What to Do When You're Dating a Jew : Everything You Need to Know from Matzah Balls to Marriage (Paperback)

by Vikki Weiss (Author), Jennifer A. Block (Author) "So you're dating someone Jewish..." (more)
Key Phrases: Yom Kippur, New York, Rosh Hashanah (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Learn everything you need to know about the holidays, traditions, beliefs, and culture of the Jew you love . . . and his or her family. From what to order in a Kosher deli to what to wear to a Purim party, this book answers all the questions you'll face as the love interest of a nice Jewish boy or girl.

What to Do When You're Dating a Jew will:
give you a quick overview of the basics of Judaism
prepare you for meeting your significant other's Jewish family
brief you on Jewish holidays, ceremonies, and rituals
alert you to potentially embarrassing situations and show you how to avert them
entertain you with "It happened to me" stories from interfaith couples

Peppered with definitions of Yiddish terms, historical facts, jokes, quotes, and even recipes, this is essential reading for any woman or man involved with a Jew, whether looking for a deeper understanding of the Jewish faith or simply looking to survive a first seder at Bubbe's house.


From the Inside Flap
Learn everything you need to know about the holidays, traditions, beliefs, and culture of the Jew you love . . . and his or her family. From what to order in a Kosher deli to what to wear to a Purim party, this book answers all the questions you'll face as the love interest of a nice Jewish boy or girl.

What to Do When You're Dating a Jew will:
give you a quick overview of the basics of Judaism
prepare you for meeting your significant other's Jewish family
brief you on Jewish holidays, ceremonies, and rituals
alert you to potentially embarrassing situations and show you how to avert them
entertain you with "It happened to me" stories from interfaith couples

Peppered with definitions of Yiddish terms, historical facts, jokes, quotes, and even recipes, this is essential reading for any woman or man involved with a Jew, whether looking for a deeper understanding of the Jewish faith or simply looking to survive a first seder at Bubbe's house.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press (September 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609806394
• ISBN-13: 978-0609806395
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #447,914 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars humorous and lite, February 9, 2001

By	Larry Mark "editor of MyJewishBooks.com" (nyc) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

When I first saw this book, I was conflicted, maybe even insulted. But in reality, as a member of the Jewish faith, I am not the book's target. With an American rate of intermarriage that grows higher each decade, this book can't hurt. It can only help to make non-Jewish partners and spouses more comfortable among members of the North American, culturally Jewish tribe. The authors, 31, know a tad about their chosen subject. They have dated non-Jewish men most of their adult lives. Jennifer Block married a non-Jewish spouse, while Vicki Weiss' three siblings all married non-Jewish spouses. The authors witnessed first hand the questions these dates and spouses raised, and the social faux pas they made in front of older family members (you know, like ordering cheese and ham in a kosher deli, bringing bread to a seder, using mayo, buying retail, etc.). If the preceding line in parentheses irritates you, then this book will just enrage you. The book provides an overview and fingernail sketch of the basics of American Jewish practice, a briefing on the rituals and major Jewish observed holidays, and painfully entertaining stories from interfaith couples. You can tell it is a Jewish book, cuz it is peppered with Yiddish terms (sorry, no Ladino), and includes a recipe for chicken soup, and some Jewish jokes. The book has a translation of the Shema prayer, some other prayers, and some quotes, like that of Rabbi Hillel (If I am not for my self...) But a Jewish reader might find these perfunctory, since although there is a translation of the Shema, don't expect to find a deeper explanation or meaning of why the prayer or other quotes are central to the Jewish faith. The authors write that "shiksa" should not be viewed as a pejorative word. Yeah .. right, and if you believe that, let me sell you something at its retail price. Jewish readers might be confused, when they read the Shabbat is on the 6th day of the week, rather than the 7th; but please remember that the book is targeted to non-Jews, who view Sunday as the seventh day. The authors give brief explanations of the major holidays (Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah, Passover, and the weekly Shabbat). Even briefer explanations are given for the observance of Purim, Sukkot, and other holidays. But as the authors write, if you have to worry about these holidays, then you are dating a "super-Jew"; and maybe they are right, since those observing these holidays are probably not going to be seriously pursuing interfaith relationships. Or are they? So, if you are looking for a painless, glib, lite, humor-filled entry in Jewish foods, eating traditions, and holidays, it can't hurt to read this book, and it may raise questions for further discussion between the couple, or further, more serious study by both partners.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Resource, October 30, 2000

By	Deanna Clark (Novato, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This book is loaded with information about not only Jewish laws, but the little traditions and rituals that aren't exactly covered in most text books. It is often these family traditions that catch the non-Jew off guard and end up putting them ten steps behind in the battle to win the family over.

More than just teach "what" the rules are, the authors do a briliant job of explaining "why". What I really loved was that they present the information in a very easy to read format that allows readers to dive into an issue or simply get a few quick tips.

But this book does more...while it is helpful to learn about the basics of Judaism, it is also wonderful to know that you are not alone "What to do when You're Dating a Jew" is enriched with stories from the front line of those involved in interfaith relationships. Often it is these types of stores and how those involved reacted that offer the best advice. The authors have done a great job of finding a perfect balance of stores that cover issues as light as what to bring for dinner and as intense as preparing for a wedding.

Probably the best part of the book is the use of humor. Those involved in interfaith relationships know how difficult they can be, but if we can't at least find a way to laugh at the situations, then too often the relationship can go sour. "What to do When Dating a Jew" does a perfect job of allowing the readers to laugh at themselves and those involved, yet does not take it too far and lose sight of the seriousness and difficulties involved.

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Helpful!!!, November 5, 2002

By A Customer

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is a non-Jew and is dating a Jew. My friends bought this for me as a joke when I (a nice Irish-Catholic girl) started seeing a Jewish guy....and here we are 2 years later in a very serious relationship.
This book helped me understand so much about Judaism. I knew what to bring to shiva calls and I knew not to blow out the candles on my boyfriend's menorah! And my boyfriend even read the entire book...he said it was a refresher course for him. There was some things in there that he had either forgotten or had never even known.
Trust me - this book is worth reading. I always keep it on hand in case I need to look anything up. And there are some great stories in there about other interfaith couples that you can really relate to.