JEWels: Teasing Out the Poetry in Jewish Humor and Storytelling

JEWels is the first of its kind: the living tradition of Jewish stories and jokes transformed into poems, recording and reflecting Jewish experience from ancient times through the present day. In this novel hybrid-jokes and stories boiled down to their essence in short poems-Jewish witticism is preserved side by side with evocative storytelling and deepened with running commentary and questions for discussion. Illuminated here are jewels from journeys, from the Old Country, from Torah, shaped by the Holocaust, in glimpses of Jewish American lives, in Jewish foods, in conversations with God, and on the meaning of life. Jewish comedians (Lenny Bruce, Jackie Mason) appear alongside writers and musicians (Elie Wiesel, Sholem Aleichem, Itzhak Perlman) and Hasidic rabbis (the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov), yet most of the tellers are ordinary Jews. In this cacophony of ongoing dialogue, storytellers, rabbis, poets, and scholars chime in with interpretations, quips, and related stories and life experiences. In JEWels each of us can see our own reflection.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Introduction: The Ancient Living Tradition of Jewish Jokes and Stories The Parrot Traditional joke retold by Zev Shanken The Face of a Human Being Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a story by Rabbi Edward Schecter, based on an old midrash Holocaust Jokes Contemporary joke retold by Zev Shanken Excerpt from “We Tell” By Cherie Karo-Schwartz 1. JEWels . . . in Stories Now the Story Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a tale by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov Stories             Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a story by Edgar Hilsenrath Tales               Lined out from an inscription in Elie Wiesel’s Souls on Fire The Lubavitcher Rebbe on Stories By Esther Cohen Burning the Scrolls Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a tale retold by Rabbi Edward Schecter A Table with People By Marc Kaminsky 2. JEWels . . . on a Journey Paradise Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional tale retold by Rabbi Edward Schecter The Guru         Contemporary joke retold by Steve Zeitlin Mameloshen   By Steve Zeitlin Bubba Truth    Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional tale retold by Jane Yolen Traveler’s Prayer By Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg 3. JEWels . . . from the Old Country The Sabbath Fish Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from Cherie Karo Schwartz’s version of Jewish folklore from Eastern Europe and Yemen and earlier version from the Babylonian Talmud The Magic Ship Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from Howard Schwartz’s telling of a folktale in the Israel Folktale Archives Tales of the Razbash By Zev Shanken The Rabbis’ Convocation Traditional tale retold by Robert J. Bernstein The Sweeper   Traditional joke The Shammes: A Response Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from Rabbi Edward Schecter’s retelling of “The Sweeper” Once Upon a Time in the Old Country Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional tale retold by Rabbi David Holtz The Hunchback Traditional tale retold by Zev Shanken and Steve Zeitlin A Cold Ass     Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from an interview with Sylvia Cole An Offspring’s Answer Adapted by Peninnah Schram and Steve Zeitlin from The Memoirs of GlÜckel of Hameln The Cart          Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a summer camp story told by Rabbi David Holtz Blessing the New Moon in Wintertime Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from the poem by Rachel Ray Lehrer Faust The Rabbi and the Balagola Traditional folktale retold by Steve Zeitlin Elijah              Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional tale told by Amy Shuman, based on a telling by Dov Noy Parable of the Horse Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a retelling by Jack Tepper Who Said the Jews Killed Jesus? Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from an oral history by Baruch Lumet The Hasid       Traditional joke A Nineteenth-Century Hasid Contemplates the Modern World Lined out from a story about the teachings of Abraham Yaakov of Sagadora, as recounted by Martin Buber Philosophy with Noodles Traditional joke retold by Peninnah Schram The Rooster Prince Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional tale attributed to Rabbi Nachman of Breslov Publishing       Lined out from a traditional tale by Rebbe Menachem-Mendel of Kotzk, as retold by Elie Wiesel The Teller of Tales Traditional tale retold by Rabbi Edward Schecter and Marc Kaminsky The Temples Rise Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a tale retold by storyteller Roslyn Bresnick-Perry Conversations over a Glass Tea Traditional tale retold by Peninnah Schram Fresh Rolls and Butter By Zev Shanken, inspired by the short story “Bontshe Shvayg” by I. L. Peretz How We Lived: A Tribute to Mayer Kirshenblatt Adapted by Steve Zeitlin and Marc Kaminsky from They Called Me Mayer July by storyteller and painter Mayer Kirshenblatt and Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett 4. JEWels . . . in Jokes Passementerie Traditional tale adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a telling by Jack Tepper Telling Jokes in the Shtetl Traditional joke My Mother Liked Telling Jokes By Esther Cohen Taxi                 Traditional joke Einstein’s Theory of Relativity Traditional joke Schwartz         Traditional joke Abe and Becky Traditional joke adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a retelling by Herb Shore The Theater    Traditional joke adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a retelling by Herb Shore The Perfect Girl Traditional joke Two Old Jews at a Urinal Traditional joke Time Stamp    Traditional joke The Plotkin Diamond Traditional joke Rich Man        Traditional joke Golda              Traditional joke retold as a clever comeback by Golda Meir The Commandments Traditional joke adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a telling by Rubin Levine Perfect            Traditional joke retold by Peninnah Schram Toyota             Traditional joke Worry             Traditional tale The Summum Bonum Traditional joke adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a retelling by Abe Lass Zoom              By Marc Wallace Self-Critique   By Sparrow Jewish Mother Telegram Traditional joke retold by Zev Shanken A Freudian Analysis Attributed to, among others, Julia Sweeney, who wrote a book with this title Jewish Mothers Traditional joke Twenty Years Traditional joke Seven Differences between a Joke and a Poem By Zev Shanken Optimism/Pessimism Traditional joke 5. JEWels . . . from Torah The Tsimtsum By Rabbi Edward Schecter Rabbi Simon Said Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a midrash in the name of Rabbi Simon Jacobson Hillel and Shammai Traditional tale retold by Rabbi Edward Schecter What I Would Tell Adam and Eve By Francine Witte The Original Adam and Eve Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a story in Howard Schwartz’s Tree of Souls The Birth of Memory By Steve Zeitlin Enough!          Contemporary tale retold by Rabbi Edward Schecter The Razbash Describes God’s Test By Zev Shanken The Prophet    Traditional tale retold by Rabbi Edward Schecter Moses and the Superhero By Jack Santino Rabbi Hayim Vital Dreams of Moses Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional tale in Howard Schwartz’s Tree of Souls Miriam’s Wandering Well Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional tale Lamb’s Blood By Steve Zeitlin A Rabbinical Love Poem By Zev Shanken Twelve Rabbis Went to a Party By Annie Lanzillotto The Lamed Vavniks By Arthur Strimling 6. JEWels . . . Shaped by the Holocaust Tickling the Corpse By Steve Zeitlin Holocaust Jokes Contemporary joke retold by Zev Shanken It Is Raining on the House of Anne Frank By Linda Pastan Riding with the Moon Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a true story by Roslyn Bresnick-Perry Last Supper in the Krakow Ghetto Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from oral testimonies by survivors of the Krakow ghetto uprising Hovering above the Pit Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a tale retold by Yaffa Eliach In the Janowska Street Ghetto Adapted by Marc Kaminsky from a story retold by Yaffa Eliach The Twig        Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from RenÉe Fodor Schwarz’s memoir RenÉe In Memory of Those Who Died in Vain in the Holocaust Excerpted from a poem by RenÉe Fodor Schwarz Forgotten Acts of Courage Adapted by Steve Zeitlin and Marc Kaminsky from Alex Borstein’s Emmy acceptance speech Rachel By Linda Pastan Death Train     Lined out from AndrÉ Schwartz-Bart’s The Last of the Just Kaddish in the Boxcar of Death By Aaron Zeitlin, translated by Morris M. Faierstein Face in the Mirror Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a true story by Boris Blum, retold by Toby Blum-Dobkin 7. JEWels . . . in Glimpses of Jewish American Lives Rummage       By Marc Kaminsky Yiddishe Mama during World War II Lined out from the essay “The Healing Power of Jokes” by Alter Yisrael Shimon Feuerman Plucking the Chicken Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional joke retold by Abe Lass Getting Dressed By Steve Zeitlin No More Birthdays By Hal Sirowitz A Short History of Judaic Thought in the Twentieth Century By Linda Pastan At a Bungalow in the Rockaways Traditional joke Tradition!       Traditional joke Jewish and Goyish Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a routine by Lenny Bruce The Great Trick Is to Know Who You Are Lined out from Jackie Mason’s Broadway show The World According to Me Skin Check     By Esther Cohen It Reminds Me of Those Old Jokes Traditional joke The Rabbi       By Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett Reflection       By Zev Shanken True Story       By Carol Klenfner To Kvell or Not to Kvell Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional joke retold by Rabbi Edward Schecter The Free-Yarmulke Bin By Steve Zeitlin The Kiss          By Mark Solomon The Driver Said By Robert Hershon Clara               By Steve Zeitlin Alicia              By Steve Zeitlin Sally                Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a true story told by Anita Nager Moishe Said    Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a story by Jack Kugelmass Abraham Joshua Heschel Goes to Selma By Steve Zeitlin, quoting Abraham Joshua Heschel 8. JEWels . . . in Jewish Foods The Bagel       By David Ignatow The Fish          By Lila Zeiger Happiness       Lined out from a recollection by Moishe Sacks A Jewish Blessing Sung When Placing the Bread in the Oven Anonymous The Atheist     By Steve Zeitlin The Jews and Chinese Food Traditional joke The Jewish Waiter Traditional joke The Strudel     Traditional joke Aging Parents By Marc Wallace The Schtup      Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a tale by Lisa Lipkin Fresh Fish Sold Here Traditional joke retold by Cherie Karo Schwartz How to Make Blintzes Traditional joke retold by Cherie Karo Schwartz 2nd Avenue Kosher By Dennis J. Bernstein and Warren Lehrer From “The Whole Soul” By Philip Levine 9. JEWels . . . in Conversations with God The Messiah #1 Lined out from Michael Gold’s Jews without Money The Messiah #2 Traditional joke Closer             By Aaron Zeitlin, translated by Morris M. Faierstein Wrestling with God By Bob Mankoff Somebody Up There Likes Me Traditional joke retold by Bob Mankoff It’s All Relative Traditional joke retold by Peninnah Schram Tevye the Milkman Said Lined out from the story “Tevye Strikes It Rich” by Sholem Aleichem My Aunt’s Ninetieth Birthday Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a quip by Ann Katz The Tailor’s Prayer Traditional tale A Pair of Pants Traditional tale The Do-Over   By Steve Zeitlin, inspired by a conversation with Richard Rabinowitz The dna in My Coffee-A True Story Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from the story “God and dna over Coffee” by Lisa Lipkin Deconstructing Heaven Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a tale retold by Rabbi Avraham Weiss Levi Yitzhak Burns the Evidence Traditional tale Six Lines         By Aaron Zeitlin, translated by Robert Friend To the Rescue Traditional joke Lifeline           Traditional tale 10. JEWels . . . on the Meaning of Life The Meaning of Meaning By Bob Holman Who Knows?  Adapted by Flash Rosenberg from one of her father’s favorite jokes Hineni             By Flash Rosenberg The Angel of Death Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from an essentially true story in Howard Schwartz’s Tree of Souls The Land         Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional tale If Not Higher! Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from the short story “If Not Higher!” by I. L. Peretz Time All at Once Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a story by Caroline Harris Soul Sight       Adapted by Marc Kaminsky and Steve Zeitlin from Howard Schwartz’s Tree of Souls The Burning Twig Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional tale retold by Robert J. Bernstein Oy                   Lined out from a spontaneous observation by Eli Levine The Philosopher Traditional joke Life                 Traditional joke The Razbash on Old Age By Zev Shanken Doctor, Doctor Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional joke retold by Doris Kirshenblatt Yizkor             By Zev Shanken The Razbash on Forgiveness By Zev Shanken The Womb      Traditional tale retold by Rabbi Edward Schecter Moishe’s Wisdom Lined out from Moishe Sacks’s comments in The Grand Generation documentary (1993) The Angel of Forgetfulness Lined out from Dara Horn’s novel The World to Come The Laughing Man Lined out from Elie Wiesel’s Souls on Fire, based on writings attributed to Rabbi Nachman of Breslov               Wiesel’s Response Lined out from Elie Wiesel’s Souls on Fire The Fiftieth Gate Lined out from a passage by Rabbi Boruch of Medzhybizh, as recounted by Martin Buber Whitewater Rapids Adapted by Marc Kaminsky and Steve Zeitlin from the story “Whitewater” by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi The Ring         Adapted by Marc Kaminsky and Steve Zeitlin from a traditional tale The Beautiful Question Traditional tale retold by Steve Zeitlin Lost in the Woods Traditional tale retold by Peninnah Schram Shmuel Discovers a Purpose in Life Traditional tale retold by Rabbi Edward Schecter Coda    Traditional tale retold by Rabbi Edward Schecter Concerto         Adapted by Steve Zeitlin from a traditional tale retold by Rabbi Eli Rubenstein 11. Final Thoughts Questions for Discussion Source Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Commentator Biographies Index  

About the Author :
Steve Zeitlin is the author or coauthor of several award-winning books on America’s folk culture, including Because God Loves Stories: An Anthology of Jewish Storytelling and The Poetry of Everyday Life: Storytelling and the Art of Awareness. He coproduced the storytelling series American Talkers for NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday and Morning Edition and is the recipient of the American Folklore Society’s Benjamin Botkin Award for lifetime achievement in public folklore.

Review :
"From wry quotes by Gol­da Meier to bawdy 'Abe and Becky' jokes told by seniors and life-rein­forc­ing philo­soph­i­cal humor in the midst of pain, JEW­els delights with sur­prise. There will be some­thing new here for everyone."-Jewish Book Council "I recommend JEWels to anyone interested in Jewish culture in general, and especially to those interested in its rich folklore. . . . The commentaries, alongside the "jewels" themselves, make for lessons one might never forget-that there is beauty even in terrible situations, laughter to be found in all aspects of life, and that stories reminding us of these facts might be more relevant now than ever before."-Journal of Folklore Research "These poems made me laugh, cry or nod with acknowledgment to the wisdom offered. . . . Zeitlin notes that he hopes to give readers a chance to experience a wide range of Jewish perspectives on the world. In that, he has definitely succeeded."-Reporter "Perfect addition to any poetry collections as well as collections with Jewish story and or joke anthologies."-Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews “Steve Zeitlin is a national treasure who celebrates the voices of everyday life. Wise, funny, and poignant, his book JEWels brings Judaism to life in short bursts of words that explode off the page and infuse our hearts with light and truth.”-Dave Isay, founder of StoryCorps “I could not put this book down. JEWels is brilliant, intelligent, well researched, and has heart. It’s an immersive experience in which the whole is greater than the sum of the parts, but the parts are what matter, each jewel standing on its own.”-Amy Shuman, professor in the Department of English at Ohio State University and author of Other People’s Stories “JEWels is a unique, humorous, and sensitive link in the chain of Jewish storytelling, humor, and commentary.”-Rabbi Moshe Waldoks, coeditor of The Big Book of Jewish Humor