Summary

“Frida Boyelski’s Shiva” by Abigail Ulman begins with a short statement about how Frida Boyelski always wanted a daughter. Now, her daughter Ruthie wants to be a young man.

At first, Frida believes her daughter Ruthie is gay. However, Ruthie tells her she is not gay but transgender. Ruthie asks Frida to read a book on the topic, but Frida is unwilling to read it.

Ruthie is going to stay at her friend Leah’s. Frida does not want Ruthie to go, because she feels she will come back a different person. She asks Ruthie why she wants to be someone else, but Ruthie insists that this is who she is.

Frida calls in sick to work, then calls the Jewish Observer to put a message in the Bereavements section. The message states that Ruthie Boyelski will no longer be a gir...