Our Parodies

“Goys and Dolls” started because “Guy” just naturally evolved into “Goy”. Who knew it would cause me political problems? Some people are offended by the term Goy. Go figure. Sure it could be considered derogatory, but it’s actually a Hebrew word from the Bible no less. Here’s what Leo Rosten said about the term:

Leo Rosten, The Joys of Yinglish (New York:1989), pp. 205-206
goy
goyish (adjective)
goyim (plural)

What Yinglishman does not know, use and enjoy goy? Form rhyme respectively with "boy," "boyish," "doyen.” The plural is pronounced GOY-im. The adjective is goyish (neuter), goyisher (masculine), or goyisheh (feminine). From the Hebrew: goy: "nation.” Biblical texts called the Hebrews a goy kadosh: "a holy nation."

1. It is important to note that the idea of respect for others, and the values of a pluralistic society, form an old, integral part of Judaism and Jewish tradition. The rabbis taught that all men are equal in the eyes of G-d — if they do the will of G-d: the Talmud says "Whether Jew or gentile, man or woman, rich or poor — according to a man's deeds does G-d's presence rest on him."

2. Mormons call any non-Mormon a gentile; Jews are therefore gentiles to Mormons...

3. Just as some gentiles use "Jew" as a contemptuous synonym for driving too shrewd and sly a bargain ("He tried to Jew the price down," is about as odious an idiom as I know), so some Jews use goy in a pejorative sense. Relentless persecution of Jews, century after century, in nation after nation, left a legacy of bitter sayings...

Anyway, so much for goy. I then came up with a story, which parodied the story of “Guys and Dolls”. In “Guys and Dolls”, Guy Masterson is looking for his next poker game. In “Goys and Dolls”, Jerome Schwartzberg is looking for his Jewish identity. The story more or less evolved as I was writing the new lyrics. I was inspired by the music and used the lyrical rhythms to further my story. I knew what the ending had to be and then just wrote the lyrics to get there.

“Say Oy Vey” started differently. I wanted to explore the subject of older people being able to be romantic, too. My music maven, Marc Ellis, loved the way the music of “Cabaret” lent itself to “klezmerization”, so I set about writing the lyrics to the music of “Cabaret”, a show I love dearly.

Our next project is probably going to be a parody of “South Pacific” called, “South Passaic”. We both love the music. The story, I haven’t come up with yet, but I WILL!!!