Table Of Content“As Maxwell takes readers on a humorous safari to observe Jews
in their natural habitat, even Jews who have never set foot in
a synagogue or jcc will recognize themselves with wondrous
insight. And Jews who love learning— in other words, all of us—
will delight in learning a lot from Typically Jewish. I definitely did.”
— Maggie Anton, author of Rashi’s Daughters and Fifty
Shades of Talmud
“As a pulpit rabbi I’m often asked, ‘What does it mean to be Jew-
ish? Is it a religion? A race? A nationality? Speaking a certain
language? A faith? A way of life?’ Typically Jewish answers these
questions— and, like any other great Jewish book, raises many
others. Complete with a superb, extremely user-f riendly study
guide, it’s a fantastic source for adult education study sessions.
I also plan to make it required reading for my Introduction to
Judaism students.”
— Rabbi Jacques Cukierkorn, Temple Israel of Greater
Kansas City
“I loved this book and look forward to sharing it with my book
groups. There are many ‘Aha’ moments when you’ll find your-
self shaking your head in agreement and laughing.”
— Sharon Curtis, coordinator of Lunch ‘N’ Lit and Ladies
of the Night, Hadassah book groups
“Maxwell took me on a fascinating whirlwind discovery tour of
the top historical and modern insights into my Jewish identity,
concluding with the Typically Jewish, Atypically Fun Discussion
Guide. I highly recommend this book for Jewish book clubs,
jccs, organizations, federations, and home conversations where
you too, may laugh, nosh, and kvell together over your Jewish
identities.”
— Gail K. Harris, coauthor of Journey from Invisibility to Visi-
bility: A Guide for Women Sixty and Beyond
“When you are about to enter Jewish life, wouldn’t it be great to
have a friendly, knowledgeable, and down- to-e arth tour guide?
Typically Jewish is just that: a witty, unpretentious, and compre-
hensive explanation of the complexities and conundrums in
the twenty- first- century mostly Ashkenazic American Jewish
experience.”
— Rabbi Peretz Wolf- Prusan, chief program officer and
senior educator, Lehrhaus Judaica
“Ever wish you could chat with a warm, funny, smart, and can-
did person about being a Jew or becoming a Jew? Meet Nancy
Kalikow Maxwell, whose delightfully breezy and erudite Typically
Jewish takes a refreshingly honest and comically affirming look
at the Jewish past, present and future.”
— Rabbi Bob Alper, stand- up comedian and author of
Thanks, I Needed That
Typicall y
Jewish
University of Nebraska Press
Lincoln
Typicall y
Jewish
Nancy Kalikow Maxwell
The Jewish Publication Society
Philadelphia
© 2019 by Nancy Kalikow Maxwell
All rights reserved. Published by the University of
Nebraska Press as a Jewish Publication Society book.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Maxwell, Nancy Kalikow, author.
Title: Typically Jewish / Nancy Kalikow Maxwell.
Description: Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press;
Philadelphia: The Jewish Publication Society, [2018]
Identifiers: lccn 2018040711
isbn 9780827613027 (cloth: alk. paper)
isbn 9780827617926 (epub)
isbn 9780827617933 (mobi)
isbn 9780827617940 (pdf)
Subjects: lcsh: Jews— United States— Identity.
| Judaism— United States.
Classification: lcc e184.36.e84 m38 2018
| ddc 305.892407— dc23
lc record available at
https:// lccn .loc .gov /2018040711
Set in itc New Baskerville by E. Cuddy.
Rodney J. Maxwell, 1942– 2009
Your memory is a blessing.
Contents
Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Introduction: Why Is This Book
Different from All Other Books? . . . . .xiii
1. Worrying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Kvelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
3. Dying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
4. Noshing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
5. Laughing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
6. Detecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
7. Dwelling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173
8. Joining. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Conclusion: What It Means
to Be Typically Jewish . . . . . . . . . . . .225
Typically Jewish, Atypically
Fun Discussion Guide . . . . . . . . . . . .237
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .275
