Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 1 June 1962 — Page 17

Friday, Am# l* 1961

H» Notional Jewish POST and OPINION

Paranoia, Sex and Masochism Aspects of Non-Jewish Humor

Editor POST end OPINION: On April IS you published an article about three psychoanalysts who declared that Jewish humor was masochistic, paranoic, rooted in cruelty and hidden feelings of superiority. The writer gave several samples. On April 27 you carried a letter from Rabbi Goldberger who criticized you for printing the obscene "joke” given as one of the examples. Your reply was that there was no reason to hide the findings of top men in their fields simply because those findings were negative. I'm afraid you missed the point In Rabbi Goldberger's letter. He did not object to your printing the findings. He was criticizing the use of such a disgusting example to prove a point — and I must agree with him. However, I don’t see that the findings prove anything at all. If Jewish humor has sex • tinged jokes, despite the fact that Jews are a "puritanical people", howdo these analysts explain the sex - tinged jokes of non - Jews? Jokes about “cruel” wives originate with non - Jews too. Bob Hope once said that in entertaining troops in army camps, the jokes about stiff discipline, army chow, no liberty and mean officers always got the biggest laughs. Does that mean that ait the GI's were masochistic and

paranoic?

None of the examples the analysts gave seemed especially “Jewish.” From time to time the Sunday magazine section of the New York Times has published articles on jokes current in various countries. These too illustrate masochism, paranoia, cruelty and hidden feelings of superior-

ity.

Dr. Greenwald, in the Post art icle, points out that “the self critical aspects of Jewish humor strike home with people of all faiths.” Isn’t this a contradiction? If it strikes home with people of all faiths, then self - criticism ceases to be a specifically Jewish aspect of humor! These analysts may be top men in their fields but what you call the "reality” they uncovered, sounds to me like a sweeping generality. I beg to differ with the distinguished gentlemen with a sweeping generality of my own. The character traits they ascribe to Jews are really universal. Humor of every kind is also universal. I feel it is a healthy — not neurotic — sigu for people to laugh at themselves or their environment. It’s the comic relief, the safety-valve. If Jews are still able to laugh at themselves — considering the pretty grim periods oi their history it shows a supreme kind of courage. . EVE JACOBS Brooklyn, N. Y.

Article Rapping Rabbis Geared For Nazi Rag ; Der Stuermer'

Editor POST and OPINION As a reader of your fine paper for many years I think it proper in the public interest to express my opinion about "the Rabbis” criticized so often in your paper. If Mr. A or Mr. B does not agree with the rabbi of his congregation he must not write against all the rabbis such sentences as "Rabbis now discuss their latest bowling average or golf handicap. But not Judaism or Jewish ethics.” (Nat. J. Post, May 18. 15). Further, your article in the game issue "Madison Ave. Formula Invades Jewish Pulpits” is anything but just to the American Rabbinate. I quote only a few lines: “You carried a letter from a Rabbi wherein he pleaded for security — job security, economic aecurity. Is that all that is needed today?” The author of the article does not consider rabbis human beings according to this statement. Every human being wants a certain degree of security In order to maintain his human dig-

nity. Every religious group in the U.S. has a national organization securing a certain degree of security for its ministers and spiritual leaders, but we Jews don’t have one. Further, we read "The pulpit has been used by Rabbis to demand membership on the Board, to insult American Jewry etc." This could be prevented by proper censorship of the sermons. It is a pity the author advises our Jews to "go elsewhere to satisfy their religious cravings.” It would be much better if your fine Jewish Post and Opinion would send him a list of our Rabbinical literature in order to give him a true picture of Jewish life, of Jewish ideas and of Jewish ethics. Finally I wish to remark that the whole article of Mr. Glasser would fit much better into the late "Stuermer” than in your worthy News Paper. RABBI HENRY GUTTMANN, Ph D. New York, N.Y.

Temple Courses Parallel Those Given By Centers

Editor POST and OPINION As an active member of a Conservative Synagogue, I wish to lake issue with the Rabbis writing about the relationship of Synagogue and Community Centers, as reported by you in an article on April 20th, under the beading "Centers Lack Spiritual Vision, Say Rabbis.’ The Symposium unfairly took the words of the 92nd St. "Y” director, Carl Urbont out of context. Mr. Urbont had pointed out ideal goals toward which the Jew-

ish Center should strive, and showed how the Center still falls short of these ideals. In the Rabbinical Assembly Symposium, these words, which were first spoken by Mr. Urbont at a meeting of Jewish Center workers, with a sincere intent to benefit the Jewish Community, were used in a destructive attack on the Cenuters. The Synagogues themselves, in almost every community, are giving at least equal time to the very courses and lectures on Art, Music, Cooking, Dancing, Sex Ed-

Dr. George Wise Defended as 'Gifted Son of Israel'

Editor POST and OPINION: I feel that I must write to you about the quiet grief of my sister and the inner disturbance which you have caused me. In one of your recent issues, my sister read a "news” article describing Dr. George Wise as a "Madison Avenue” something or other and further saying that he took two million dollars away from the Hebrew University but then returned it. Dear Editor, Dr. Wise is our step-uncle. We know him as you do not. He has labored for the children of Israel since he was a child because he is one of Israel’s gifted children. His wife is

the true daughter of her scholarly father, devoted to the soil and spirit that is Israel. We do not know the breadth and scope of his byways and battles. We do now that he has counseled with nations not our own, that he was awarded the Eagle Azteca by the Mexican Government, that he joined with Mr. Henry Morgan in reorganizing and orienting what is now the UJA after World War II, that he was chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University, that an auditorium on the campus is named for his wife and himself.

We do know that recently he hastened from Israel to spend • last few moments with his revered father - in - law and made it. These things we know from familial experience. Sir, I tremble at the trust you treat so lightly and betray. My sister, Mrs. Robert K. Wolf of Highland Park, Illinois, is one of your subscribers. I do feel that she could expect some breath of Kiddush Ka-shem in your paper. You have strayed and she is aggrieved for you, for Dr. Wise, and for herself. BERNARD DATLOW Elizabeth, N. J.

Denies Catholics Disown Jewish Converts to Catholic Religion

Editor POST and OPINION The Edith Stein Guild is not a secret society and has nothing to hide, not even from the Jewish press. Your reporter’s story published on May 11th, headlined: “Jews and Catholics Disown Jewish Converts to Catholicism” is bound to create much misunderstanding in the minds of many Jews as well as Catholics. Catholics do not snub Jews who become Catholics, as I was erroneously quoted as saying. While it is true that some Catholics are anti-Semitic (no statistics are available) your misleading headline and the misquotations paint Rabbis Should Tell How Good It Is To Be A Jew Editor POST and OPINION Sometime ago, Harry Golden, in an interview made this quote: "It is good to be a Jew, but the Jews don’t know it.” It seems to me that if our Rabbis would use the pulpit on this theme alone, in every sermon, teaching us, so we will know: and with this knowledge make us prideful of ourselves as Jews, w'e would have no need for books like Gelber’s “The Failure of the American Rabbi” (which I have not read). Where shall we go to find out how good it is to be a Jew and why? Why can’t the Rabbis teach us this at every occasion? Then there would be no question of job security or economic security for the teacher, as we would all be embraced in the greatest of all Mitzvos; the study of Torah, for a more meaningful Jewish life. MRS. HERMAN REBACK Vineland, N.J.

ucation, etc., for which Rabbi Schulweis lakes the Center to task. How then can the Rabbis criticize these programs when they operate in the Center? At this point, in the American Jewish Community, the need is for Unity and Cooperation. If the Synagogue can learn to use the Center as an ally to complement it in its spiritual tasks, we could look forward to a strengthened Jewish conununity. MRS. SHULAM1TH WEISMAN Schenectady, N.Y, -

a pretty black picture of Catholic treatment of Jewish converts to Catholicism. The actual truth is that Catholics are very kind and considerate and even fond of converts from Judaism or from anything else for that matter! Your reporter said there was one blonde girl attending the conference who "has just started taking instruction in preparation for her conversion to Catholicism” when actually, she has been a Catholic for some time. What I most object to, however, is your reporter obtaining his story by misrepresentation. He said he was from the Columbia School of Journalism and wanted the story for his school paper. In perfectly good faith, I even sent him some additional material and a photograph he asked for, to the name and address he gave me, but it was retunred marked: Unknown! He would have gotten exactly the same kind of cooperation and kindness if he told us that he was from the National Jewish Post. We have nothing to hide from any Jewish publication, as I said, nor from anyone. But we would appreciate reporters who want a story, coming to us in the same good faith they expect from us. I call this reporter’s style of deception: unethical journalism. LEON PAUL Jackson Heights, N.Y.

Editor POST and OPINION Ordinarily I would feel very honored to have an article about me on the Editorial page of your esteemed newspaper, however, the article "No Discrimination, Thank You” in the May 11th issue of the Jewish National Post, through some unexplainable twist, has reported the facts all wrong. You are right as far as the heading of the article is concerned, there is no discrimination in the chapel facilities in our state hospitals. If you will read again carefully the official release, which was forwarded to you, you will see that the Religious Center at Camarillo State Hospital has THREE separate chapels, and one of these is the JEWISH chapel. This chapel has a seating capacity of 120 plus an extension to accommodate anther 80 when necessary. It also

(Editor’s Note: We stand by our original story. Our reporter used a cover to obtain objective response to his inquiry. Viewing the facts from the above letter and Iron what our reporter found proves the justification of th< use of a cover.) Jewish Monthly Oldest Jewish Magazine in U. S. Editor POST and OPINION In an editorial in your current issue, you state that the Philadelphia Jewish Exponent “is the second oldest Jewish publication in the U.S.” — the American Israelite of Isaac M. Wise fame being the oldest. Just to keep the record straight, please be advised that The National Jewish Monthly happens to be the second oldest Jewish publication in the U. S. — and the oldest Jewish magazine in this country. We were founded in July, 1886, under the name, The Menorah, and we published a special issue last year in honor of our 75th anniversary. EDWARD E. GRUSD Washington, D. C.

has a kosher kitchenette. (Unfortunately we do have our fair share of Jewish mental patients in California. At Camarillo alone 420 out of the 6400 patients are Jewish.) By the way, our civic dedication took place on May 15th, with Governor Edmund G. Brown giving the dedicatory address in the presence of a fine representation of the Jewish Community in southern California; all proudly admiring the beautiful All-Jew-ish chapel. Incidentally, Napa State Hospital near San Francisco has also dedicated recently its three chapels. NO DISCRIMINATION iodeed THANK YOU. RABBI EUGENE GRUENBERGER Jewish Chaplaincy Service California State Department of Mental Hygiene.

California Hospitals Proudly Wear 'No Discrimination' Tag