By now, loyal readers know that Memoirs of a Good Jewish Boy is in the public domain and receiving good reviews.
What you may not know is that this book could have been released under a more mainstream title. I could have left out the one word that a growing number of uninformed misanthropes would have you believe is a bad thing.
I leave it to you to decide which word might elicit that reaction and just focus on the word “memoirs”.
Memoir is derived from the French word for memory, and this book is an exploration of a lifetime of memories, and the lessons ultimately learned.
All of the descriptive phrases including Jewish humour, Jewish culture, Jewish tradition, and Jewish identity, are just as relevant when the word “Jewish” is dropped.
IDENTITY AND FAMILY VALUES SHAPED BY CULTURE
Any child of first-generation immigrant parents escaping an autocratic or utilitarian society to start anew in a land of modern democratic values will face similar challenges. Integration of different cultures into a melting pot requires adjustment, receptiveness to new ideas, and some degree of assimilation.
And the stories of those transitions almost inevitably involve a litany of situations that can be hilarious.
The same is true of these memoirs.
One can easily replace Jewish tradition with Indian tradition, Jewish family values with Chinese family values, Jewish identity with Italian or Greek identity, because each of these things is personal, but how we interact with each other is the key. In fact, when asked in a recent interview, to define a “Good Jewish Boy”, my response was,
“Same as a good Catholic boy, but with more rules and kosher food.”
Every child is a “good” child until dark doers inevitably corrode the foundation of their understanding. But the journey from youth to adulthood needn’t be viewed as some great conspiratorial injustice. We all face challenges, regardless of station or status, and every one of us is playing the game of life with someone who knows the rules but just doesn’t follow them.
Jewish humour has been so relevant in entertainment because it draws from Jewish traditions and Jewish culture, all of which emerge from Jewish tragedy. And it is thusly that Jewish identity is formed and the Jewish family values are reinforced, in spite of all the nagging, guilt, and gefilte fish.
Ultimately, great successes and painful failures are equally manifested into mirthful anecdotes that punctuate our existence and connect every human being on earth to one another.
HUMOUR AND INDENTITY IN JEWISH TRADITION
All of the above statements apply extensively and expansively, regardless of religion or race.
Italians and Greeks have their own distinct cultures and traditions, some of which overlap and are altogether hilarious. Asians all across the globe maintain strong traditions and possess praiseworthy ethics and extremely admirable family values. They are just not as funny.
I mean, in general.
Like if you were listing the funniest brands (heaven forbid) by nationality, per capita, Jewish humour would top that list. Look it up. I’m sure it’s there somewhere.
The point is, that leaving aside petty generalizations like Jews being funnier, smarter, or chosen by the one true G-d, all of our stories are markedly similar in all of the ways that count most. These tales of self-discovery and growth are ultimately anecdotes to which every human being can relate.
Unless, of course, you are not human.
Are you?