Untitled - Memorial University of Newfoundland

Kavanaugh) with tba1 admonition. Jake bas shaved otrhis beard and cut otrhispaye=.
and upoD arrival snips his son Yossl's payu too. Jake bas more difficulty with getting his
wife Git! (Carol Kane) to assimilate: she is lIIXomfortable with Jake's request 10 lose htt
wig or kerchief, and walk about "in her own hair, like a Gentile woman". When she
finally does, Jake attempts 10 teat off this "'wig" in disgust at his wife looking like a
prostitute. I dUnk the most profound moment ofJake's assimilation is upon receiving the
news from the Old Country that his father has died, Jake attempts 10 say the Kaddish. but
cannot remember the Hebrew prayer, so that he is unable to mourn.
Ofall the Jewish motifs in the film. Crossing De/ancey is ultimately about
assimilation. Issy tries 10 impress on Bubet: how imponant her career is - how much
responsibility she has.. that she has Isaac Bashevis Singer's unlisted phone number - bUI
all to no avail. All Bubee can sec is that her only granddaughter is unmarried. Issy has
accepled the assimilated lifestyle. and the film juxtaposes both sides ofDelancey Street.
Issy is a modem Jewish woman: she is comfortable with her Jewish friends. going to one
friend's first child's circumcision (and lhal friend is equaJly modem. having had this child
without marrying her baby's non·Jewish falher). and yet has succeeded within her career
in the Gentile world. Issy unproblemalically moves between the two worlds. What she
sees in Sam (Peter Riegen). however. is an Old Country Ngrecnie." an immigrant.
completely naive aboul the way thin!:s arc in a modem New York.
But Sam. 100. is modemized. allhough he chooses the traditiona1lifestyle. In an
apparent gesrure ofmenlschlekhk/!.11. Sam demonstrates he is not quile as naive as Issy
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