The Almighty has provided Rabbi Jay with a keen sense of humor and the ability to appreciate the many absurd moments of life and capture them for posterity. The book is a rare opportunity to enjoy some of the strange and off the wall experiences of the author. You will smile, laugh and find the book a powerful antidote to depression and despair. Ideal for gift giving and for folks in need of some good humor. Here is what some readers had to say about the book; Nadia, the Russian cleaning lady: "Each week when I come to clean the Karzen apartment, I must also listen to the stories contained in the book OFF THE WALL. After they are explained to me, I understand them to be humorous. I am told to recommend this book very highly." Hassan, the former janitor of the Karzen apartment building: "On many occasions I come into the Karzen home for a glass of water. Before drinking, I am asked to listen to the stories found in the book called OFF THE WALL. While I, as an Arab, cannot fully appreciate the humor, I am confident, that my Jewish cousins will find the volume to be very funny and enjoyable." Yossie, the Diskin Street handyman: "Items from OFF THE WALLhave been read to me. I have laughed and enjoyed the stories very much. I know that everyone reading this entire book from cover to cover will chuckle and find it amusing." Velvel, a neighbour: "For year, I have been a sounding board for many of the anecdotes contained in this OFF THE WALLanthology. Now that the book has finally been published, I urge everyone to purchase and read the funny material - especially the E-mail segment - my favorite section, and the Karzenisms. I hope you also enjoy this true fiction. I can hardly wait for Volume 2."
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Rabbi Jay Karzen, of Jerusalem, Israel, is a native of Chicago, Illinois and was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College, Skokie, Illinois. Before his Aliyah to Israel in 1985, he served pulpits in Ottumwa and Council Bluffs, Iowa (1959-65) and for 22 years served as the spiritual leader of the prestigious Maine Township Jewish Congregation Shaare Emet, Des Plaines, Illinois. In the Chicagoland community he was active in many organizations. He was president of the Alumni Association of the HTC Yeshiva and served as Chairman of both the Radio/Television Broadcasting Commission of the Chicago Board of Rabbis and the Brit Milah/Ritual Circumcision Committee of the Chicago Rabbinical Council. He was the Jewish Chaplain of the Variety Club of Illinois. In 1985, after emigrating to Israel, he founded Rituals Unlimited and serves as its president and director. RU is the largest Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Simcha Service in Jerusalem. Tourists from literally all over the world avail themselves of his services. The Jerusalem Post referred to him as the "Bar Mitzvah King". As a volunteer, he also runs the Cemetery and Bereavement Program of the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI) Rabbi Karzen is married to the former Ruby Ray (noted Jerusalem interior designer) and is the father of 2 children and 10 grandchildren
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hysterical - and not just for Jews,
By A Customer
This review is from: Off the Wall (Paperback)
This book is one of the funniest books I have ever read. The great thing about it is that the humour is so universal, that it is for everyone, not just Jews. I have bought it as gifts for non-Jewish friends who were roaring with laughter. It is also a great coffee table item in paperback and makes for great dinner conversation! The language is simple and not exclusive to people with an insider's view of the Jewish faith, and the happenings are so colourful, that it is hard to imagine them as real! But of course that only makes it funnier! I think everyone can recongnize themselves and their loved ones in this funny and frequently heartwarming look at the simpler things in life.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Karzen right on target with Off the Wall humor!,
By Warren Bank (Johannesburg, South Africa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Off the Wall (Paperback)
I found this book lying on a friend's bookshelf and turned at random to one of the promised humorous anecdotes - within a minute I was laughing out loud! Karzen, an Orthodox Rabbi (with a not-so orthodox sense of humor) has captured the essence of Jewish congregational life ( he spent many years as a Rabbi in the US) as well as the zany and sometimes downright irrational world of the Barmitzvahs that he organises at Jerusalem's Wailing Wall for mainly US visitors. This provides the source material for most of his anecdotes. Karzen apparently has a natural talent for tackling head-on any kind of problem or mishap that can possibly arise and threaten to throw a spanner in the works of a long awaited "simcha" (happy occasion). However, after reading this book (in one sitting I might add) it is clear that his true talent is in knowing exactly how to handle difficult and demanding clients in the most tactful and diplomatic way. Perhaps this can be attributed to the fact that he has described himself as "Orthodox, Conservative and Reform" all at once: He is Orthodox because he believes that he is following the "right" (orthos) path; he is Conservative because he believes in conserving the beautiful Jewish heritage; and Reform, because he wants to reform those who have strayed from the path. One small quibble: there are several typos and missing punctuation marks that could easily have been emilinated with more thorough proofreading. NOTE: There is a comprehensive glossary and full explanation of all Jewish terminology used thus making it a great read for Jew and Gentile alike!
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