amusing and fun. I enjoyed it very much.

Great book, but a little too…

Ashkenazi-focused. Funny dialogues and important self-effacing lessons and insights. Not too much mention of the Sephardim, Romaniot, or critiques of Zionism, topics of which are alive and well in the Jewish community.

nice overview.

great overview, easy skimming, with nice light humor. the content seems to be restricted to the Ashkenazi experience in the US,; would have been even better if it had infused with some Ashkenazi, especially some equivalent recipes.

thanks to the authors for adding this book to th
e Jewish American modern experience.

Funny and true

A thorough look at Jewish customs and traditions,, punctuated by klezmer music. A variety of voices rounds out narratilpi.

Very funny book!

Nice light read and I laughed out loud a lot. Will listen to again just for fun, or to work on my Yiddish.

Funny and Fun

Had me laughing and entertained throughout. A bit of history thrown in to round it out. A great read. Recommended.

This is satire.

Guys. I threw this on bc I thought it looked fun. But first I read the reviews and thought for this book must have surely be written by ignorant antisemites. Listen I understand if you think these authors are being literally seriously. They’re not. This couldn’t be more satirical if it tried. And it’s hilarious if you’ve shared these experiences.

Thoroughly Enjoyable

This book is as entertaining as it is informative. I heartily recommend the audio version.

Enjoyable, funny, humbling and interesting.

I laughed out loud several times and shed a tear or two as well. A few times I was even shocked. The only bothersome things are the readers' (yes, all of them) stunning capacity for mispronouncing "Israel." That bugged me to no end. Also, their obvious irritation with Christendom was almost offensive because the chapter on Islam wasn't as intolerant. Weird. In any case, a great listen and worth the price.

Pretend Dave Barry Is Writing About His Bubbe

The redundance of the title should give it away. I found this book to be typical Jewish humor. It’s both self-aware and self-mocking, with enough Yiddishkeit thrown in to establish the authors’ bona fides. Recommended for cultural Jews and Jewish mothers. NOTE: An Italian grandfather can be a Jewish mother.