Quotes about Spirituality

A longing for things material is an instrument by which one may approach the love of God; even through coarse desires one may come to love the Creator.

To be a Jew is to affirm the world without being enslaved to it; to be a part of civilization and to go beyond it; to conquer space and to sanctify time. Judaism is the art of surpassing civilization, sanctification of time, sanctification of history. Civilization is on trial. Its future will depend upon how much of the Sabbath will penetrate its spirit.

Just as the Shechinah is in exile, so is the Torah in exile.

Ye shall kindle no fire—not even the fire of righteous indignation.

The great dream of Judaism is not to raise priests, but a people of priests; to consecrate all men, not only some men.

Judaism is God's quest for man.

It is not utility that we seek in religion but eternity.

Thus Judaism is based upon a minimum of revelation and a maximum of interpretation, upon the will of God and upon the understanding of Israel.

Six days a week the spirit is alone, disregarded, forsaken, forgotten.

The obligation falls upon us to foster in ourselves the sensibilities that modernity has suppressed or even denigrated. ... Without awe, our lives are impoverished, our society decays.

The Torah is primarily divine ways rather than divine laws.

The plea is not to obey what He wills but to do what He is.