| It has been
estimated that one-third of our Western civilization bears the marks of its
Jewish ancestry. The United States
carries the indelible stamp of Jewish heritage in its collective life: the phrase “by their Creator” in the
Declaration of Independence; the words “Proclaim Liberty throughout the land”
on the Liberty Bell. The real impact of ancient Jews, however, lies in the
extent to which Western civilization took over their vision on the deepest
question life poses, that of the nature of God! |
|
| Compared to the
histories of Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, and Syria, Jewish history is strictly
minor league. What lifted the Jews
from obscurity to permanent religious greatness was their passion for
meaning. |