Essay Questions

What is the paradoxical meaning of Judaism in the book For the Relief of Unbearable Urges?

A Jewish reader can easily see the irony of Judaism in the narration because of the religious insincerity which is rampant throughout the book. Those who believe in Judaism go to the Rabbi to ask for permission to engage in adultery something sarcastic. Judaism is a religion that in reality condemns adultery but it is ironic that men go to the Rabbi when they want to have sexual intercourse with other women. Consequently, the level of religious duplicity is rampant in the For the Relief of Unbearable urges.

What is the symbolic meaning of the incessant menstrual cycle of the wife of the Hasidic man?

The continuous menstrual cycle symbolizes lack of satisfaction in the marriage of the Hasidic man. According to the Hasidic man, he is not enjoying his conjugal rights because his wife is in a monthly period regularly. Therefore, he is moving to the Rabbi to ask for permission so that he can have sexual intercourse with other women to satisfy himself. The Hasidic man is later granted permission to have sexual intercourse with a prostitute to satisfy his sexual needs.

What is the key difference between religious convictions and traditions in For the Relief of Unbearable Urges?

People interpret faith and culture differently. In the For the Relief of Unbearable Urges, religion is interpreted as a belief system. However, this belief system is questionable and criticized because a person like the Hasidic man is going out of his religiously recognized wedding to seek sexual satisfaction from a prostitute. On the other hand, traditions are the way people do their things while observing societal customs. Therefore, various stories in this collection view religion as a belief system while traditions are how people behave to laid down communal customs.