Community Quote by Bernard Lewis
“One reason which I find particularly fascinating about Israel is this. There is no such thing as a Jewish civilization. There is a Jewish culture, a Jewish religion, but there is no such thing as a Jewish civilization. The Jews were a component basically of two civilizations. In the Western world, we talk about the Judeo-Christian tradition and you talk about the Judeo-Islamic tradition because there were large and important Jewish communities living in the lands of Islam.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Lecture on Jewish History, 1990s
The quote argues that Jews have never formed a distinct civilization, only a culture and religion, and have been part of broader Western and Islamic societies.
In simple terms: Jews are a culture and religion, not a separate civilization.
Key Takeaway
Recognize Jewish contributions within larger civilizations.
Themes
history
identity
civilization
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
historical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic discussions
- interfaith dialogues
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
cultural integration
religious identity
diaspora
Questions to Reflect On
- How do Jewish institutions shape communal identity?
- Can culture exist without a distinct civilization?
A Different Perspective
This view may overlook unique Jewish institutions and collective experiences.
![“Different groups in the [Middle East] drew two lessons from [return of the shah in Iran] - one, that Americans were willing to use both force and intrigue to install or restore their puppet rulers in Middle Eastern countries; the other, that they were not reliable patrons when these puppets were…” quote by Bernard Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/89b/bernard-lewis-11653_middle-east_different-groups-in-the-middle-east-drew_37501.jpg)
![“The social [media channel] isn't about beauty contests and popularity contests. They're a distortion, a caricature of the real thing. It's about trust, connection, and community. That's what there's too little of in today's mediascape, despite all the hoopla surrounding social tools. The promise…” quote by Umair Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c85/umair-haque-25881_beauty_the-social-media-channel-isn-t-about-bea_1270.jpg)
