I grew up in a largely Jewish community, to this day have Jewish friends from high school, and I am married to a Jewish woman with the ceramony performed by a highly reformed Rabbi.
The Jewish religion and culture -- like many other tight-knit social, religious and cultural affiliations -- can be a bit clannish, which frankly can be offputting at times. To be honest, at some soical party gatherings I have felt like an outsider, and traditions like marrying in the faith remain strong and personally disagreeable. But, to an agnostic like myself, my Southern Baptist relatives can be a bit clannish and offputing as well. As for the "Secret Jewish Conspiracy", it never really made sense to me.
The Jewish lawyer, doctor, banker, Hollywood mogul or landlord (and advertising, PR or marketing professional today) has been stereotyped, and, indeed, these are professions where members of the Jewish community have worked to establish careers. But what is ignored is the fact that for the better part of modern history Jews have been excluded from most aspects of mainstream industry and political power. How many Jews sit on Corporate 500 boards, even today? A drive for financial success is a part of the culture, which, along with a continual drive for higher education, are hard to really argue against -- particularly with the cultural adaptations necesssitated from the diaspora days. If other doors are closed you go to where you are allowed the oportunity to get ahead. On a personal level, I got my first job in PR after college on the recommendation of a Jewish instructor in my crisis management class to one of her professional clients actually. I'm sure there were Jewish students in the class she could have recommended in my place, but she judged me on my effortsn in class and not my religion.
Even though there was a strong Jewish population in the Norther Chicago suburb where I grew up (Northbrook), the real money (and social power) was In the WASP communities in towns like Glencoe and Winnetka. Hell, they even changed the name on half of a street in an upscale part of unincorporated Northbrook when a Jewish family moved in.
As for the stereotypes in general, I know gentiles who are cheaper than any Jew I know, and I know Jews who are as generous as any gentile I know. I know some Jewish men who are rather arrogant and perhaps a bit bigoted, but I would be hard pressed to say anymore so than the rest of society (though some of my wive's Jewish girlfriends actually seem to believe this stereotype as well). I also know many Jewish men who are as easy-going and accepting as anyone I've known. I have found that if you give as good as you take, you gain the respect of confrontational personal styles. Or just ignore them and get along with life.
MrFish, I don't know what you have experienced in your life -- it does seem this is based on personal experience as opposed to some upbringing issue or indoctrination. I can imagine that ego and aggression are common among exec's in the ad agency world and that your Jewish experience might have been a bit tainted by the influence of a few. I hope you someday encounter the positive aspects of the community.
As for Israel, I have long (well over a decade) supported a more multi-lateral approach to Israeli/Palestinian relations. The Palestinians are here to stay and so is Israel. Both seem to be playing some territorial end game, trying to wear each other down with calculated provocations, to have the best deal in place on the day a Palestinian state comes into existance. Frankly, I'm tired of it but far less so, I imagine, than the majority of Israelis and Palestinians. After we take care of the Bin Laden organization, if this doesn't turn into World War 3 in the meantime, I believe we need to help find a fair solution for both sides -- then move on as a country.
The Israeli lobby has been very successful at promoting its positions through voting blocks and campaign financing. They also yield the "anti semitism" card with considerable effectiveness at muting criticism -- deserved or not. However, I have long wondered why the pro-palestinian block has so totally failed to get organized over the years. There has been no conspiracy keeping them down, just a very belated understanding (it was starting to come together before Sept. 11) of how to win friends and influence people in Washington.
Charon
[ 10-24-2001: Message edited by: Charon ]
