#judaism

Judaism lives not in an abstract creed, but in its institutions. ↗

— Berthold Auerbach

#creed #institutions #judaism #lives

Jews do not have to be Christians. Christianity is an offshoot of Judaism, but too utopian, too hopeful, too unrealistic a turn. ↗

— Michael Novak

#christians #hopeful #jews #judaism #too

In other words, Judaism is not Calvinism. ↗

— Chaim Potok

#in other words #judaism #other #words

We have no problems with Jews and highly respect Judaism as a holy religion. ↗

— Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

#holy #jews #judaism #problems #religion

If you’re an Orthodox believer, then what sustains this framework is the obligation that you follow. But if you live in a democratic, liberal world whose motto is: “Make choices and manage your choices according to what is good for you,” then there is a built-in tension between that which connects and that which divides. Between the material and the intellectual or ethical. Materialism is not a dirty word, but in this tension between the individual and the material on the one hand, and the communal and the ethical on the other, we are at the end of an age in which the material and the individual are triumphing. ↗

— Kalid Gilad

#ethics-and-moral-philosophy #judaism #materialism #otherness #progressives

Through the ages, many different groups have called themselves victims. Some came through wars and massacres. Some were slaves or minorities. But the Jews, who have always been victimized throughout history, don’t see themselves as victims. We see ourselves as survivors. The difference between survivors and victims is that survivors go on with their lives after a tragedy, whereas victims continue to wallow in self-pity. ↗

— Celso Cukierkorn

#money #rabbi-celso #age

You have to look at Jews like Bina Gelbfish, to explain the wide range and persistence of the race. Jews who carry their homes in an old cowhide bag, on the back of a camel, in the bubble of air at the center of their brains. Jews who land on their feet, hit the ground running, ride out the vicissitudes, and make the best of what falls to hand, from Egypt to Babylon, from Minsk Gubernya to the district of Sitka. Methodological, organised, persistent, resourceful, prepared... A mere re-drawing of borders, a change in governments, those things can never faze a Jewess with a good supply of hand wipes in her bag. ↗

— Michael Chabon

#judaism #change

There's a lovely Hasidic story of a rabbi who always told his people that if they studied the Torah, it would put Scripture on their hearts. One of them asked, "Why on our hearts, and not in them?" The rabbi answered, "Only God can put Scripture inside. But reading sacred text can put it on your heart, and then when your hearts break, the holy words will fall inside. ↗

— Anne Lamott

#christianity #judaism #scripture #faith

Do you know, the only people I can have a conversation with are the Jews? At least when they quote scripture at you they are not merely repeating something some priest has babbled in their ear. They have the great merit of disagreeing with nearly everything I say. In fact, they disagree with almost everything they say themselves. And most importantly, they don't think that shouting strengthens their argument. ↗

— Iain Pears

#blind-faith #disagreement #discussion #doctrine #faith

As for me, some days I believe in God, and some days I do not." Then Dodger said, “Is that allowed?” Solomon pushed the door open and then fussily began locking it up again behind him. "Dodger, you fail to understand the unique arrangements between Jewish people and God. ↗

— Terry Pratchett

#god #judaism #faith