Study Guide

This Is Where I Leave You Chapter 30

Chapter 30

It's Saturday (a.k.a. the Sabbath) so the shiva is suspended. Instead, the family must go to temple for Mort's memorial service. Judd, not having any nice clothes, wears one of his father's suits.
As is tradition for these memorial services, the family of the deceased reads a passage in Hebrew to the congregation. Although Judd isn't religious—and doesn't understand Hebrew, for that matter—the ritual is pretty moving. They sit back down and the service continues.
Judd fiddles through his pockets and is shocked to find a joint of marijuana. (Remember, Dad's suit.) He shows it to Phillip and the two brothers slip away to find a private spot. To, you know, smoke it.
They end up in a classroom at the adjacent Hebrew school. Paul shows up soon after.
This rare moment of brother bonding is rudely interrupted by the wailing of the fire alarm and the whirring of the emergency sprinklers overhead.
They slip out and try to blend in with the crowd. Of course, they're the only ones who are soaking wet, but you have to make lemonade out of lemons, right? Luckily, they get away before the fire department shows up.

This is a premium product