Schmoozing: the Private Conversations of American Jews

Plot

Product Description
Jews talk about sex and money, intermarriage and Israel, gender and gentiles" . . . like having a funny, intimate, and intelligent conversation with one of the most astute observers of the American-Jewish scene."

SCHMOOZING discusses the attitudes, private opinions and behaviors of individuals in the American Jewish community. There are contributions from the whole spectrum of Jewry, from Chassids to atheists. Dr. Halberstam, remains relatively neutral and is very informative in his comments. He keeps the pace moving quickly, and conveys the information here in an anecdotal manner. Most of the Jews that are quoted, however, respond to an issue with an overwhelming tirade of self-aggrandizment, vindication and pomp. The book is divided into sections dealing with Jews' attitudes on a variety of topics.
Starting with money, Jews acknowledge their skills with businesses, but feel uncomfortable when non-Jews talk about it. Jews suspect anti-Semitism. Jews are also very self-conscious about their intellectual strength (25% of the Ivy League School students are Jewish, Halberstam calls it the "Oy Vey League"). Jewish guilt complexes, as personified by Woody Allen are looked at. In sexual behavior, Halberstam quotes a study revealing that Jews have intercourse with more partners and more frequently with these partners than any other ethnic group. Jews and Christians have completely different perceptions of sexual morality. Jewish sages have nearly without exception been married, but top-tier Western thinkers have (except for John Stuart Mill) always been celibate. The stereotypes of American Jewish men and women are discussed in this context. Here's something interesting about how Jews view their intellects and physical bodies: to think like a gentile is bad, to look like a gentile is good.

More controversial parts of SCHMOOZING deal with the American Jewish community's attitudes towards Jewish "traitors" and non-Jews. There are three groupings of traitors: the Jews for Jesus or other Jews who convert to Christianity, Jews who are anti-Israel, and Jews who deny the Holocaust. Noam Chomsky appears to be Jewish traitor #1 according to one of Halberstam's friends. Halberstam does not use the term "Holocaust" as much as he uses the more reverential Hebrew term the "Shoah." Jews have a strong suspicion of non-Jews. The Jewish community has had certain enemies. There is Hitler, of course, but also His Holiness Pope Pius XII and Pat Buchannan are hated.

In all, this is a great book to read if you are interested in popular stereotypes regarding the Jews. SCHMOOZING doesn't lean either for or against them, just gives anecdotes and comments. But sometimes stereotypes have a basis in truth.