The Best Boy in the United States Of America

A Memoir of Blessings and Kisses

Ron Wolfson

• Publisher: Jewish Lights
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781580238441
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religious Biographies

Powerful life lessons in a funny and moving portrait of family, community and spiritual discovery in America.Hilarious and heartfelt, Ron Wolfson's inspiring memoir is filled with stories of growing up in a warm family, encountering colorful characters like the merchants of Omaha and the famous Warren Buffett, navigating adolescence and learning never to underestimate his mother.With easygoing Midwestern humor and profound poignancy, Ron's "true stories" of family and community in the United States of America will resonate with anyone seeking to shape stronger families, create compelling communities and live their best life, a life of joy and laughter, meaning and purpose, and, yes, blessings and kisses. "I am the best boy in the United States of America. That's what my grandfather?my 'Zaydie'?called me from the time I was a little child in Omaha, Nebraska. I know it's true because this is a true story. All my stories are true.... "Zaydie loved three things: his family, his business, and his adopted country?the United States of America. I never, ever heard Zaydie say 'the United States.' It was always 'da United States of America, ' in his thick Russian accent.... For Louie Paperny, each one of his nine grandchildren was the best boy or the best girl in the United States of America. We believed him. I believed him. And in a certain way, I've lived the rest of my life trying to be that best boy." ?from Chapter 1

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Contents
• The Best Boy in the United States of America
• The Best Boy in the United States of America ... Except in Religious School
• Bubbie’s Candles
• Why Do I Do What I Do?
• Eat! Eat!
• Zaydie’s Seder Surprise
• A Tale of Two Bar Mitzvahs
• Missing Shabbes
• Never Underestimate Your Mother
• Tevye
• Mom
• Dad
• The Merchants of Omaha
• Louis Market
• Mrs. B, the Furniture Queen
• My Hour with Warren Buffett
• S. K.
• Der Rosenkavalier
• A Rabbi, Maybe?
• An Educator, Maybe?
• Wrestling with God
• L. A.
• A Dress for Shabbat
• Learning Laboratory
• Recipes for Memories
• Fiddler Redux
• Why Doesn’t Everyone Love Synagogues?
• A Vision for Transforming Synagogues
• Mrs. Maizie
• Life Lesson at AAA
• What Do I Do Till the Kids Say “I Do”?
• The Hope of God
• Keep Moving
• Saying Good-bye
• Mom’s Legacy
• Facing Mortality—Together