Popular culture is a contradiction in terms. If it's popular, it's not culture.
Vivienne WestwoodRead
What are you going to do to preserve a tradition that is the peculiar and unique culture that Judaism inculcates? The American Jewish community is not going to survive by lining up against its common enemy.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of actively preserving cultural traditions rather than merely reacting to external challenges.
Arthur Hertzberg highlights the need for the American Jewish community to focus on the proactive preservation of its unique traditions and culture, rather than solely uniting against perceived threats. He suggests that a community's strength lies in its commitment to its heritage and the values it embodies, which are essential for its survival and flourishing.
Themes
TraditionCultureCommunityPreservationJewishHeritage
In practice
Example use cases
During a community meeting discussing cultural initiatives, this quote could be used to inspire action towards preserving traditions.
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