The Holocaust, taken by itself, is a black hole. To look at it directly is to be swallowed up by it. David Novak blackdirectlyhole Change image and share on social
Jews have not only become equal citizens in Western democracies, they have become leading citizens. And, of course, the reestablishment of the State of Israel has given Jews a political presence in the world they have not had since biblical times. David Novak biblicalcitizendemocracy share on social
As a traditional Jew, I have benefited personally from the hospitality of Chabad Hasidim on many occasions, and I marvel at how many Jews Chabad has brought back to their primordial home. David Novak backbenefitbring Change image and share on social
The slogan 'Never Again!' that emerged after the Holocaust implies that the Holocaust has a universal moral meaning, which, if properly learned, can provide at least a theoretical prophylactic against its repetition against anyone. David Novak emergeholocaustimply share on social
Every individual is a person necessarily imbedded in a range of multiple relations, and therefore, no one is really independent in anything but a relative sense; no one is truly autonomous. David Novak autonomousimbedindependent Change image and share on social
If human language, with its logic, is the way God has given us to understand the world, then the Torah must be understood in that same language and with that same logic. David Novak godhumanlanguage Change image and share on social
There is no question that Israelis - indeed, all concerned Jews - have to continue to work out a Jewish public philosophy that truly justifies a Jewish state in the land of Israel. David Novak concerncontinueisrael Change image and share on social
In deciding among theological views, one should be something of a consequentialist: the choice of one theological position over another should be, if not actually determined, at least heavily conditioned by the fact that it implies a better ethical outcome than the alternatives. David Novak alternativechoicecondition share on social
The work of man is to respond to the Covenant by obeying the commandments of the Torah, those commandments that can be obeyed here and now. David Novak commandmentcovenantman Change image and share on social
Unlike the issue of messiahhood, which arose when Jews and Christians were members of the same religio-political community and spoke the same conceptual language, the issues of the incarnation and the Trinity divide people who are no longer members of the same community and who no longer speak the same language. David Novak arisechristiancommunity share on social