Yom Kippur a Go-Go: A Memoir

by Matthue Roth

Yom Kippur A Go-Go is a mind-blowing meeting of pop culture, Orthodox faith, and hipster poetics. Matthue Roth is an American original: an Orthodox Jew who cites Outkast and Michelle Tea among his influences, who won’t touch a light switch on Shabbos but mimics a screaming orgasm onstage while reading his paean to Orthodox girls.

From the World Bank riots (what can you do when the revolution starts on Shabbos?) to Thursday night tranny basketball in San Francisco’s Dolores Park, Matthue takes readers on a journey among the queer and hip streets of urban America in his exuberant memoir, Yom Kippur a Go-Go. With humor and insight, Roth describes the tension between contemporary life and the demands of faith. He falls in love and in lust with a panoply of girls, both strictly kosher and determinedly secular, to the accompaniment of MP3 rabbinical lectures on modesty (“Boys are nothing but perverts and filthy animals!”).

Genres: Memoir, Jewish, Nonfiction, Judaism, Religion, Queer

268 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 2005

About the author

Matthue's book My First Kafka was called "eerie and imaginative" by The New Yorker) and "creepy cute" by Wired. He's also written a bunch of other books, most recently Rules of My Best Friend's Body. He's also written for Sesame Street, and by day he writes games for Google. He lives in Brooklyn with his family, and he keeps a secret diary at www.matthue.com.

Reviews

[La · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

This isn't going to be the kind of review where I tell you everything that happened like I was writing a book report (except to say that the notes are as precious as the rest. So read them, even if you don't need the definitions.)

This is the kind of book that makes you want to write to the author directly and tell him all the thoughts and feelings that happened as you were reading. Which I may actually do. Because I loved this book so hard. It is impossible not to completely adore Matthue, both as the author and as the character. He made me want to give him a big dykey snuggle, while at the same time giving me some serious Jewish inspiration (...Yidspiration?)
He treats the other characters with such tenderness and grace. Even the guy who picked him up after getting gassed at the protest got a name. He got to be a real person just as all the other characters were complete people within the context of the story, even if they existed for only a few sentences. And his prose are delightful to read, well written and gritty. Punk, not sloppy.

Matthue Roth carves out place for queer, straight, observant Jews, and it fills me with wonder and gratitude.

There is absolutely nothing about this book that isn't 100% lovable. And I eagerly await future novel length books from him.

[Julian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my 2nd time reading this memoir of an Orthodox Jew who finds himself immersed in the world of queer San Francisco and the slam poetry scene, and I still loved it. My roommate found some of the author's actions/thoughts troubling, especially when it came to his relationships with women, and I don't disagree with her, but for me, when it comes to memoirs, I really am a sucker for any memoir that's really well-written and gives a glimpse into a person's life that's both honest and reflective. And Matthue's life is fascinating to boot. So it still gets all 5 stars from me. I suppose it doesn't help that I'm somewhat fascinated by Orthodox Jewish culture.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not at all what I was expecting, but I found it fascinating. I'm not Orthodox, but I am Jewish. A lot of the issues that Matthue Roth had with being Orthodox at college and in San Francisco's queer community are issues that young American Jews deal with all the time. How do you reconcile the demands of observing Jewish laws and customs with contemporary life? Great read. Funny, engaging, and some beautiful writing.

[Elliot Ratzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roth’s memoir covers his post-college time living in San Francisco negotiating his punk-rock, queer-friendly, poetry-slamming cuteness with his new-found Orthodox Judaism. As in his young adult novel “Never Mind the Goldbergs” Orthodox observance is framed as another form of punk cool—a Jewish form of “straight-edge”. Roth shows how a kosher lifestyle is compatible with (most of) the secular queer-friendly world. Like many scenesters, Roth comes from the middle class which has given him the gumption to try to make a living off of poetry in expensive and expansive Bay Area in the 2000s, and the character and creativity that can come from privilege. Making smart, agile hipsters is what Jewish suburbs do well. There are two chapters I would assign in an off-beat Intro to Judaism course: “Battlefront” which is about the author’s managing his Orthodox Judaism and his involvement in protest culture and “Gay Shabbos” where a group of Chabadniks sponsor a “Shabbos without Borders” for gay men.

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was good, but I don't know if I would call it a memoir. Well, I would at least like to believe that it's not all true.

[Erich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthue Roth has been one of my favorite young writers ever since I was given a screenplay he wrote about a girl coming of age at the time of Obama's election. I immediately became a champion on the set for holding on to as much of his original screenplay as possible.

He is funny without being wry or silly, smart without sounding like he knows it, and original without feeling like he is working at it...he knows how to write a good sentence (without sounding practiced)...and how to tell a damn good story. Every time I read a work of his, I find myself returning to it for sheer pleasure, and no doubt I'll be coming back to this one again and again...

[Claire DM · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up for being unique, rare, interesting perspective, if not always entirely believable as a memoir. Structured more as tied vignettes or connected short stories than a memoir, it was highly readable and enjoyable.

[Wealhtheow · Rating 2 out of 5]

A memoir about pursuing poetry, punk rock and Orthodox Judaism. I really liked this book, and Matthue, to begin with, but as time went on I get a bit bothered by his dealings with girls. Specifically, his desire to have relationships without touching—even hand holding is supposed to be out. He’s a cool guy—articulate, passionate and clearly a deep thinker—and I liked his friends and their oddities. In the end, though, I was still uncomfortable with his faith, and sad that he put so much effort into praying every day and so little in convincing the more conservative members of his synagogue that being queer was ok.

[Mindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating look at how one can be part of two worlds (or perhaps truly belong to neither) when one's values and lifestyle are in competition. Perhaps since I was raised in a strict religion, I related to the struggle more than others might. Nonetheless, I recommend it for anyone interested in seeing an unexpected side of Orthodox Judaism or if you like to read about alternative lifestyles.

[Arnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn't put this book down. Memoir of a period of the author's unconventional life. Honest and playful portrayal of his journey as a young Jew and writer/poet. He writes about what others wrestle with. Can't wait for more.

[sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

it doesn't hurt that one sentence of this memoir is about me (with a fake name, of course).

[Alvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is what the lives of all those spunky young people I see running around The Mission district are like. Sounds fun!

[K.]

I went to college with Matt. He is awesome!

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young and powerful. San Francisco from a completely different view.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like this book. Unfortunately, most of it is wasted on me because I'm not a young male Orthodox Jew trying to live in the modern world. So bye bye. Abandoned.

[Kris]

Fun!

[Shoshanah Smyser · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is possibly the worst memoir I have ever read. I can't believe I read the whole thing. A real snorer!

[Joey Gremillion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best, most engaging memoir I have read. Roth's journey through D.C, San Francisco and Hasidism, to discover his Jewish voice is breathtaking.

[Sara Goldenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it very much. It was fresh and colorful and a fun book. I'll read more by this author gladly !!!