A Cardiac Jew

by Jim Shankman

In the spring of 1970 in suburban Chicago, Howie Shapiro, the family gonif, needs fifty thousand to keep his business afloat. He asks his brothers Morry, the old socialist and Shelly, the country club Republican, but they are understandably skeptical. Morry wants to sell the old family business, which their father put in his hands, but he needs everyone’s permission. Howie and Helen are flamboyantly...

In the spring of 1970 in suburban Chicago, Howie Shapiro, the family gonif, needs fifty thousand to keep his business afloat. He asks his brothers Morry, the old socialist and Shelly, the country club Republican, but they are understandably skeptical. Morry wants to sell the old family business, which their father put in his hands, but he needs everyone’s permission. Howie and Helen are flamboyantly separated and their sixteen year old daughter Dinah is basically home alone. One night Shelly’s son Michael sneaks in Dinah’s window. He’s been involved in a bombing on his college campus needs to go underground.

Family grudges, love affairs, business ethics, the sins of the past and the War in Vietnam all interweave in the story of one Jewish family’s struggles with the social issues of the day when Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia and the Kent State killings were tearing the country apart.

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A Cardiac Jew

Recommended by

  • Cheryl Bear: A Cardiac Jew

    Will the family business survive and how will they sort through all the baggage involved as outward turmoil tears the county apart? Well done.

    Will the family business survive and how will they sort through all the baggage involved as outward turmoil tears the county apart? Well done.

Character Information

6 men, 2 women
  • Dinah Shapiro
    Howie and Helen’s daughter. 16 or so. Very aware. A caregiver.
    Character Age
    sixteen
    Character Gender Identity
    Female
  • Michael Shapiro
    Shelly’s son. Grad Student. Politically self-righteous. A decent young man caught up in his times.
    Character Age
    early 20's
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Dr. Rosenthal
    In love with Helen. Well meaning. Out of his depth.
    Character Age
    40's
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Ben Shaprio
    Grandfather, 75, came to America as a young man. Has seen a lot. Dealing with the infirmities of old age including memory issues.
    Character Age
    75
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Morry Shapiro
    Oldest son. Mid 50’s. Middle-aged remains of a dreamer and idealist.
    Character Age
    mid 50's
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Shelly Shapiro
    Middle son. The Country Club Republican. Early 50’s

    Character Age
    early 50's
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Howie Shapiro
    Youngest son. A hustler, a gonif. Late 40’s
    Character Age
    late 40's
    Character Gender Identity
    Male
  • Helen Shapiro
    Married to Howie. Educated, liberated, opinionated, hides her fragility.
    Character Age
    mid 40's
    Character Gender Identity
    Female