Suffering pulls us farther away from other human beings. It builds a wall made of cries and contempt to separate us.

I don't think [governments] use [religious repression ] as a weapon, they use it as a as a means of - of oppression. To stifle opposition. To mute resistance.

I belong to a tradition that believes that the death of a single child is a blemish on creation.

I'd almost say hope isn't what it used to be. It's very difficult today to be a teacher. I speak to children. And tell them, look, no matter what, you must have hope. You must. When I invoke Camus, who said when there is no hope, you must invent hope. . .hope is something that is not what God gives us. It's like peace. It's a gift that one can give to one another. Only another person can push me to despair. And only another person can push me to hope. Its my choice.

Some stories are true that never happened.

Abraham is trying to obey God, but not to kill. I feel that moment is one of the defining moments of Jewish faith.

All collective judgments are wrong. Only racists make them. No human race is superior; no religious faith is inferior.