Rabbi Mario Brothers!

"Luigi! Stop jumping on magic mushrooms and act like a member of Klal Yisroel!"






The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived: Jews are finally getting a yiddishe video game! (Okay, I wasn't pining away for this but you know someone in Brooklyn was.)

According to CNN, Manifesto Games has produced "The Shiva," a murder-mystery game in which protagonist Rabbi Stone is having a crisis of faith and his congregation on New York's Lower East side is losing members and cash. When he inherits a small windfall from a controversial congregant, Rabbi Stone must solve the mystery behind the gift and make sure it is not cursed. (emphasis mine)

Tee hee. Let's see what stereotypes about shul life were actualized in fun digital format:

-The Rabbi has a crisis of faith! He thinks Mr. Finkelblatt's wife Aidelah is kind of cute and can't stop fantasizing about shaking her hand!

-Murder! Mayhem! Shiva! Nothing like a death to bring a Jewish family together to fress!

-A shul that's losing members? Was there a machlokes? Which shteeble are the disgruntled ex-members trekking to (5 miles out of their way)??

-A congregant isn't considered kosher by one and all! Controversy in a shul! He took Mr. Melvie Farshookle's seat in the Wednesday morning hashkama minyan one rainy October morning, causing the elderly Farshookle, who had sat in that seat for 53 years, to plotz in shock and demand justice!

-$$$! Need I say more, sons and daughters of Shylock??

This is exhausting. Does this sound like a mindless diversion to you? Oh sure, it's all fun and games until someone chokes on a piece of herring!

My opinion: The game is only $5, but you'll need alot more moolah to pay for therapy to treat your Post Traumatic Jewish Guilt Disorder (the dreaded PTJGD)!