A paradox

"The Sephardic way is a paradox: to keep tradition but to stay open. The Torah is not there to put handcuffs on you. We try to find solutions. We put unity first… I was taught that Torah and tolerance go hand in hand."

Rabbi Chaim Amsellem, MK Shas

From, Rabbi Chaim Amsellem: Charedi Rebel , this quote represents one of the main reasons I'm so attracted to the Orthodox Sephardic communities, there’s an acceptance of the sanctity of the Torah and of the laws, but also enough openness to accept the frailty of the human condition, the frailty of all men. There’s a big difference between knowing there is an objective Truth, capital T, and thinking that anyone community is capable of living that truth one hundred percent.

love, fear and belief

Heard at the Shabbat table...There is a little truth behind every joke...

Sephardic Jews love god, but don’t fear him. Ashkenazi Jews fear god, but don’t believe in him.