Don't Mind Me: And Other Jewish Lies

by Esther Cohen and Esther Cohen

Book Overview

We all tell lies. But Jewish lies are a little bit different. Here's an example: It doesn't matter if you read this. The Jewish people speak many languages. There's English, of course, and Hebrew, and let's not forget Yiddish and Ladino. But the language Jews have mastered is saying one thing and meaning another. And after a while, everyone understands the real meaning of the "lie." Esther Cohen has been listening all her life. She's written...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1401322387
• ISBN13: 9781401322380
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 6.8"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

"Think about the kids in Biafra..."

Cohen, Esther. "Don't Mind Me: And Other Jewish Lies", Hyperion, 2008. "Think of the Kids in Biafra..." Amos Lassen I remember my mother telling me to eat my peas because the kids in Biafra had nothing to eat---as if my eating my peas would help them. It was one of her Jewish lies. My mother had never been to Biafra, she knew no one in Biafra and I am sure that she never contributed a penny to the welfare of Biafra do I wondered why she cared about Biafran children. Jewish lies are part of growing up Jewish and my mother taught us well. Aside from the various languages that are unique to the Jewish people--Yiddish, Ladino, Hebrew and Yinglish, there is another language that Jewish mothers know well; saying one thing and meaning something else completely. An example of this might be, "Another baby? Mazel Tov" which really means why would you bring another child into the world when you can't afford the eleven you already have. Esther Cohen has listened to these Jewish lies all her life and now she has written them down for us so we can all use them when necessary and Roz Chast given us wonderful illustrations so we can really understand what the Jewish lie is. (You look so good in the dress! [I bet she got in at a rummage sale]). I smiled the entire time I read and realized how many of these sayings are in my own speech. It's a small pleasure and a whole lot of fun.

Funny, and so true to life

This is a wonderful little book, I gave it to some Jewish friends from NY city and they loved it. Chuckles all around, it was a hit.