Passover takes place in the home rather than the synagogue and centers around an epic meal - the seder - so you remember Passover as storytelling, you remember it in food, and you remember it in the family. Simon Schama centerepicfamily share on social
Jews have never, ever, ever wished to be separate, unless they were forced to be. Simon Schama forcejewseparate Change image and share on social
I used to have a monthly cookery column, and am a big cook, so that whole sense of connecting what one does with food to one's cultural identity has always been fascinating to me. Simon Schama bigcolumnconnect Change image and share on social
It's not right to think about all of Jewish-German history as shrouded by the smoke of the crematorium. Simon Schama crematoriumgermanhistory Change image and share on social
I do not want to be misunderstood that you need a dose of persecution in order, really, to have a sense of your identity. Otherwise, you know, there would be no American Jews. Even if you're not strictly, fiercely Orthodox, you commit yourselves to a community of memory. Simon Schama americancommitcommunity share on social
I felt New York was a big, more stylish, more metropolitan Golders Green. I was thrilled. Simon Schama bigfeltgolder Change image and share on social
Never crowd a pan with too many mushrooms. They give off an enormous amount of moisture. And there's nothing worse than a braised mushroom, other than a lot of braised mushrooms. Simon Schama amountbadlybraise Change image and share on social
St. Paul was making it impossible to be Jewish and Christian at the same time. What is very striking about those early churches and communities is that you could be both. Under Paul, though, you absolutely couldn't. Simon Schama absolutelychristianchurch share on social
Jewish comedy doesn't come out of nothing. Jewish music doesn't come out of nothing... I don't want to be part of a story where Jews are just victims or bullies - and I'm not saying that's what the Israelis are. Simon Schama bullycomedyisraeli share on social
We seem wired to grieve with greenery. Allowing the dead to dissolve into the earth, to become part of the cycle of the seasons, has, for millennia, held the promise of cheating mortality. Simon Schama allowcheatcycle Change image and share on social
