28B Friday, September 28, 1984 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS NEWS Continued from preceding page repayment should not be oblig- atory. In the jokes of the Jewish mar- riage broker Oring notes a conflict between Freud's sexual life and his scientific creativity. He was hostile to his wife's Orthodox ori- gins and to religious rituals — so much so that he reportedly con- sidered conversion rather than participate in a Jewish ceremony. Typical of the low esteem in which the Eastern Jew was held, the Ostjude, is the following: A Jew, noticing some residual food on his neighbor's beard, re- marked: "I know that you ate len- tils yesterday." To which came the reply: "Wrong, the day before yes- terday." A real appreciation of Freud's humor encompasses some under-. standing of the political and social milieu of the 19th Century. Some of the intellectual and profes- sional Jews who left the ghetto "The Jokes of Sigmund Freud: A Study in Humor and Jewish Identity," by Elliott Oring, Philadelphia University Press. 0 were surprised that they were still regarded as aliens, and that even conversion did not grant them the "admission ticket" they sought. The psychic struggles of men like Felix Mendelssohn, Kafka, Herzl, and Freud cannot be overemphasized. In 1893, even Herzl had a fantasy of mass con- version that he voiced to his two editors (both assimilated Jews). They rejected the proposal out- right. Under the liberal Franz Joseph, Freud too was hopeful of great op- portunities. However, in 1890, a manifesto by the students from the Viennese University stated: "Every son of a Jewish mother is without honor and refined emo- tion. He is dirty and ethically subhuman . . . A Jew cannot be insulted." What was more shocking was the wave of self-hatred rampant at the time. In 1880 a Viennese slogan was "Anti-Semitism did not succeed until Jews began to sponsor it." The malady of self- hatred affected many of Freud's colleagues. The Viennese Louis Friedman refused to have chil- dren so that "Jewish blood flowing in his veins may not be propa- gated." Otto Weininger, a bril- liant scholar, was so frustrated after his conversion that he com- mitted suicide a year later. We take note of Freud's own statement: "I was born May 6, 1856. My parents were Jewish, and I have remained a Jew my- self." Despite some surface obser- vation that points to this as affir- mation of his identity, the phras- ing reveals his inner struggle. The use of the word "remains" is indicative of prior doubt and ir- resolution. Apparently his Jewishness loomed as a handicap to becoming professor. Though he affirmed his Jewishness and was a member of the B'nai B'rith, he never took an active role in Jewish life, never actively favored Zionism, never accepted an invi- tation to visit Israel. He remained in Vienna until he was humiliated by the Nazis and ran- somed by Marie Bonaparte. His book on "Moses and Monotheism," in London, 1939, devastated world Jewry in their darkest period. Freud identified himself with Moses — not the son of the Hebrews, but the son of roy- alty. He not only denied the Jews the kinship of Moses, the primacy of monotheism and circumcision, but assigned to the Jews the Christian myth of deicide by the Jews "killing Moses." The theme was not a revolutionary scientific discovery that demanded the light of day even in the Hitler era. It was at best theoretical conjecture. The author notes some similarities between Freud and Herzl, both founders of new movements. Oring also notes similarities between psychoanalysis and religion in their zeal and enthusiasm. One may add to this their intolerance of those who will not accept their full doctrine. While Judeo- Christian doctrine asks you to atone for your sins, psychoanalysis confronts guilt at its source and by sheer intellec- tual honesty attempts to mitigate them. Best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year AARON & DOROTHY REITMAN Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy New Year Daniel T. Murphy Oakland County Executive Best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year Best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year Best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year THE GARNERS, ARNOLD, DIANE & JESSICA THE JOSEN FAMILY GRACE & JOE MATH Best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year Best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year Best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year SHEILAH GOLDBERG DORIS & ERWIN KEPES MRS. RUTH MENDELSON RUN AN AD. 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