Richard Simmons died last week at the age of 76. Simmons gained fame for his exercise videos, in particular his Sweatin’ to the Oldies series. Simmons, having grown up in New Orleans as an obese child, went on to not only lose weight, but find meaning and joy in physical fitness. He shared that message in his videos, television appearances, live events, and classes at his exercise studio, Slimmons. He was born Milton Teagle Simmons to a Jewish mother, Shirley May “Sadie” Satin Simmons, but he was not raised Jewish, and he eventually became what he called an “extreme Catholic.” Why did Shirley’s Russian Jewish family disown her?    

‍ RichardSimmonsSept2011 by Angela George is licensed under ATTRIBUTION-SHAREALIKE 3.0 UNPORTED via Wikimedia Commons

A. Because she served gefilte fish at her seder that was made from non-kosher catfish.

B. Because she married a non-Jewish man, Leonard Douglas Simmons Sr.

C. Because she was a burlesque dancer on Bourbon Street in New Orleans.

D. Because she enrolled Richard in a Catholic elementary school, Mater Dolorosa, instead of the local public school.

E. Because it was her disgusting chopped liver that drove Richard to Catholicism.

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