Jews seek to cleave to the will of God as set forth in the Bible and, particularly, the Pentateuch, with its rabbinic commentaries, the Mishnah and Talmud. Meir Soloveichik More Quotes by Meir Soloveichik More Quotes From Meir Soloveichik Humanity was created in the image of God; our love is a reflection of his. Meir Soloveichik reflectiongodlove-islove Bride and groom are not just two contracting parties but two loving and beloved companions, joined in establishing a home that will be nothing less than a source of immortality. Meir Soloveichik bridelovingnothinghome As with the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, the origins of Shearith Israel trace back to a small group of religious freedom-seekers and a treacherous ocean passage to the New World. Meir Soloveichik newgroupoceanworld Religious relativism is not the answer to disagreement between faiths; yet relativism, and a blurring of religious distinctions, all too often result when two deeply believing faith communities engage each other in the public arena on theological issues. Meir Soloveichik answerresultfaithtwo Throughout its history, the members of Shearith Israel have observed Thanksgiving by reciting in synagogue the same psalms of praise and gratitude sung by Jews all over the world on festive days like Hanukkah. Meir Soloveichik gratitudethanksgivinghistoryworld Jews focus on the Torah, the embodiment of God's will; Christians, on an embodied God. Meir Soloveichik jewswillfocusgod We know a great deal about the configuration of the menorah from the biblical book of Exodus. Beaten out of solid gold, the ancient candelabrum boasted six branches emerging from a seventh, its central shaft. The menorah was adorned with golden buttons, cups, and flowers. Meir Soloveichik flowersgreatgoldbook Traditional Judaism has always embraced the doctrine of the immortality of the soul and the ultimate resurrection of the dead. Meir Soloveichik deadalwaysimmortalitysoul Jews bear children not only because the carnal election of Abraham must continue. For Jews, raising children is essential to living a rounded ethical life. Meir Soloveichik livingelectionlifechildren I continue to dream of a day when my skullcap will not stick out so much. Meir Soloveichik continuewilldaydream I do work a lot on arguing that things which people assume are always wrong are not necessarily so and, indeed, can often be right. Meir Soloveichik thingsalwaysworkpeople The eternal link between Lincoln's life and Passover - the fact that Lincoln's death, marked in the Hebrew calendar, coincides with Passover every year - is certainly fitting, and perhaps even part of the providence that Lincoln began to see in his own life and the life of his nation. Meir Soloveichik nationseelifedeath We Americans unite faith and freedom in asserting that our liberties are your gift, God, not that of government. Meir Soloveichik giftfreedomfaithgod Judaism, I would argue, does demand love for our fellow human beings, but only to an extent. 'Hate' is not always synonymous with the terribly sinful. Meir Soloveichik humanalwayshatelove Rather than forgive, we can wish ill; rather than hope for repentance, we can instead hope that our enemies experience the wrath of God. Meir Soloveichik experiencehopegodwish The essence of a religion can be discovered by asking its adherents one question: 'What, to your mind, was the seminal moment in the history of the world?' Meir Soloveichik momentmindhistoryreligion The giving of the Torah is a story of God seeking to provide humanity with the opportunity to make moral decisions. Meir Soloveichik storyhumanitygodopportunity How can finite man commune with an infinite God? To both Christians and Jews, God himself has made that possible by irrupting into the temporal world. To Christians, God became man in the Incarnation; to Jews, the God that spoke out of the fire on Mount Sinai gave his Torah. Meir Soloveichik manfiregodworld To Catholic, Orthodox, and some Protestant Christians, communion involves partaking of the physical real presence of God in the bread and wine of the Eucharist. By contrast, the Torah draws the Jew into engagement with God's infinite mind. Torah learning is the definitive Jewish mode of communion with God. Meir Soloveichik learningwinegodmind The election of the Jewish people is the result of God's falling in love with Abraham and founding a family with him. Meir Soloveichik familygodlovepeople
