Given the depth of economic calamity confronting millions, maybe the Jews have something to share with new legions of the displaced. When you’re an outsider, sometimes all you can do is shrug your shoulders and laugh, perhaps mournfully, but laugh nonetheless. Problem is we also often have self esteem so tied up in economic success that any blow to the bank book is a blow to self image. So to balance humor and catastrophe calls on all one’s ability to appreciate irony. If there’s any hope it may lie in finding humor in calamity. It’s been our blessing and curse for generations. We just need to update the model. Somewhere between Life is Beautiful and Annie Hall, we just may find the Jewish Stimulus of 2010.
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