Mishegas

Download or read book The New Joys of Yiddish written by Leo Rosten and published by Harmony. This book was released on 2010-04-14 with total page 500 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: More than a quarter of a century ago, Leo Rosten published the first comprehensive and hilariously entertaining lexicon of the colorful and deeply expressive language of Yiddish. Said “to give body and soul to the Yiddish language,” The Joys of Yiddish went on to become an indispensable tool for writers, journalists, politicians, and students, as well as a perennial bestseller for three decades. Rosten described his book as “a relaxed lexicon of Yiddish, Hebrew, and Yinglish words often encountered in English, plus dozens that ought to be, with serendipitous excursions into Jewish humor, habits, holidays, history, religion, ceremonies, folklore, and cuisine–the whole generously garnished with stories, anecdotes, epigrams, Talmudic quotations, folk sayings, and jokes.” To this day, it is considered the seminal work on Yiddish in America–a true classic and a staple in the libraries of Jews and non-Jews alike. With the recent renaissance of interest in Yiddish, and in keeping with a language that embodies the variety and vibrancy of life itself, The New Joys of Yiddish brings Leo Rosten’s masterful work up to date. Revised for the first time by Lawrence Bush in close consultation with Rosten’s daughters, it retains the spirit of the original–with its wonderful jokes, tidbits of cultural history, Talmudic and Biblical references, and tips on pronunciation–and enhances it with hundreds of new entries, thoughtful commentary on how Yiddish has evolved over the years, and an invaluable new English-to-Yiddish index. In addition, The New Joys of Yiddish includes wondrous and amusing illustrations by renowned artist R.O. Blechman.

Download or read book The Diagnostic Manual of Mishegas written by Jay Neugeboren and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2013-04-26 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL OF MISHEGAS (DMOM) is a delightful parody of the American Psychiatric Association's "Bible of psychiatry," the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). In this playful send-up of the DSM, the authors-all of whom are distinguished writers with deep roots in the field of mental health-cut through the hundreds of categories in the 1000-page D.S.M. by dividing all mental disorders into two realms: mishegas major and mishegas minor. And for each of the sub-categories it analyzes-spilkes major (and spilkes minor), yenta, kvetch, alter kocker, shnorrer, dementia-with-benefits, etc.- it provides light-hearted anecdotes that not only illustrate the diagnostic category, but also make you plotz with laughter. THE DMOM will enable readers to transform ordinary tsuris and mishegas-the glooms, blues, angsts, and general chazzerie of their lives-into transcendent and easy-to-understand categories. It will turn kvetching into kvelling and guilt into gelt, so that readers will learn to live at peace with their inner mishegas and to treasure its precious and life-giving absurdities. A perfect gift for Mental Health Month (May), Father's Day, or for your favorite mishugenah friend or relative any time of the year, THE DMOM is sure to keep readers laughing long after the last page is read.

Download or read book The Kissing Rabbi written by Andy Becker and published by Tree of the Field Publishing. This book was released on 2021-07-12 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a quiet suburb outside Portland, Oregon a Jewish Community is about to have their world upended! Rabbi Dreidel, a young, charismatic Orthodox rabbi, moves into a quiet suburb to assemble a congregation from scratch. Schmoozing with every Jewish man and woman he can find, his fledgling synagogue quickly grows into a robust community. Underneath a well-rehearsed veneer of righteousness is an unrestrained desire to explore his sexuality with multiple women. Of course, the rabbi can't admit that, so he pretends that he wants to improve his marriage, and the best way to "learn" how to please his wife is to seek out women for some very detailed and explicit sexual advice. At first, the women naively sympathize with their rabbi who appears so forlorn and desperate. But as his questions become graphic, and as forbidden hugs and lingering embraces begin to feel more like foreplay than friendliness, his real intentions emerge. In a patriarchal Orthodox community, it's unusual for women to speak out, yet a few brave whistleblowers begin to share their stories - so the rabbi scrambles to lawyer up, while rallying his supporters in the community. He is prepared to fight and will go to any length to retain his position and prevent his world from crumbling. Members of a shocked congregation choose sides, leading to a community on the brink of being ripped apart. Will the rabbi win out? Will the women's stories be heard and believed? And will the community survive? Find out in The Kissing Rabbi. A novel by Andy Becker.

Download or read book Up For Anything written by Marc Spitz and published by Digitature. This book was released on 2012-04-10 with total page 89 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Walter Dabney thinks he's being practical when he ingests a recreational erectile dysfunction drug called Themis. It will, he reasons, allow him to have a quickie with Annie, his mistress, before his wife returns with her family for a long planned celebratory supper. Only Walter is that guy you wonder about: the one who actually gets the four hour erection they warn you about in those commercials. He must now navigate the aforementioned dinner and the spontaneous arrival of all kinds of random New York City visitors, while keeping a raging and un-lowerable erection in his pants. A madcap sex farce with a case of over a dozen, it examines notions of fidelity, self control, art and whether better living through chemistry is truly better after all. "Marc Spitz is one of my favorite playwrights; I have been to at least half of his dozen plays, and I have never been disappointed. He knows how to shake people up; make them laugh, gasp and gag. Expect bad taste, bad language, snappy dialogue, theatrical surprises and maybe something that really grosses you out." -Tom Murrin, Paper Magazine

Download or read book Wonder of Wonders written by Alisa Solomon and published by Macmillan + ORM. This book was released on 2013-10-22 with total page 484 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A sparkling and eye-opening history of the Broadway musical that changed the world In the half-century since its premiere, Fiddler on the Roof has had an astonishing global impact. Beloved by audiences the world over, performed from rural high schools to grand state theaters, Fiddler is a supremely potent cultural landmark. In a history as captivating as its subject, award-winning drama critic Alisa Solomon traces how and why the story of Tevye the milkman, the creation of the great Yiddish writer Sholem-Aleichem, was reborn as blockbuster entertainment and a cultural touchstone, not only for Jews and not only in America. It is a story of the theater, following Tevye from his humble appearance on the New York Yiddish stage, through his adoption by leftist dramatists as a symbol of oppression, to his Broadway debut in one of the last big book musicals, and his ultimate destination—a major Hollywood picture. Solomon reveals how the show spoke to the deepest conflicts and desires of its time: the fraying of tradition, generational tension, the loss of roots. Audiences everywhere found in Fiddler immediate resonance and a usable past, whether in Warsaw, where it unlocked the taboo subject of Jewish history, or in Tokyo, where the producer asked how Americans could understand a story that is "so Japanese." Rich, entertaining, and original, Wonder of Wonders reveals the surprising and enduring legacy of a show about tradition that itself became a tradition. Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles.

Download or read book Lishma written by Sidney Akselrad and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2005 with total page 249 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Whether marching shoulder to shoulder with Martin Luther King, Jr., interviewing German youth in the aftermath of the Third Reich, or helping an intermarried couple find side by side burial plots, Rabbi Sidney Akselrad presents the magnificent as well as the intimate moments in the life of a congregational rabbi. A champion of social justice, civil rights, and community relations, it is Rabbi Akselrad's steadfast devotion to diversity of opinion, and deep love of humanity, that characterize his world view. Raised in an observant Jewish family, Rabbi Akselrad discusses his personal evolution to Reform while maintaining a deep respect and love for tradition. Seeing the best in people, and attributing best intentions to them, Rabbi Akselrad sets himself apart from the throngs of ideologues and sets an example for all who come to know him. Pull up a chair and treat yourself to the stories and life lessons of this great humanitarian.

Download or read book Finding Your Inner Mama written by Eden Steinberg and published by Shambhala Publications. This book was released on 2007-07-10 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Motherhood can be one of the most intense and transformative experiences of a woman's life. While there are many books that offer the "do's and don'ts" of effective parenting, few offer guidance on navigating the tumultuous inner experience of being a mother, with all its joy, pain, change, and uncertainty. This collection of writing by psychologists, poets, novelists, spiritual teachers, and everyday moms explores the rich, transformative journey of motherhood. • Poet and novelist Louise Erdrich captures the sheer wonder and awe of early motherhood. • Self-described "hip momma" Ariel Gore reflects on the challenges of dealing with her daughter's adolescent rebellion. • Journalist Joan Peters highlights the rise of the "Power Mom" and the risks of overparenting to our children and ourselves. • Zen teacher Cheri Huber shares a spiritual perspective: sometimes it's us parents who need a "time out" so that we can be more fully present and loving with our children. Previously published under the title Your Children Will Raise You.