JustASC

Not to beat a dead horse (or scalp a dead  Nazi), I really don’t  get all  this Jewish infatuation with “Inglorious Basterds.” But we’re  hardly the first generation of Jews to have revenge fantasies. Here’s Rabbi Mark S. Diamond in the L.A.Jewish Journal, quoted at BlackBook:

“For me, “Inglourious Basterds” is a modern-day Midrash on the Purim story. With apologies to my traditional friends, I see the Biblical Book of Esther as an ancient Jewish fable of justice and revenge. To wit, what would happen if the tables were turned and we had power over our enemies? With all the merrymaking and child-centered focus of the Purim holiday, we tend to forget that the Jews of Shushan kill 75,000 of their foes toward the end of the narrative (Esther 9:16). Then they go out and have a big party to celebrate their success.”

Yeah, maybe. I see “Esther” as pitiful revenge fantasy that has long provided succor to an historically powerless people. I can understand why we embraced its Grand Guignol table-turning over the years, but with the establishment of the state of Israel, which shows the Jews can and will wield power in their own self-defense, I don’t get why I need Quentin Tarantino to make me feel more manly.