25 Questions for a Jewish Mother
Jewish mothers are known for their overzealous love and guilt, which is exactly how comedian Judy Gold (no relation) formed the basis for her routines. After exploring motherhood with her old partner, she decided to embark on a project to interview a number of Jewish mothers about their experiences. What resulted was a stage show, now turned into a book, called 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother, which explores the answers to the questions within and other insights into Judy’s life as a Jew, a lesbian and as a mother, along with her partner and co-author Kate Moira Ryan.
When I picked up the book, I thought that it would be a hilarious romp through one of Judy’s somewhat deprecating routines about her own overbearing Jewish mother. What shocked me was, though the book has a slightly humorous undertone, it is permeated mostly by themes of love, life and learning. The questions such as "What makes Jewish mothers different from non-Jewish mothers?" and "What is Jewish mother guilt?" present a narrative of Gold’s life, the life of her ex, her current partner, her parents and her children with touching experts from the interviews of countless Jewish mothers over five years.
What I appreciate about 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother is how it not only presents the themes so stunningly but also how Judaism and Jewish culture are so interestingly interwoven throughout each question. Most of the questions focus on the relationship between motherhood and Judaism. The interviewees are all Jewish mothers from all different types of backgrounds, each with their own perspective and answers to the various questions whether they are religious questions, cultural questions, or just general life questions.
Though Judy and Kate’s family life is portrayed in an almost autobiographical fashion, it never overpowers the overall themes. Through its pages, 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother provides a distinct look at Jewish life and motherhood.
by Judy Gold
Voice, $22.95
