Episode Report Card Deborah: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Jew Of Arcadia
By Deborah | Season 2 | Episode 10 | Aired on 11.25.2004
Glynis, Luke, and Friedman are sitting on some stairs, discussing what to get Grace for her bat mitzvah. Friedman: "I'm thinking ten shares of eBay. It's practical yet romantic." Luke wonders if he's insane. Friedman: "Why not? The Teitelbaums gave me ten shares of Halliburton. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving…" Okay, I'm back to hating Friedman now. Luke: "I'm not giving Grace stock." Glynis: "Ooh! You could give her a bran muffin." Luke looks up: "Why would I do that?" Glynis: "Oh, 'cause that's what you got me when we were going out. Except you were low on cash and I had to pay." Wow, it's a good thing she's moved on. I'd hate to see what she'd be like if she hadn't. Friedman: "Lingerie." Luke: "For a bat mitzvah?" Yes, her parents should really enjoy seeing her shaygets boyfriend give their daughter some filmy, wispy piece of underwear. Not to mention how very much Grace is not the Victoria's Secret type. Friedman: "Exactly! The lady is becoming a woman. Am I not good?" Should I answer that? Glynis muses, "The muffin was a little stale. I'm not bitter, though." Whew. Thank God. Friedman: "Is a moped too expensive?" Luke, fed up, closes his book and takes off. Friedman stands up and calls, "Dude…the Friedman knows what to choose for the Chosen People!"
Joan and Adam are at Skylight Books, researching Judaism. Joan might also be working, although -- not to channel Sammies 1.0 or 2.0 too much -- it can be hard to tell. Joan reads, "'In ancient times, some tribes marked the coming of age ceremony by having the celebrant kill, cook and eat a large animal.'" Adam doesn't think there will be any hunting at Grace's party. Joan: "Nah, she's having it catered. 'Becoming a bat mitzvah means a young person has become part of the community and shares moral responsibilities of an adult and is now of age to study the Torah.' Wow, Grace is going to have a lot of homework. No wonder she's flipping out." Adam reads over her shoulder: "'Studying the Torah is a gift, as it is said to contain all one needs to know of life.' That'd make things easy." Joan agrees that answers would be nice. She reshelves the book while Adam tries to figure out how to say what he's about to say: "Jane…um…before the summer, you know, uh…" He looks around. "When…you saw…you know, God…" Joan looks uncomfortable and clears her throat: "Adam…" He apologizes, but persists: "If there's anything you ever heard that can make things clearer…you know, about death…" Joan rolls her eyes: "Ha! It doesn't work that way. I…it -- I mean -- it doesn't -- I don't -- I -- I don't have any answers, Adam. Look at me. Don't I look like the kind of person who needs the answers just as much as you do?" Adam turns away, disappointed: "Yeah, sorry, I just…" Joan: "Well, please…you promised me you wouldn't bring this up anymore." Cut him a break, Joan. He's hurting too. He's also desperate for guidance. At least tell him the stuff about how God doesn't appear to you; you see God, and how Adam might be able to see God for himself if he opened himself up to the possibility. ["Also, watch your tenses." -- Sars] Joan adds, "Besides, we shouldn't be talking about death. Grace is about to become a woman, and she's going to have a lotta homework, and we just need to be happy for her!" Adam nods: "Sure. Sure. Okay. I didn't mean to…" He leans on the top of the bookshelf, trying not to mope openly. Joan apologizes and moves to give him a hug, just as Shammy wanders past: "This is work-related, I trust?" Adam holds up Judaism for Dummies and says Joan was recommending a really good book. Shammy keeps on moving.