1. “The preservation of the Jews is really one of the most single and illustrious acts of divine Providence… and what but a supernatural power could have preserved them in such a manner as none other nation upon earth hath been preserved. Nor is the providence of God less remarkable in the destruction of their enemies, than in their preservation… We see that the great empires, which in their turn subdued and oppressed the people of God, are all come to ruin… And if such hath been the fatal end of the enemies and oppressors of the Jews, let it serve as a warning to all those, who at any time or upon any occasion are for raising a clamor and persecution against them.”
Thomas Newton, Bishop of Bristol (1704-1782)
2. “What is the Jew?...What kind of unique creature is this whom all the rulers of all the nations of the world have disgraced and crushed and expelled and destroyed; persecuted, burned and drowned, and who, despite their anger and their fury, continues to live and to flourish. What is this Jew whom they have never succeeded in enticing with all the enticements in the world, whose oppressors and persecutors only suggested that he deny (and disown) his religion and cast aside the faithfulness of his ancestors?!
“The Jew – is the symbol of eternity. ... He is the one who for so long had guarded the prophetic message and transmitted it to all mankind. A people such as this can never disappear.
“The Jew is eternal. He is the embodiment of eternity.”
Leo Tolstoy, What is the Jew? printed in Jewish World periodical, 1908
3. “I will insist the Hebrews have [contributed] more to civilize men than any other nation. If I was an atheist and believed in blind eternal fate, I should still believe that fate had ordained the Jews to be the most essential instrument for civilizing the nations ... They are the most glorious nation that ever inhabited this Earth. The Romans and their empire were but a bubble in comparison to the Jews. They have given religion to three-quarters of the globe and have influenced the affairs of mankind more and more happily than any other nation, ancient or modern.”
John Adams, Second President of the United States
(From a letter to F. A. Van der Kemp [Feb. 16, 1808] Pennsylvania Historical Society)
4. “None of the resplendent names in history – Egypt, Athens, Rome – can compare in eternal grandeur with Jerusalem. For Israel has given to mankind the category of holiness. Israel alone has known the thirst for social justice, and that inner saintliness which is the source of justice.”
French pastor, Charles Wagner, 1918, as quoted in A Book of Jewish Thoughts, ed. J. H. Hertz (London: Oxford University Press, 1920), 134.
5. “The Jews started it all – and by ‘it’ I mean so many of the things we care about, the underlying values that make all of us, Jew and Gentile, believer and atheist, tick. Without the Jews, we would see the world through different eyes, hear with different ears, even feel with different feelings ... We would think with a different mind, interpret all our experiences differently, draw different conclusions from the things that befall us. And we would set a different course for our lives.”
Thomas Cahill, The Gifts of the Jews: How a Tribe of Desert Nomads Changed the Way Everyone Thinks and Feels, New York: Nan A. Talese/Anchor Books, p 3.
6. ”...If statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky way. properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world’s list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are also away out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a marvelous fight in this world, in all the ages; and had done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it.
“The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed; and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?”
Mark Twain, Concerning The Jews, Harper’s Magazine, 1899
7. “Mankind, East and West, Christian and Muslim, accepted the Jewish conviction that there is only one God. Today it is polytheism that is so difficult to understand, that is so unthinkable.”
T.R. Grover, The Ancient World, p. 186
8. “Some people like the Jews, and some do not. But no thoughtful man can deny the fact that they are, beyond any question, the most formidable and the most remarkable race which has appeared in the world.”
Winston Churchill – Prime Minister of Great Britain
9. “Certainly, the world without the Jews would have been a radically different place. Humanity might have eventually stumbled upon all the Jewish insights. But we cannot be sure. All the great conceptual discoveries of the human intellect seem obvious and inescapable once they had been revealed, but it requires a special genius to formulate them for the first time. The Jews had this gift. To them we owe the idea of equality before the law, both divine and human; of the sanctity of life and the dignity of human person; of the individual conscience and so a personal redemption; of collective conscience and so of social responsibility; of peace as an abstract ideal and love as the foundation of justice, and many other items which constitute the basic moral furniture of the human mind. Without Jews it might have been a much emptier place.”
Paul Johnson, A History of the Jews, Epilogue
(18) Linda Rivera, August 27, 2019 10:42 PM
Great quotes!
I post these wonderful quotes often on articles!!! So necessary with so much Jew hate and Israel hate in the world.
No power on earth will ever be able to extinguish the light that is re-born Israel! Israel's light will shine forever!
(17) Simran Mann, October 20, 2018 2:47 PM
WOW
I'm not a Jew. I'm a Hindu. But I respect the Jewish community. No doubt they've contributed so much to the development of the society. Most of the notable contributions in the field of Science and Philosophy are made by Jews.
Much, much love to all :)
(16) Daniel wachtel, October 16, 2018 5:58 AM
Well Well I am a jew a very proud one , Engineer , Pilot Captain . Businessman , Husband ( Widower) Father Grandfather.
A friend and much more .sad as it is My parents families got lost in the Shoah i I was born when Israel was Palestine and grew up in Israel as such I know what went on first hand . I strongly believe that in the new era of communication . face book Twitter Whats up Viber and others the truth will come out and we will have peace in the near future .
have a great day and continue with your important work . work .
(15) Anonymous, October 15, 2018 11:08 PM
New song about Jewish continuity
Beautiful post. Here's a song and video that captures the essence of Jewish continuity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAvQMOBVV4o
(14) Lisa, October 15, 2018 6:08 PM
Thank you ever so much!
Thank you for sharing such encouragement. If these are from a book, or another website, I would like to know the source please.
(13) Richard, October 14, 2018 2:48 PM
We are all descendents of Noah. We are one family!
Like all of humanity, we have our shortcomings! Hashem gave us the Torah to provide a framework to help guide us through life. The Hebrews accepted the Torah and as a result, we have been blessed with our heritage. When mankind recognizes and accepts and joins us, we will be on the path to being able to fulfill our destiny!
(12) John prabhu, October 8, 2018 5:02 PM
Wonderful, I love the jewish people
The jews have always been dear to my heart. Jerusalem is the city of G-d, the most high. So small number of Jews have contributed so much to the rest of the world. May G-d bless the Jews.
(11) Anonymous, December 22, 2015 7:15 PM
Napoleons comment
The way I heard the story of Napoleon's remark is, Napoleon visited a synagogue on the Ninth day of Av, the day of mourning kept down the generations for the Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Seeing the Jews sitting on the floor mourning and praying, Napoleon said " A nation that mourns and celebrates its past will survive forever"
(10) Anonymous, September 3, 2015 7:38 PM
Thank you for printing this article.
It was refreshing to read everyone's feelings.
(9) Pam Booth, September 2, 2015 11:03 PM
The Jews. are a blessing because God is faithful to His promises.
All accomplishments and truths that deserve praise. But it is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that has made it so. To Him be the glory, and honor and praise. Father, thank you for the Jews.
A grateful gentile
(8) Pieter janse van rensburg, September 2, 2015 7:37 PM
The Jews were given the opportunity to be chosen and they accepted.
They must not forget those who love them and would love to have been there with them.
(7) Anonymous, September 1, 2015 11:30 PM
I concur with Ms. Benson
Dear Ms. Benson:
As a goi I fully concur with you.
Shalom
(6) Gregg Levin, September 1, 2015 10:29 PM
Self Hating Jews.
I am a Zionist and am not a self hating Jew. Death before dishonor.
(5) Mechi, August 31, 2015 5:17 PM
Great quotes...as if we didn-t know
Wasn't Tolstoy Jewish?
Raymond, October 16, 2018 2:00 PM
Tolstoy Not Jewish
While Leo Tolstoy was not Jewish, he did study Hebrew with an Orthodox Rabbi.
(4) Naomi, August 31, 2015 1:09 AM
Our birthright
I feel gratitude and responsibility for being born Jewish..and have the joy of passing on our customs and beliefs to the next generation
Sharon Pinsley, September 1, 2015 9:04 PM
No
He was Christian and this influenced much of his writing.
(3) esther epstein, August 30, 2015 11:35 PM
love it and always thought so
every anti should read this
(2) Isabel Benson, August 30, 2015 6:15 PM
Boiled down we are ALL Jews or almost just don't follow all the laws in the Talmud.
(1) Rodney Herman, August 29, 2015 9:42 PM
Written in gratitude
Thank you for this collection of reminders that our worth was recognized amongst men of note.