awls

Although ifs the brunt
of many jokes, quill
is not unique to Jews.

JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER

c)

38

elissa Levine, a West Bloom-
field wife and mother of two, can't
quite pinpoint the difference be-
tween guilt and what some refer
to as Jewish guilt. Often, she sees
the two as one and the same.
Sometimes, she feels guilty
about changing hairdressers or
cleaning ladies even though
they are not doing a good job.
It's just that they are such nice people.
This, she says, isn't Jewish guilt, "it's human
guilt."
"Jewish guilt is really harder to describe,"
Ms. Levine says. "I think Jewish guilt is emo-
tional, that's the best way I can de-
ILLUSTRATION BY
scribe it. It's like a parent saying to a
JEFF BOHLANDER
child, 'I care about you and want you
to listen because I know what's best for you."
And while Mrs. Levine acknowledges this
isn't a uniquely Jewish situation, she feels if
there is one distinction between Jewish guilt
and guilt in general, it's that Jews use it to
keep a family close.
Others don't see it that way. They say guilt
is universal.
"Jews don't have the corner on the market,"