1 LettersbetweenJamesKirschandCGJung ByThomasB.Kirsch,M.D. IalwaysknewthattherewerelettersfromCGJungtomyfatheramong thepapersheleftbehind,althoughIdidnotreadthemcompletelyuntilrecently. Approximately5yearsagoIwastoldbyanEnglishwomansandplaytherapist, SashaRosen,whowasvisitinginBerkeleythattheETHinZrichalsohadthe lettersfrommyfathertoJung,whichwasasurpriseforme.Onlywithinthepast twoyearsthathaveImadeaconcertedefforttoobtaincopiesoftheselettersasI wasnotsurethatIwantedtoseewhatwasinthoseletters.Theyhadananalytic relationshipandIwasuncomfortabledelvingintoit.Thereare211lettersfrom myfathertoJungandapproximately41lettersfromJungtomyfather.Twoof theletterstomyfatherwereincludedinthecollectedlettersofJung,volume1, andapproximately16otherlettersfromJungtomyfatherarepublishedin PsychologicalPerspectivesinvolume3,numbers1and2,1972.Theotherletters fromJunghavenotbeenpublished.

d.MostlytheycorrespondedinGermanand thelettersfrommyfatherhavebeentranslatedprivatelyformebyUrsulaEgli. Thecorrespondencebeginsin1931andthelastletterisdated1960.Jungdiedin 1961ThelastlettersareveryshortduetoJungsfailinghealth,butthebulkof thecorrespondencecontainssubstantivediscussionofmaterialrelatedtoJewish psychology,Christianity,synchronicity,myfatherstranslationintoEnglishof AnswertoJob,discussionofmyfathersdreamsandthoseofhispatients,and manyothersubjects.Timedoesnotpermitmetogiveyoumorethanavery smallsliceofthecorrespondence.Ihavemadeselectionsfromtwolongletters whichmyfatherwrotefromTelAviv,Palestinein1934wheremyfatherwas

2 livingatthetime.Evenhere,Iwillneedtoheavilyeditthelettersbecauseof timerestraints. Letmegiveyousomebiographicaldatatoorientyou.Myfatherwas borninGuatemalain1901toafamilyofGermanJewishmerchants.Thefamily returnedtoBerlinwhenhewassixyearsoldandhewaseducatedinGermany, obtaininghismedicaldegreefromHeidelbergUniversityin1922.InHeidelberg hewasintroducedtopsychoanalysisandbecamelifelongfriendswithErich Fromm.HereturnedtoBerlintobeginapracticeofpsychiatry.Inthelate1920s heenteredaJungiananalysiswithFrauSussman,alayanalystinBerlin,after twoyearsofFreudiananalysis.Subsequently, he traveled to Zurich for analysis with both Jung and Toni Wolff, beginning in 1929.InOctober1930helecturedattheJung clubinZrichontheModernJewinGermanyandJungattended.Hewaspart ofaninformalJewishgroupinBerlinwhichincludedGerhardAdler,Erich Neumann,andErnstBernhard,eachofwhoplayedanimportantroleinthe formationanddisseminationofanalyticalpsychologyHebecameamemberof theC.G.JungGesellschaftinBerlinwhichhadbeenfoundedin1931.When Hitlercametopower,hemovedtoPalestine.HavingbeenanardentZionistin hisyouth,heimmigratedtoPalestine..Hesoonbecamedisillusionedwith Zionism,butatthetimeoftheselettershewasstillquitetakenwiththeZionist movement.In1935heimmigratedtoLondonwherehelivedandpracticeduntil 1940.WhenBritainsfalltoHitlerseemedimminent,heandhisfamilymovedto LosAngeleswherehepracticedfrom1941untilhisdeathin1989.Thus,he playedaleadingroleintheformationofanalyticalpsychologyinmany countries,butinLosAngeleshewasatruepioneer. Ichosetheselettersfrom1934becausetheyrepresentsuchanimportant timeinhistory,andbecausewhatJungwroteatthattimeaboutJewish

3 psychologyhasaffectedthefieldofanalyticalpsychologyuntilthepresent. PsychoanalyststothisdaycitethisarticleofJungsasthereasonnottoreadhim. InEuropethepresidentoftheGermanMedicalPsychotherapySociety,Ernst Kretschmer,hadresigned,andJungasthehonoraryvicepresidentwascoerced intoacceptingthepresidency.Jungagreedonlyontheconditionthatitbecome internationalinnatureandname,whichitdid.Theorganizationfellapartduring thewar,butthenwasresurrectedafterthewarbyanotherSwiss,MedardBoss, anditstillexiststoday.ThereJungmadehisunfortunateremarksonthe differencesbetweenAryanandJewishpsychology,sayingthattheAryanculture hadahigherpotentialandatthesametimeJewishpsychologywasdependent uponahostculture.MyfathersletterofMay7,1934iswrittenshortlyafterthe publicationofJungsarticle.(TheStateofPsychotherapyTodayinCW10 pp.157173) TheletterbeginswithmyfatherhavingfeltslightedbyJungwhenthey metinAsconaattheEranoslectures.Myfatherthenwrites,Iwasinformedof someremarksyoumadewhichdidnotindicatethatyouareafriendofthe Jewishpeople.Forinstance,itappearsthatyousaid,inanalysisJewsarenot honest,.ThenMr.Ballycamehere,visitedwithallcolleagues,andrelatedthat youhadopenlycrossedovertoHitlersside,thatyouwerereceivedbyhimand thusareanantiSemite.HisessayintheZurcherZeitungtitledGermanbred Psychotherapywasreadbymany.Theresultwasthatyourbookswhichhad beenexhibitedinmanybookstoresdisappearedfromtheshopwindowsand yournamewasplacedontheboycottlist.Yourdetailedanswerwasnotread thisgeneraldispositionagainstyouwasofcoursefabulouslyexploitedbythe Freudiansinanefforttospreadtotalsilenceaboutyouatleastinthisarea. Well,dearDoctor,therumoraboutyourbeingantiSemitismdoesnot seemtocometoanend.FromaletterwhichIreceivedfromGermanylastweek

4 IlearnedthatyouexpressedyourgratitudeinrecognitionofHitlersreformsat theGermanuniversitiesontheradioviaGermanbroadcastingstations.Ifthatis infactIdonotunderstandyouasaSwisscitizen.Pleasedonotinterpretmy letterasbeingaggressive.Iammerelyinterestedinunderstandingyouinthis regardandhopethatyouwillgrantmetheprivilegeofreachingsuchan understanding.Ontheotherhand,Idonotfeelunderstoodbyyouinthis matter.. AbouttheJewsyouwrite:Probably,theJews.willnevercreatetheir ownformofculturebecausealltheirinstinctsandtalentspresupposeamoreor lesscivilizedsocietyforitsdevelopment.Iamdumbfoundedtohearsuch anticipationfromyouhowever,andeventhepremisestosuchaprejudicedonot appeartoaddup.WhatyouarewritingcertainlyistruefortheGaluthJews.It seemstomethatyoureceivedyourpictureoftheJewsessentiallyfromFreud who,ofcourseisanexcellentexampleoftheGaluthpsychology. HereinPalestine(andPalestineisalreadytheintellectual/spiritualcenter} theJewsarelivingasresidentpeoplewithapurpose,selfreliant,andnotinthe middleofanothercivilizednation.Iwishthatyoucouldseesomeofthesenew typesofJews.. ChristisintherepressedcomplexofJewishpeoplebutjustasallthings changeinindividuallivesofhumanbeingsassoonasarepressedcomplex entersintoconsciousnessandcomesalive,inthesamewaythingscanchange collectivelyandalsocreativelywithourrepressedChristcomplex.Ihavea greatnumberofproofs(dreamsandpictures)formyconceptionthatthisChrist complexispivotalfortheJewishpeoplefromthisviewpoint,thepeculiar psychology,thepeculiarfateoftheJewsaswellastheantiSemitismhavetobe understood.

5 Ibelieveyouwillonlybeabletoconfirmmyinterpretations.Itisa questionofthecollectivestandstill,therepressionwithallitsconsequences. Alsowearenotnomads,butratherrestlesspeoplewhohavelosttheirliving Goddespiteallthewarningsoftheprophets.Weevenpronouncedthedreadful wordsaboutChrist:Mayhisbloodflowonourheadsandthoseofour children. IcannotimaginethatwhatyouwroteinyouressayTheCurrentStateof PsychotherapyiseverythingthatyouhavetosayabouttheJews.Woulditnot bepossibleforyoutopublishhereadetailedessayaboutJews?Icouldarrange foragoodtranslationintoHebrewtoappearinanexcellentpublication Pleaseexcusethissomewhatconfusingletter,butIassureyouthatIam writingfromtheheart.Wouldyoupleaserespondindetail? Withmymostheartfeltgreetings Yoursverytruly JungsresponsecomesonMay26,1934.willbesummarizedasitis alreadypublished.BasicallyJungexplainsthathetookonthepresidencyofthe internationalsocietyforpsychotherapy.HecouldnotleaveGerman psychotherapistsinthelurch.Abouttherumors,hedeniesallofthemandsays thatanyonewhowouldbelievetheserumorsmustthinkofhimas extraordinarilystupid.HehashadnothingtodowithHitlerordoneanything ontheradionorhashemadeanypoliticalstatements.Hedoeselaborateonhis opinionofJewsabouttheirinabilitytocreateaculturalformoftheirown.He thencitesthespecificreasonsforthat.Heisquiteopentothefactthatconditions inPalestineatthattimemayhavehimchangehismindaboutneedingahost culture.HeagreeswithmyfatherabouttheJewishChristcomplex.He

6 mentionsalsothatheplanstowritesomethingmoreabouttheJewishquestion incorrespondencewithErichNeumann.Thatsadlynevertookplace. MyfatherrespondsonJune8,1934withaverylongletterwhichIwill havetogreatlycondense. First,myfatherthanksJungforhisdetailedresponseandhiswillingness toenterintoadiscussionabouttheJewishproblem.HegoesontosayIhaveto admitthatwithoutitImighthavebelievedsomeoftheaccusationswhichwould havedarkenedsomewhattheimageIhaveofyou,particularlyinviewofthefact asMissWolfftoldmeoncethatifyouhadbeenGermanyouwouldhavevoted fortheNazis.IrealizethatIwasmistakenorratherthatImisunderstoodyou.I fellintothetrapofacceptingacollectiveprejudiceinacasewhereyouintended apersonalcriticismaddressedtome... However,Ifeltitnecessarytoinformyouoftheserumors,andsincethey producedareactionfromyou,suchasyourclearandunequivocalletter,agreat burdenhasbeenliftedfrommyheart. MyfatherelaboratesthefourpointswhichJungmakesinhisletterabout Jewishpsychology. 1)ThefactthattheJewsdonothavetheirownculture.Myfathergoeson toexplaintoJungthatbeforeChristtheJewshadaveryrichcultureoftheirown. MyfatherthenmentionsalecturethathehasgiveninPalestinewhichhesends ontoJungunderseparatecover. 2)NextfollowsadiscussionoftheJewsrejectionofChrist,andJewswill neveradmittothis,butthatmyfatherfeelsthisdefinesthefateoftheJewish people.Accordingtohim,theJewsandChristiansareshadowsforeachother. 3)ThenomadicnatureoftheJewishpeople.Myfatherfeelsthatthisisa consequenceofarepressedcomplex;namelytheChristcomplex 4)GreekantiquityhadagreatinfluenceonJewishpsychology.

7 Myfathergoesintogreatdetail,overathousandwords,toelaboratethese fourpoints. HeconcludestheletterwiththefollowingZionismisagreatexperiment inthatitsfoundationanditsmeaningisbasedonthefactthattheJewishpeople believedintheircreativestrength.Whethersuchcreativityexistsandwillgive theJewishpeopleanewimprintwillberevealedinthefuture.Istronglybelieve inthatandfeelunconditionallyconnectedwiththisexperiment.Tobean upholderandpromoterofaculturewouldnotgivetheslightestmeaningtomy existence.Iwouldprefertofindthetiniesttruthaslongisitgrowsonmypileof manure,ratherthandisseminatethelargesttruthofaforeignculture. JungdoesnotansweruntilSeptember29,1934.Theyhadmetatthe EranosmeetingsinAugustofthatyear,butpresumablydidnothavetimefor oneononeconversation.Jungfurtherdiscussestherelationshipbetween psychoanalysis(FreudandAdler)withJewishpsychology,notingthatitisJews themselveswhofeelmorecomfortablewiththereductiveapproachofFreudand Adler. ThelastparagraphofJungslettertomyfatherisamostpropheticone.I wouldliketoquoteitnow. Withregardtoyourpatient,itisquitecorrectthatherdreamsare occasionedbyyou.Thefemininemindistheearthwaitingfortheseed.Thatis themeaningofthetransference.Alwaysthemoreunconsciouspersongets spirituallyfecundatedbythemoreconsciousone.HencetheguruinIndia.This isanageoldtruth.Assoonascertainpatientscometomefortreatment,the

8 typeofdreamchanges.Inthedeepestsensewealldreamnotoutofourselvesbut outofwhatliesbetweenusandtheother. ThisstatementofJungistheessenceofpresentdaypsychoanalytic intersubjectivetheoryandpractice.Itcouldnotbesaidmoreaptlytoday. AsIsaidinmyintroduction,thecorrespondencecoversmanysubjects overmanyyears.Ihavechosentheselettersbecauseofthetimesinwhichthey werewrittenandthesubjectwhichtheydiscuss.Junggivesverycomplex answerstotheJewishquestion,andheattemptsacriticalappraisalofJewish psychologyatamostinopportunetime.WhatJungdoessayisthathehasbeen writingandthinkingaboutthissubjectformanyyears,andthatiswhyinspite ofwarningsfrombothmyfatherandNeumann,Jungfeelsjustifiedtocontinue writingaboutthisissue.Jungtalksaboutmanyofhistheoriesinaclearand directmannerwithhim.Therearemanyrichestomineintheletters,andIam hopingthatsomeonewithaknowledgeofJung,German,andarchivalresearch willwanttoworkonthem.Forme,tohavereadthecorrespondenceandtosee thenatureofthecorrespondencehasbeenofgreatvalueformebothinmy relationshiptomyfatherandalsotoJungandmyprofessionalwork.