{"product_id":"9781492933960","title":"The Jewolic: Conundrums of a Half-Jew - a humorous romp through religious ambivalence.","description":"Conundrums of a Half-Jew - a humorous romp through religious ambivalence. \u003cp\u003ePolish\/Jewish mom; Italian\/Catholic dad. I was a religious mutt - a matzo brie pizza; a blintz marinara; a bagel and lox trapped inside a spaghetti and meatballs body. I needed an identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI could have become: \u003cbr\u003e a) A Jew, invoking the very popular, and all-inclusive, 'if your mother is a Jew' rule; \u003cbr\u003e b) A Catholic, ignoring the above-mentioned rule; or, \u003cbr\u003e c) A half Jew\/half Cath, Jewolic, straddling both religions, favoring the one that was most advantageous at the time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI straddled for most of my youth. I was a Jew Catholic, or Cath Jew, or half and half, or half-Cath, or half-Jew, or Jewolic, depending upon whom I was trying to impress or what I was attempting to avoid. My Gram tried to convince me that I was a Jew by virtue of the 'mother of the Jew rule'. I remained solidly unconvinced and ambivalent. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"But why isn't the rule: if your father was Catholic, you are too?\" I always challenged the 'mother of the Jew rule' when I had an urgent need to irk. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Because you are a Jew,\" she said, a cigarette dangled from her lips and smoke meandered up through her glasses.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"How can you be so sure?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Because, you are a schmuck and only Jews can be schmucks.\" \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShe had embroidered the very same saying onto a pillow, which she threatened to give to me for my birthday. She opened the clasp on her purse and snapped it shut, signaling the official end of the conversation. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThat was my conundrum. This is my story.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"CreateSpace Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47049322365168,"sku":"9781492933960","price":5.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781492933960_p0.jpg?v=1763662595","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781492933960","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}