Sex, Drugs and Gefilte Fish: The Heeb Storytelling Collection » (Original)

Shana Liebman, the Arts Editor of Heeb Magazine, conceived and now curates the Heeb Storytelling series. She has a BA in English from BrownUniversity and an MFA in fiction writing from ColumbiaUniversity. She is also a freelance writer and editor who has worked for The Village Voice, PAPER, Salon, The New York Observer and The Independent,and is a regular contributor to New York Magazine.

Scoring weed for your uncle...Hanging out with porn stars on Christmas Eve...Eating nachos with the Mossad...Observing the Dyke Days of Awe...Getting held up at a Weight Watcher's meeting...Spying on your naked Hebrew School teacher.

From Heeb magazine—the definitive voice of a proud, searching, and irreverent new generation of American Jews—this first-of-a-kind fast and fun showcase spotlights the hilarious and heartful raconteurial gifts of many of today's leading writers, comedians, actors, artists, and musicians. Laura Silverman, Michael Showalter, Andy Borowitz, Joel Stein, Ben Greenman, Darrin Strauss, and others navigate sex, drugs, work, youth, family, and, on the lighter side, body and soul. You'll never bleach your arm hair again.

Publishers Weekly

Liebman, arts editor of the hip Jewish lifestyle magazine Heeb, introduces a refreshing set of essays that reveal an array of both ordinary and extraordinary modern-day Jewish experiences. Arranged by theme (sex, drugs, work, youth, family, body and soul), these four dozen essays—the products of a Heeb storytelling performance series—explore the humorous, scandalous and often sentimental moments in life. Rebecca Addelman re-evaluates the college summer she spent in Israel getting naked with another kibbutz volunteer and a middle-aged Israeli. Andy Borowitz conveys the irony of a Jewish Harvard graduate (himself) writing a hip-hop sitcom for Will Smith: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Most outstanding is Eric Weingrad's account of spying his loathed Hebrew school teacher naked during a Sabbath night spent at her house. The contributors—musicians, actors, comedians and writers—will be familiar to many. Full of wit, irony, heartbreak and vindication, these essays will undoubtedly please those in search of an honest but creative look at Jewish life and its many trials. B&w photos. (Oct. 26)

Foreword A. J. Jacobs Jacobs, A. J.

Preface Shana Liebman Liebman, Shana

Losing It Josh Swiller Swiller, Josh 2

The Anti-Mensch Ophira Eisenberg Eisenberg, Ophira 6

SJF Seeks Donor Lori Gottlieb Gottlieb, Lori 11

Me Make Fire for Lynn Lynn Harris Harris, Lynn 16

In a Different Light Eric Weingrad Weingrad, Eric 20

All Eighteen Inches David J. Rosen Rosen, David J. 25

Let It Breathe D. C. Benny Benny, D. C. 32

Grandma Betty Liz Feldman Feldman, Liz 38

I Am Anxious Jonathan Kesselman Kesselman, Jonathan 42

Benzos and Breast Cancer Stephanie Green Green, Stephanie 45

Unprotected: A Confession Rachel Kramer Bussel Bussel, Rachel Kramer 52

Out of the Bag Noah Tarnow Tarnow, Noah 57

Prime-Time Playa Andy Borowitz Borowitz, Andy 66

My Stalker Mike Albo Albo, Mike 69

The Professional Jacob Austen Austen, Jacob 74

The Money Was Good Robbie Chafitz Chafitz, Robbie 79

A Field Guide to the North American Bigfoot Ben Greenman Greenman, Ben 84

Approaching a Lunatic Adam Lowitt Lowitt, Adam 91

Hollywood Sucks Darin Strauss Strauss, Darin 95

Baruch Atah Nathaniel Simon Rich Rich, Simon 102

We Want Bo Derek Joshua Neuman Neuman, Joshua 109

Gershon Rebecca Addelman Addelman, Rebecca 114

The Mossad Bought Me Nachos and a Sprite Joey Garfield Garfield, Joey 119

Exodus Elliott Kalan Kalan, Elliott 125

Helping Hand Todd Levin Levin, Todd 131

Freaking Jordan Carlos Carlos, Jordan 136

One Night at Gimbels Rena Zager Zager, Rena 140

The True Meaning of Christmas Byron Kerman Kerman, Byron 144

Poop Sandwich Abby Sher Sher, Abby 148

As Time Went By Michael Green Green, Michael 154

And Baby Makes ... Four Caryn Aviv Aviv, Caryn 164

Lesbians atTemple Lisa Kron Kron, Lisa 168

Mama Ann Joel Stein Stein, Joel 173

Phone Home Avi Gesser Gesser, Avi 178

Little Isaac's Nozzle of Love Steve Almond Almond, Steve 184

True Tales from Katzalot Mark Katz Katz, Mark 194

Bar Mitzvah: The Musical! Matthew Loren Cohen Cohen, Matthew Loren 200

Herzog Versus Davis Hal Sirowitz Sirowitz, Hal 206

Fake Farm Laura Silverman Silverman, Laura 209

My Whole Hair Story Todd Rosenberg Rosenberg, Todd 214

Half and Half Raven Snook Snook, Raven 220

Weight Watchers at Gunpoint Wendy Shanker Shanker, Wendy 224

Mustorderitis Michael Showalter Showalter, Michael 228

Boiling Point Allen Salkin Salkin, Allen 231

The Eyes of the Beholder Najla Said Said, Najla 235

Finding My Kegel Muscles Stephen Glass Glass, Stephen 238

Body Hair Annette Ezekial Kogan Kogan, Annette Ezekial 244

Masturbating Class: A Hands-on Experience Alix Strauss Strauss, Alix 249

Contributors 255