Ebay cancels ‘sale’ of Yiddishe Momma in UK

23 June 2010

The online auction house Ebay has removed an advert for a ‘Yiddishe Momma’ from its website for being in breach of its “human body parts and remains policy”, the British weekly ‘Jewish Chronicle’ reports. James Doyan, a management consultant, decided to auction his mother, Sandi Firth from Leeds, on Ebay after “having enough of her exploits in trying to find love”.

He placed an ad for the 63-year-old with the title: “My Yiddishe Momma for sale. Beautiful, great cook, educated, articulate, family focused, caring – priceless”.

On Monday, eBay had pulled the page with the explanation that it does not allow “live or dead people or human body parts” to be listed. Prohibited body parts include organs, bones and blood but human hair is allowed. It also said Doyan may be required to take a tutorial before being allowed to sell again.

According to Doyan, about 400 people had looked at the site and the highest bid placed was at GBP 1.60 (US$ 2.36). “I thought it was hilarious that they thought I was trying to traffic my mother,” he said. “I could have put her on eBay and offered the bidder a locket of hair because that’s the only thing you can sell. I’m done with it now. It’s taken up so much of my time. I got quite a few emails, some were perverted but others had lovely messages,” Doyan was quoted by the ‘Jewish Chronicle’ as saying.