Making the Cut: An Unorthodox Love Story

‘“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 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.

‘“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 kickstart an agonising identity crisis. While their connection is instant and deep, Max discovers a devastating truth: that to millions around the world, including the girl he’s fallen for, he was deemed non-Jewish.

Determined to build a future with her, comedian, writer (and uncircumcised liberal Jew) Max Olesker embarks on the world’s most demanding religious conversion process. He navigates the complexities of Jewish laws and history, the challenges of maintaining a relationship without physical contact, and coming to terms with undergoing circumcision. From living with an Orthodox family in Hendon for eight months to enduring gruelling interrogations by a high court of Rabbis, Max’s journey is a rollercoaster of heartbreak, humour and self-discovery.

A hilarious and moving 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.

• | Author: Max Olesker
• | Publisher: Ebury Publishing
• | Publication Date: Feb 05, 2026
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Hardback
• | ISBN-13: 9781529951721
• | ISBN-10: 1529951720