Life

Monotheism, Hollywood, Bagels … and the Tushy

By Dan Friedman March 19, 2009

What have the Jews ever given us?

OK not a banking system that is the envy of the world.

OK, not an education system to rival the finest of any culture.

But a movie industry that drives world fashions. And superheroes … monotheism … bagels … cutting-edge comedy from the Catskills to Sacha Baron Cohen. And, of course, the cutest word for the butt in any language: tushy. Fran Manushkin has just written “The Tushy Book,” a children’s book reveling in the genius of the word, from its daily utility:

Sitting down would NOT be cushy,
If you didn’t have your tushy.

To its ubiquity:

Tushies dancing!
Skating! Spinning!
Tushies racing!
Tushies WINNING!”

And, as with the finest literature there is a hint of mortality:

Grown-up tushies, firm or droopy.
Baby tushies, cute but poopy.”

It’s almost Shakespearian (if Shakespeare were a Jewish American with kids).

Dan Friedman is the former executive editor and whisky correspondent of the Forward, and is the author of a book about Tears for Fears, the ’80s emo rock band.

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