I’ve come across a few quotations and Jewish Proverbs that I would like to share. Each one speaks to me in some fashion. I’ve also included some sepia photographs in this post. I took two at a Jewish cemetery, and one was taken of a synagogue’s exterior.
“A mother understands what a child does not say”. Jewish Proverb
“If the rich could hire the poor to die for them, the poor would make a very nice living”. Jewish Proverb
“Don’t be so humble, you’re not that great.” Golda Meir
“One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.” Golda Meir
Those who don’t know how to weep with their whole heart, don’t know how to laugh either.” Golda Meir
“A conflict begins and ends in the hearts and minds of people, not in the hilltops.”
Amos Oz
“Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds.” Elie Wiesel
“I find the family the most mysterious and fascinating institution in the world.” Amos Oz
“When you publish a book, it’s the world’s book. The world edits it.” Philip Roth
“And this is one of the major questions of our lives: how we keep boundaries, what permission we have to cross boundaries, and how we do so.” A.B. Yehoshua
“Traveling is one expression of the desire to cross boundaries.” A.B. Yehoshua
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.” Elie Wiesel
“I am constantly amazed by man’s inhumanity to man.” Primo Levi
“The aims of life are the best defense against death.” Primo Levi
“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” Elie Wiesel
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Visit Sepia Scenes to see more sepia photos from around the world.
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Thursday April 23, 2009 – 29th of Nisan 5769
Great shots, especially the first one. Fine quotations too.
By: ilanadavita on April 23, 2009
at 3:31 am
I’m deeply grateful and moved to tears by this post.
Deborah
By: Deborah Rey on April 23, 2009
at 4:19 am
Ilana-Davita: Thank you.
By: jewwishes on April 23, 2009
at 8:48 am
Deborah: Thank you.
Sunshine and peace.
By: jewwishes on April 23, 2009
at 8:49 am
Thought provoking quotes – thank you. And your photography is beautiful. The last one is so sad, though – it is boarded up, isn’t it? Where in the world were these taken?
By: rachel on April 23, 2009
at 11:23 am
Thank you for these wonderful quotes. I find “Don’t be so humble, you’re not that great.” (Golda Meir) to be the most comic.
And “Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds” (Elie Wiesel) is incredibly profound.
Would you speak to which one is your favorite?
By: Naomi on April 23, 2009
at 1:56 pm
Rachel: Thank you. Yes, it is boarded up. The first and third photos were taken by me in Leeds at Gildersome Cemetery. The second one was taken in Savannah, Georgia (U.S.).
The third photo is not a synagogue, but the washing rooms at the cemetery. The middle photograph is of a synagogue’s upper exterior.
I find it very sad, there are no more burials there, and I also find the old head stones to be poignant and emotional to look at.
By: jewwishes on April 23, 2009
at 2:01 pm
Naomi: The Golda Meir quote is a favorite of mine, as is the Elie Wiesel quote you mentioned. The one that is my most favorite is Elie Wiesel’s “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”
Thank you for visiting.
By: jewwishes on April 23, 2009
at 2:03 pm
Thank you, therapydoc.
By: jewwishes on April 23, 2009
at 2:13 pm
Thank you for that – I did think it had a look of Englad about it – I think it was the shape of the streetlights in the background on both of the 1st and 3rd pictures…
Have you been to the village of Eyam in Derbyshire on your travels to the UK? No connection with Jewish history, but that viallage ws almost entirely wiped out by the plague in 1665 – it apparently arrived from London via a parcel of material infected with fleas.
The village put itself into isolation in order to try to prevent the spread of the plague to other surrounding villages. Most of the houses have plaques above the door, identifying who in that household died. The graveyard is so sad as you pass by the gravestones and see entire families laid to rest, all dying within days of each other.
By: rachel on April 24, 2009
at 5:25 am
The top photo is such an excellent choice for sepia. Haunting.
By: Leora on April 24, 2009
at 7:49 am
Rachel: No, I haven’t been there, but on my next trip to the UK, I will make a point of going, as I have read up on the history of Eyam in Derbyshire.
The graveyard must be haunting and sad…
By: jewwishes on April 25, 2009
at 12:03 am
Leora: Thank you.
By: jewwishes on April 25, 2009
at 12:03 am