'"I liked the Jewish jokes," she says.
"Oh, it's OK", I say. "I'm allowed to make them."
Her eyes light up.
And so it all begins.'
When Max meets Eliana, a dazzling modern Orthodox Jewish girl, in a bar in Edinburgh one night, he never expected it to kickstart an agonising identity crisis. While their connection is instant and deep, Max discovers a devastating truth: that despite his upbringing, to millions around the world, including the girl he's fallen for, he is deemed non-Jewish.
Determined to build a future with her, comedian and writer (and uncircumcised liberal Jew) Max Olesker embarks on one of the world's most demanding religious conversion processes. He attempts to navigate the dizzying complexities of Jewish law, the challenges of maintaining a relationship without physical contact, and the looming prospect of a date with a scalpel. From moving into the home of an Orthodox family for eight months to enduring gruelling interrogations by a high court of Rabbis, Max's journey is a rollercoaster of humour, heartbreak, and self-discovery.
A hilarious and moving true account of one man's quest to marry the love of his life, Making the Cut will make you laugh, cry, and believe in the transformative power of love.
| ISBN: | 9781529951721 |
| Publication date: | 5th February 2026 |
| Author: | Max Olesker |
| Publisher: | Ebury Press an imprint of Ebury Publishing |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 320 pages |
| Genres: |
Memoirs Orthodox Judaism Religious mission and Religious Conversion Autobiography: arts and entertainment Dating, relationships, living together and marriage: advice and issues Judaism: life and practice |
'"I liked the Jewish jokes," she says."Oh, it's OK", I say. "I'm allowed to make them."Her eyes light up.And so it all begins.'When Max meets Eliana, a dazzling modern Orthodox Jewish girl, in a bar in Edinburgh one night, he never expected it to kickstart an agonising identity crisis.
Making the Cut features in the following genres: Memoirs, Orthodox Judaism, Religious mission and Religious Conversion, Autobiography: arts and entertainment, Dating, relationships, living together and marriage: advice and issues, Judaism: life and practice
Paperback, Hardback. £17.09, down from the £18.99 cover price. In Stock.
Making the Cut was written by Max Olesker and published by Ebury Press an imprint of Ebury Publishing
Making the Cut has 320 pages
£17.09, reduced from £18.99. In Stock.