Subject: Re: Cheever and Salinger
From: Jim Rovira (jrovira@drew.edu)
Date: Fri Jun 21 2002 - 14:46:03 EDT
Seems like Margaret Salinger said that JD corresponded with a group of Rabbis
there for awhile until one of them asked him what his mother's name was...then
he cut them off. Makes me think he was curious but not committed.
Jim
Valerie wrote:
> From: "Will Hochman" <hochmanw1@owl.southernct.edu>
> To: <bananafish@roughdraft.org>
> Sent: Friday, June 21, 2002 4:44 PM
> Subject: Re: Cheever and Salinger
>
> > Judiasm is one of Salinger's least developed religious directions,
> > but I loved the way Cecillia could connect the kabbala and
> > "soulsickness." I am a Jew and think the kabbala is one of the most
> > interesting parts of the religion, but I don't think Salinger
> > explored Judiasm deeply and I've often wondered why. I wondered if he
> > ever mentioned the kabbala in print...maybe in
> > Hapworth?...dunno...but I think he may have grown up as a Jew with
> > something of an attitude to assimilate into secular culture. Judiasm
> > seems to be part of the Glass family, but it's never at the "lox and
> > bagels" level. "Down At the Dinghy" is the only story I can think of
> > that really focuses on a Jewish point in Salinger's work.
>
> Maybe Salinger was taught jewish religion when he was a kid ( I think he
> had his bar mitzvah), although I can't remember any reading confirming this
> assertion. But obviously he was attached to judaism: just look at the way he
> reacted when he was told that his mother was not jewish but catholic. This
> lie was a kind of betrayal to him, and in the same time, he himself became a
> betrayer to his own religion. Betrayer is not the most appropriate word, but
> I can't find anything closer to what I mean, sorry. Let's say he used to be
> an actor in judaism, and then, he was reduced to a spectator. Judaism was
> the only religion he had affective links with, I guess, and it was difficult
> for him to just keep studying it like a simple not-involved literate.
> Then, he has been interested in many different religions, as you know, and
> the fact that there are many of them proves that he wasn't personally and
> faithfully affiliated to any in particuliar. They were experiences to him.
> But they WERE not him. He 's still a Jew, even if he doesn't want to hear
> about it anymore, or if jewishness is 'passed' by the mother, according to
> the rules.
> Yep. That's all I have to say. Of course, it's only speculation. But honest
> and credible speculation.
>
> I'm going back to my shell.
>
> Valérie Aron
>
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