As retold by Bruce Lowitt

Morris, in Florida, calls his son in New York and says, "Benny, I have something to tell you. Now, I don't want to talk about it. I'm just telling you because you're my oldest child, and I thought you ought to know. I've made up my mind. I'm divorcing your mother."

The stunned son asks, "What happened?"

Morris says, "I don't want to get into it."
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"But Dad, you just can't decide to divorce Mama after 54 years together. What happened?"

"It's too painful to talk about it. But you can call your sister and tell her. It will spare me the pain."

"Where's Mama? Let me talk to her."

"No. I haven't told her yet. Look, this hasn't been easy. I've been agonizing over it for weeks. I've finally come to a decision and I'm meeting a divorce lawyer next week."

"Dad, don't do anything rash. I'm taking the first flight down in the morning. Promise me you won't do anything until I get there."

"Well, all right, I promise. Passover is in three days. I'll hold off seeing the lawyer until after the Seder. Call your sister and tell her. I just can't bear to talk about it."

Half an hour later, Morris receives a call from Sarah, his daughter. She tells him they've gotten tickets and they and their children will be arriving in Florida the next morning.

"Benny told me you don't want to talk about it on the telephone," Sarah says, "but promise me you won't do anything until we both get there."

Morris promises. He hangs up, turns to his wife and says, "Well, it worked this time, but what
are we going to do to get them to come down for Rosh Hashanah?"