Literature review 2: Soaring on the Wings of the Wind: Freud, Jews and Judaism

Citation: Kaplan, Robert. “Soaring on the Wings of the Wind: Freud, Jews and Judaism.” Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 17, no. 4, Informa UK Ltd, 2009, pp. 318–25, doi:10.1080/10398560902870957.

Summary: This article discusses the life of Sigmund Freud and his relationship with Judaism. Freud was raised in a jewish community in Vienna and lived in a Jewish community all his life despite considering himself a "godless Jew." He attended Jewish schools and was able to speak a moderate amount of Hebrew. Freud came from Hasidic roots, married a woman from Hasidic roots, and none of his children married gentiles, nor denied their Jewishness. Many of Freud's psycho-analytical theories such as his Oedipus complex, sublimation, and his dream interpretation actually originate in a book of Jewish mysticism called the Zohar. Many other Jewish people looked up to Freud as an authority figure, even a sort of rabbi because of his theories which were based in Judaism, despite him not being a practicing Jew. 

Author: Robert Kaplan wrote for the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry for several years. He originally gave this paper as a speech at the Nicholson Museum/Sydney Jewish Museum exhibition of Freud's archaeological collection in February 2008. He is also Jewish. 

Key Terms: Freud, Hasidism, Jewish History

Quotes: "During his period of professional isolation when he was formulating the radical ideas of psychoanalysis, he would go to the B'nai B'rith (a Jewish community organization) twice a month to play taroc with Jewish doctors, lawyers and merchant bankers at the clubhouse." (Ch 1, paragraph 5)

"He spent several hours a week for 4 years studying the Scriptures and received instruction in liturgy, the Torah, biblical study, Hebrew grammar and Jewish history from Rabbi Samuel Hammerschlag, of whom he spoke admiringly for the rest of his life." ( Ch 3, paragraph 12)

"There was a public Freud, who did not acknowledge his Jewish origins and a private Freud well-versed in Jewish customs and lore." (ch 3, paragraph 13)

Value: This paper goes into depth about Freud's life, and even his family history. It will help me connect the dots between Freud's relationship with Judaism and his theories, especially on dreaming. 

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