Welcome to our first Wilshire Boulevard Temple Nextbook blog!!
David Mamet, the Pulitzer Prize winning playwrite, has never shied away from controversy. In this book The Wicked Son (Nextbook-Schocken, 2006) he wrestles with anti-Semitism and Jewish self-loathing.
Mamet begins by putting us all around the Seder table and grappling with the wicked son.
Who is the wicked son that Mamet struggles with in the book? What role does he play in the Seder? What role does he play in Jewish life? In your life?
Looking forward to your responses.
Rabbi Karen L. Fox
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I finished the book a few weeks ago, so I may have to reread the chapter to be "on the same page." But either way I'll give it a go.
Who is the wicked son that Mamet struggles with in the book?
Throughout the book I wasn't sure if the wicked son Mamet referred to was himself or his Jewish friends who ended up being more anti-Semitic than his non-Jewish friends. Perhaps it was both.
What role does he play in the Seder?
If I recall correctly, the wicked sarcastically challenges his parents, calling in to question the reason why they follow traditions. Why they care about their religion and why it's important. The wicked son didn't want to learn the answers to these questions, but rather to ridicule his parents and faith.
What role does he play in Jewish life?
The Wicked Son pushes himself and those around him away from Judaism. All the while longing to be closer to his religion without realizing it.
In your life?
I was the wicked son for a long time.
I grew up going to temple, being a part of Jewish youth groups and enjoying my religion. After high school I lost interest in my faith and culture. I drifted away from it. I belittled myself for being Jewish and frequently made self-deprecting jokes about my Jewishness.
Recently I felt a strong longing to be back in the fold, to be a part of my extended family. To be a Jew.
I never stopped being a Jew, would that even be possible? But I considered myself a Jew by birth, not by practice. I am intensely ecstatic to be a part of a congregation again.
Of course no two congregations are the same. I very much enjoy the WBT services and the enthusiastic rabbis and cantors. There is one thing I do miss though: Singing Bim Bom on Shabbat, I hope that's not me being wicked again.
=]
Dave,
thanks for your responses.
What do you think pushes American Jews to 'act out' the wicked son role?
What changed you to leave that role?
RKLF
(PS: I'll talk to the Cantor about Bim-Bam!)
What do you think pushes American Jews to 'act out' the wicked son role?
I'm guessing it has something to do with a longing for assimilation mixed with our Jewish humor's propensity for self-deprecation. Basically we want to fit in and it's funny and easy to be the butt of your own jokes.
What changed you to leave that role?
I realized that my Judaism is an important part of me, something that I cherish and something I look forward to passing on to my children.
PS: I'll talk to the Cantor about Bim-Bam!
Awesome! I love that song. =]
Post a Comment