University Musical Society

World Culture Series

A: I worked for several years in
public health on a government pro-
ject. The money ran out, and I
needed a job. I was offered a posi-
tion with Planned Parenthood of
New York City.
For many years, I taught oth-
ers how to teach sex from kinder-
garten to 12th grade. Then I went
into a program with Helen Singer
Kaplan at New York Hospital-Cor-
nell University Medical Center to
be trained as a sex therapist.

Q: Have your attitudes toward
sexuality changed over the
years?
A: I'm old-fashioned, and it's clear.
I believe in love and marriage, but
I also believe in being very explic-
it about issues of sexuality. That
has not changed. The questions I
get across the country have not
changed either. What has changed
is the vocabulary. People ask me
questions with much more explic-
it language.

A: I have a daughter who is mar-
ried and has two children. I have
a son who just got married.
Fortunately, I became known
and had all of that celebrity when
my children already were out of
the house. When they were small,
I was as uptight as everybody else.
I did my best and did what I'm
preaching.

Q: What is your attitude to-
ward explicit sex in movies
and on TV?
A: I think that they have a re-
sponsibility to also show some-
thing about contraception. There
should be a box of condoms in the
love scene.

Q: What has been the best ad-
vice you have given, the advice
that's had the most favorable
results?
A: I think to communicate. Cou-
ples should be able to have a good
working relationship with respect
for each other and an interest in
Q: What do you think are to- trying to work things out. People
day's most important issues of should not say immediately, 'This
sexuality?
doesn't work; let's get a divorce."
A: I think that the most important I'm not against divorce. I don't be-
issues have to do with sexual lit- lieve people should stay together
eracy. There has to be education only for the children's sake because
that combines the parents, the that will never work. But people
schools, the churches, the syna- should definitely work on a rela-
gogues and everybody. All these tionship.
groups have an obligation, and you
Q: Do you think we hear so
see a positive outcome of that.
Five years ago, we had 1.5 mil- much about gay relationships
lion unintended pregnancies. It is because people are more open
now down to 1 million, which is about them or because there
still too much but does show that are more instances of gay re-
lationships?
education has an impact.
A: From the Jewish position, there
Q: What have you found to be is no question that it is not per-
the most common sexual prob- mitted. They talk about men only,
lems?
not about women, but the women
A: They fall into two categories. are implied. That whole issue is
One is relationship questions — too complex for me to make a com-
loneliness, not finding a partner, ment on because we just don't
all those questions of the human know enough yet.
internet. The other category in-
volves more specific, physical ques- Q: Do you have a different
message for young people
tions.
Women are concerned about not than you have for older peo-
having sexual satisfaction, not hav- ple?
ing enough time to be sexually sat- A: I tell young people not to rush
isfied or engaging in sex in a way into anything, not to do anything
that becomes very boring — the just because somebody says, "We
same position or the same night of are all doing it."
the week. In our culture, for a man,
When they do make that deci-
the problems very often are pre- sion, they must make sure they
mature ejaculations or the inabil- are protected. I talk a lot about sex-
ity to obtain or maintain an ually-transmitted diseases and
erection.
how important it is for everybody
— that holds for older or younger
Q: Do you think most of these people — to be protected and to
problems can be solved if peo- make sure they know with whom
ple face them and seek help?
they engage in sexual activity. El
A: Absolutely. I'm not saying all,
but most of them if there is not a
physical problem. Once the urolo-
gist or gynecologist says that ft Dr. Ruth Westheimer will
everything is alright physically, speak before the National Coun-
then a psychosexual therapist like cil of Jewish Women as they cel-
ebrate the 25th anniversary of
me can be of help in many cases.
Kosher Meals on Wheels. The
Q: Do you have children of event starts at 6 p.m. Wednes-
your own, and, if so, were you day, May 21, at Temple Beth El
comfortable explaining sex to in Bloomfield Hills. For infor-
them?
mation, call (248) 355-3300.

Contem °rani a wish

mpression in Israel

Itzhak Perlman

In the Fiddler's House

A Klezmer Summit

featuring

Israel Philharmonic

The Klezmatics
Brave Old World
The Klezmer Conservatory
Band and
The Andy Statman Klezmer
Orchestra
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 8 PM

Zubin Mehta, conductor
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 8 PM

Hill Auditorium

PROGRAM

A new work by an Israeli composer
R. Strauss Till Eulenspiegels Lustige
Streiche, Op. 28
Beethoven Symphony No. 2 in E-flat
Major, Op. 5 ("Eroica")

Hill Auditorium

Under the violin bow of Itzhak
Perlman, In the Fiddler's House
beings together four of today's
world-class klezmer bands on
one stage, showing Michigan
just how fast they can bulgar
and freylekh.

Chen Zimbalista, percussion •

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 8 PM

Beckham Auditorium

With the magical intensity of a
snake charmer Israel's own master
percussionist cajoles an
enchanting array of rhythmic
sounds out of instruments usually
relegated to the orchestra pit!

liatsheua Dance Company
of Israel

Ohad Naharin, artistic director
SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 8 .M
SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 4 PM

Power Center

Choreographer Ohad Naharin's
hypnotic dance theatre ensemble
from Israel performs four works in
two Power Center performances,
fusing ceaseless originality with
eye-riveting energy.

Presented through the generous
support of the KMD Foundation.

313 . 764 . 1530 of University Musical Society

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