Would You Like a Side Order of Psychodrama With That Kosher Cheeseburger?

Because I'm going to get all Cres-catty on WWPD readers I just want to warn you that this post will contain a brief anecdote about a classroom moment in my U of C experience, which I assure, once again, will be short.

So in my Intro to International Relations class today we talked about the Cold War. Professor Lipson shared an anecdote about the scariest moment in his life: when, at summer camp during the 50's, they told everybody that Washington DC had been obliterated by a nuclear bomb. For four hours they practiced this form of pyschodrama on the kids and then told them the truth.

Anyway this of course, reminded me of my favorite pyschodramtic experience, which I dare say, was equally traumatic. During an 11th grade retreat to the woods sponsored by my school, we were told to gather in wooden room for a talk from a mysterious speaker. The speaker started talking about normal Jewishy things (I went to a Jewish high school) but then, it started to become clear that this man believed in Jesus. And we was trying to convert us! For real!

I turned to my friend and said, "How awesome is this?" because it was really cool that our school was suddenly all about sharing new points of view. We even got to ask questions about Jews for Jesus and the man held up pamphlets. I know, not the most exciting thing in the world. But when you are stuck with people for like an entire weekend and it is cold, well this starts to seem interesting.

ALAS...at the very end it was revealed that this guy was really an Orthodox Jew masquerading as a Jews for Jesus to teach us An Important Lesson about cults, how they are bad, blah blah. I was like totally outraged at the dishonesty of this...for like ten minutes.Ten minutes later they showed us some stupid inspirational clip from October Sky (not the Jews for Jesus guy but the Activities Director Person.) Jake Gyllenhaal and I "met" for the very first time and I, for a moment there, I decided that I liked the woods a lot and that Orthodox Jews who dress up Jews for Jesus people weren't evil at all but good, wonderful people who care about me. Then as soon as he appeared, Jake was gone and so was my goodwill.