Mrs. Rooney. Here's an old book [hands Mrs. Lezinsky the book], but too good to throw away entirely.
Mrs. Lezinsky [opens the book]. Fine, Mrs. Rooney! Such a book with pictures in it! My Benny's wild for picture books. Julius reads, reads—always learning. Something wonderful, I tell you. Just like the papa—my Solly ruins himself with his nose always stuck in the Torah.
Mrs. Rooney. The Toro? 'Tis a book I never heard tell of.
Mrs. Lezinsky. The law and the prophets—my Solly was meant to be a rabbi once.
Mrs. Rooney. A rabbi?
Mrs. Lezinsky. You know what a rabbi is by us, Mrs. Rooney?
Mrs. Rooney. Indeed, I know what a rabbi is, Mrs. Lezinsky—a rabbi is a Jewish priest.
Mrs. Lezinsky. You don't hate the Jewish religion, Mrs. Rooney?
Mrs. Rooney. Every one has a right to their own religion. Some of us are born Jewish—like you, Mrs. Lezinsky, and some are born Catholics, like me.
Mrs. Lezinsky. Catholics like you are fine, Mrs. Rooney. Such a good neighbor! A good customer, too! Why should you move away now, Mrs. Rooney?