“My mother’s parents came from Germany and my father is a German refugee who fled Hitler, so being able to be a Jew in America means a great deal to me. It also makes me very conscious that other people who come to this country should be able to be who they are too. Our family keeps as many of the Jewish traditions as we can. This evening [October 2] we’re on our way to Temple Israel for Rosh Hashana services, which marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur, a time for repentance and forgiveness, is next week. I do a Passover Seder in the spring, but it’s not just for our family. We invite other people and usually have more non-Jews than Jews. It gives people a chance to be together and see a little of what it’s all about. Being part of something that has gone on for thousands of years is very meaningful to me.
“The purpose of Judaism is to be as good a person as you can possibly be and do what is needed in the world. There’s a Jewish phrase, ‘Tikkun olam’, which means ‘Repair the world’. We take that very seriously. That’s the job of human beings: to be God’s partners in creation and to repair the world. After all, we’re the ones who broke it.”
“The purpose of Judaism is to be as good a person as you can possibly be and do what is needed in the world. There’s a Jewish phrase, ‘Tikkun olam’, which means ‘Repair the world’. We take that very seriously. That’s the job of human beings: to be God’s partners in creation and to repair the world. After all, we’re the ones who broke it.”
"At the age of 70, I realized there was still a 9-year-old girl inside of me who wanted to ride horses, so I let her out. I signed up for lessons and I've been riding ever since. I love it here [Southern Blues Equestrian Center]. I may be 74 now, but they treat me like everyone else."
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