# Rhapsody in Schmaltz: Yiddish Food and Why We Can't Stop Eating It - Hardcover

by **Michael Wex** (Author)

Bagels, deli sandwiches and gefilte fish are only a few of the Jewish foods to have crossed into American culture and onto American plates. _Rhapsody in Schmaltz_ traces the history and social impact of the cuisine that Yiddish-speaking Jews from Central and Eastern Europe brought to the U.S. and that their American descendants developed and refined. The book looks at how and where these dishes came to be, how they varied from region to region, the role they played in Jewish culture in Europe, and the role that they play in Jewish and more general American culture and foodways today.

_Rhapsody in Schmaltz_ traces the pathways of Jewish food from the Bible and Talmud, to Eastern Europe, to its popular landing pads in North America today. With an eye for detail and a healthy dose of humor, Michael Wex also examines how these impact modern culture, from temple to television. He looks at Diane Keaton's pastrami sandwich in _Annie Hall_, Andy Kaufman's stint as Latke on _Taxi_ and Larry David's Passover seder on _Curb Your Enthusiasm_, shedding light on how Jewish food permeates our modern imaginations.

_Rhapsody in Schmaltz_ is a journey into the sociology, humor, history, and traditions of food and Judaism.

### Author Biography

MICHAEL WEX was born in Lethbridge, Alberta and later moved to Toronto. Wex is the also the author of nonfiction books _Born to Kvetch, Just Say Nu,_ and _How to Be a Mensch (and Not a Shmuck)_, and fiction books _The Adventures of Micah Mushmelon, Boy Talmudist; The Frumkiss Family Business;_ and _Shlepping the Exile_. He is also well known as a speaker on matters relating to Yiddish language and culture and more general aspects of Judaism. He lives in Toronto with his wife and daughter.

**Number of Pages:** 320

**Dimensions:** 1.3 x 8.6 x 5.8 IN

**Publication Date:** April 12, 2016

## Details

- **Price:** 36.0 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 36.00 USD | In stock |

## Images

- Rhapsody in Schmaltz: Yiddish Food and Why We Can't Stop Eating It - Hardcover

---

> Source: [Smart supply deals](https://smartsupplydeals.com/products/rhapsody-in-schmaltz-yiddish-food-and-why-we-cant-stop-eating-it-hardcover)
> Updated: 2026-07-21