by Joe
Bobker
A lively retelling of the stories in the bible as read each week
in the synagogue. Interspersed are jokes and anecdotes that highlight
the author’s points. The author uses highly original analysis
and interpretation of the major events of the bible, adding Rabbinic
and Midrashic sources to bolster his contentions.
The reader encounters a humorous moment on every page of this
enlightening volume. The chapters themselves hint at the anecdotal
nature of this work, and its in-depth study of every story found
in the Bible. Here’s a sample of the chapter headings in Genesis:
BOOK OF GENESIS
-
Murder in the first (Bereisheet)
-
A hard rain’s a-gonna fall (Noach)
-
Coming or going? (Lech Lecha)
-
Boy named Will Laugh (Vayera)
-
Life, death, and marriage (Chayei Sarah)
-
Pot of beans (Toldot)
-
Man on the run (Vayetzei)
- Wrestling match (Vayishlach)
- Many wives, many problems (Vayeishev)
- Fat cows, skinny cows (Mikeitz)
- Pathos and passion (Vayigash)
- Live and let die (Vayechi)
The rise of Eve is the grande finale of the creation process.
God takes from the male (ish) his rib/side to create the female
(isha). Thus, writes Dosetai ben Yannai, a 2nd century Sage, it
is natural “for a man to woo a woman.” Why? Because “he seeks
what he lost.”
To this, he adds the anecdote:
Moishele is captivated when his Rabbi relates the tale of Adam
and Eve. A few days later, the little boy isn’t feeling well.
“Where does it hurt?” asks his concerned mother. “Here,” Moishele
points to his side. “What do you think is the problem?” “I think
I’m going to have a wife.”
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