Abraham Heschel

[Era Might]

Abraham Heschel was a very learned rabbi who was involved in the civil rights movement. I've read two of his books, The Prophets and God in Search of Man. I highly recommend The Prophets, a very perceptive and deep study of their experience and message. God In Search of Man is more of a philosophy of religion from the standpoint of "biblical man," things like what it means to live in wonder or amazement or sublimity, what dogma means in the experience of a people, etc. There's a good video on YouTube from a lecture he gave at UCLA in 1968. If you're a YouTuber like I am it's well worth your time. I jotted down below a few ideas from the lecture.

The major task of a teacher is to teach a student how to ask the right question. Who is man? This is the decisive question.

A question comes out of curiosity or lack of knowledge. A problem comes out of knowing too much.

If you don't have a sleepless night over a problem, then it's not your problem, don't think about it.

When you see a person, you see a moment, an occasion. When you face a person, you face a task, a presence.

Edited January 28, 2021 by Era Might

[Era Might]

Another (shorter) interview he gave in 1972:

 

“The meaning of life is to build life as if it were a work of art.”

“Without holiness, we will sink in absurdity.”

“To be alive is to be a contemporary of God.”

“Time is continuous creation and the present moment is the presence of God.”

Edited January 28, 2021 by Era Might