I began to see that my problems, seen spiritually, were really my soul's plusses.

Discrimination against Jews can be read in Thomas Aquinas, and insults against Jews in Martin Luther.

Praying privately in churches, I began to discover that heaven was my true home and also that it was here and now, woven into this life.

I was not comfortable worshipping another Jew.

For some years I deserted religion in favour of Marxism. The republic of goodness seemed more attainable than the Kingdom of God.

Early on I saw the repression and idolatry of Stalinism, and when it cracked, I was open to religion again.

Pious XII was too neutral to mention the gas chambers; decent people like my own family were turned into devils by crude Christianity.