The Jewish mother feels her job isn't done even after death. You're never too dead to be a Jewish mother." --Mallory Lewis, daughter of Shari Lewis
* What do Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen, Barbra Streisand, Jon Stewart, Bette Midler, and Natalie Portman have in common with this book? A Jewish mother.
Is there such a thing as a Jewish mother? And if so, who is she? For the first time, best-selling Jewish author and humorist Marnie Winston-Macauley examines all aspects of the Jewish mother. Chronicling biblical Jewish mothers to modern-day Yentls, she creates a compendium using celebrity interviews, anecdotes, humor, and scholarly sources to answer these questions with truth and humor.
* Contributors to the book range from Dr. Ruth Gruber and Rabbi Bonnie Koppel to Jackie Mason, Amy Borkowsky, John Stossel, Lainie Kazan, and more.
* "The definitive source on Jewish mothers." --Eileen Warshaw, Ph.D., executive director of the Jewish Heritage Center of the Southwest
"...the be all and end all about the real Jewish leaders. Researchers will refer to this work as the definitive source." -- Eileen Warshaw, Ph.D. Executive Director of The Jewish Heritage Center of the Southwest
"A hearty "yishar kocheich" to Marnie Winston-Macauley for a skillfully written, well-researched and thoroughly delightful study." -- Rabbi Yocheved Mintz
Finally! A book that tells our truth -- the truth about the Jewish mother. ... a must-read for all mothers." -- Congresswoman Shelley Berkley
From the Author
We've all heard them. The Jewish mother stereotypes, borne of ridicule, heightened by Borscht belt comics, portrayed in media. And so, we have become the "cartoon." The prototype of the overzealous, over-involved, over-worried, over-protective, over-nurturing, over-bearing presence that has invaded popular culture.
In every stereotype, there is an element of truth. I recall my late mother ripping the heads off photos of boys who dumped me. My grandmother's entire reason for living after the death of my grandfather, was "to move in" - with us. From her mission came stories and anecdotes only a Carl Reiner could write
Yes, my grandmother sounded selfish. But then we look beyond at Gram. A woman who bribed border guards to get to America before the Nazis took over, leaving her birth family behind - forever.
This is why I needed to look before the period, at the backgrounds, religion, and principles of these women. The joke had a predecessor. And without examination, the meaning - and truth - is lost.
Many Jewish Mother stereotypes are about intrusion, child-first suffocation, lack of boundaries. Yet these "traits" are also the very qualities: protection, education, nourishment and survival, during pogroms, throughout the Holocaust and other incalculable calamities, that have kept us alive and intact these 5,000 years.
In this work, I hope you will see the special soul of Jewish motherhood through the sacrifices, the extraordinary belief in the future through our children that Jewish women over the centuries have possessed. You will also read fascinating facts, anecdotes and yes, humor that was vital and kept us going while we were running - always running. Jewish women, simply - are funny.
Quirky, no-nonsense, funny, Ms. Winston-Macauley is a straight-shooter, who has a unique voice and takes on the world in her books, and advice column, "Ask Sadie." A clinician, writer, and researcher, she blends these skills seemlessly. Ms. Winston-Macauley holds a B.A. in experimental psychology, and an M.S. degree from the Columbia University School of Social Work, where she won the first Judith L. Ginsberg Memorial Scholarship, and was a graduate supervisor. She is currently the author of the advice column, 'Ask Sadie' (which was syndicated through Tribune Media Services), writes an advice and parenting column for the Tucson Citizen, is a columnist for Jewish Life & Style, and a contributing columnist for Jewish World Review.com She has written over 20 books/calendars, including the series, going into it's eight year, 'A Little Joy, A Little Oy," about Jewish culture and Yiddishkeit. Prior, was a writer for the daytime drama, 'As the World Turns,' which garnered her both Emmy and Writers Guild award nominations. In addition to writing two science fiction novelets for The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Realms of Fantasy, and Fantom (Russian). She has written hundreds of relationship articles for women's magazines and newspapers, such as Woman, First, Women's World, Theater Week, the Star, The New York Times, The Rocky Mountain News Co., among others. A popular media presence, in addition to hosting her advice radio show, 'Ask Sadie Live ', she was a regular advice maven on The Karen Grant Show, in Monterey, California, and has appeared on hundreds of other radio and television shows, including Lifetime for Women, 'Mike & Maty,' 'The Mark Wahlberg Show,' 'The Pat Bullard Show,' USA Live, Charles Perez and Bill O'Reilly (Fox). In 2003, she starred in a relationship-advice pilot for the Discovery Networks. Ms. Winston- Macauley was a graduate level supervisor and has clinically supervised for both Columbia University and the Adelphi School of Social Work. She also taught at the New York City Correctional Academy. Ms. Winston-Macauley has smashed the glass ceiling more than once. Before turning to writing, she was a senior administrator, as well as clinician for the New York City Department of Correction. She was appointed Director of Pre-Trial Services in Westchester County, New York, the first women to hold a Directorship in criminal justice in that County. Her agency received an Exemplary Project Award from the Federal government. Ms. Winston-Macauley was a member of the Curriculum committee, Columbia University; served on the Criminal Justice Committee to the Advisory Council, N.Y.S. Senate; was Vice-President of the State Association of Pre-Trial Service Agencies, and on the Board of the National Association. She also served on the Board of Headstart (Rockland County, New York) and on the Rockland Psychiatric Center Advisory Committee. She is currently associated with The Las Vegas Jewish Center for Education, Media & the Arts. She is married to a former New York Times senior editor. The couple has one son, and she has five step-children. Ms. Winston-Macauley is in Who's Who in America, 2007.
I find this book a superbly written account of the Jewish Mother. It evoked memories of my childhood. It brought tears, laughter, giggles, emotional responses and happiness to me on every page.
Stetl life has molded the Jewish Mother and daughters into a wonderful way of life. [...].
I loved this! The anecdotes are so true and brought to mind memories of Jewish mothers that I knew. I found the factual information quite fascinating. All in all, a good read.
