Two Jews: A Purim Fantasy

I was once asked to give a talk at a luncheon of the Civitans of Atlanta, a very fine organization of the city’s movers and shakers. My Christian hosts were extremely courteous and considerate, even going to extraordinary lengths to make certain I had a kosher lunch.

The Q & A following my talk was far ranging, dealing primarily with Jewish practices and beliefs, about which they obviously knew nothing.

One of the questioners began with the phrase, “with all due respect,” which of course is inevitably followed by something disrespectful. True to form, he asked me, with profuse initial apologies, why it is that so many Jews have been socialists and communists. (This was long before the Bernie Sanders era.) I replied politely but firmly that his impression was erroneous and that he should recheck his facts. A few moments later, another gentleman arose and, protesting that he was only asking for information and not making any statements, asked me if it was true, as he had heard, that so many Jews seemed to control Hollywood, the financial institutions, and the media.

I asked him if he had heard the earlier question about Jews being communists. He said he had. So I asked him, how could Jews be both communists and capitalists? The audience tittered, apparently understanding my point. I then suggested that perhaps these two questions illustrate how certain prejudices — even when they are illogical and contradictory — affect the thinking of even the finest of Americans.