I would agree with both Rabbi Waxman’s and Rabbi Grossman’s comments regarding Charles Murray’s recent essay in Commentary Magazine on Jewish brains. Even if his answers seem a bit strained, Murray’s article certainly has a certain grain of truth. The only question I would pose is what exactly is Murray trying to get at? Yes, there is much to be said for seeking truth as an end in and of itself, but Commentary is not some ivory tower journal, it’s a high-brow, popular magazine whose political censor has always shaded and shaped its articles. So what is the magazine trying assert? Great, so Jews are smart, maybe even smarter than everyone in the world. Ok now what? Is this merely a pat on our back (or our brains)? Or is there perhaps something more chauvinistic? Maybe a scientific justification for chooseness?
Most importantly, I find it interesting, but not surprising, that a magazine, which only a couple years ago was running articles in support of creationism has now become a great supporter of Charles Darwin. I guess Darwin is no good for public schools, but when it comes to Jewish superiority he is kosher. Murray’s piece is nice, but where does it lead and what’s its purpose? Honestly, I have no idea. Maybe Commentary would like to tell us.
Read the Full Debate: Are Jews Intellectually Superior?
Are Jews Intellectually Superior? Who Cares!
Monday May 14, 2007
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This blog is no longer updated and is closed for comments. We welcome your comments about Judaism in our Judaism forums.
Brad Hirschfield currently blogs on Windows and Doors.
Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of You Don’t Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right: Finding Faith Without Fanaticism. Listed as one of the nation’s 50 most influential rabbis in Newsweek, and a regular commentator on Court TV, he is the creator of the popular series, Building Bridges, airing on Bridges TV, and the co-host of the weekly radio show, Hirschfield and Kula.
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When asked by a Jewish friend of mine why I signed up for JDate, I did tell him that I'd rather date someone who is shorter than me than not my intellectual equal. So there's one ramification for you :)
Jews, Asians all are steryotyped this way. It is that both have had thousands of years of study in our families, and mass pride at the idea of someone who does well this way. Many others go for adventure, physical prowess, etc.
Altho both can be done together it is often that one type will be concentrated on. Education itself is usually not the goal-but use of either education or physical prowess as a way to geth ahead financially. Laura
Commentary Ragazine -- Ah, I know it well. I even contributed to it a few decades ago. Perhaps its most fabulous debacle was its proclamation that Communist systems never end. Hence the need for the perpetual cold war. Thank G-d that Prez. Ronnie ignored Podhoretz and crew and declared, "Mr. G tear down this wall." Then there is the Ragazine's decades long rant against homosexuals. According to Midget Dreckter, spouse to Normie P, have a special ability to instantly spot one and another. Midget never explained how she could know this fact unless she were a DikieWikie herself, but I think the Jewish Gay and Lesbian Causus of the World voted that Midget would not be alllowed to join us. Standing alone, Commentary refutes the notion that Jews are brighter (except maybe back in the days of my friend, Milton Himmelfarb, when there was intellectual honesty and literary genius at the AJC)