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
My mother was an awful cook, an exceptionally awful kosher cook, but I stayed kosher until I got to college, even though I'd long stopped believing in God. Simon Schama awfulbelievecollege Change image and share on social
At 11, 12, I thought I was clumsy, ugly, a mess, an unappealing person, but I did have the gift of the gab. I had the school record at Haberdashers for consecutive detentions for simply speaking out of turn. Simon Schama clumsyconsecutivedetention share on social
The older I get, the more I want to do. It beats death, decay or golf in unfortunate trousers. Peace and quiet depress me. Simon Schama beatdeathdecay Change image and share on social
Somehow, the words don't have any vitality, any life to them, unless I can feel it marking on a paper. That's how I start. Once I'm off, then I switch to the laptop. I think it would all just be prose if it started on a laptop - not that what I do is poetry. Simon Schama feellaptoplife 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
I am passionately invested in the survival of Israel and everything Israel represents. But I am extremely critical of much of its policy. I believe that the occupation must end. And if it doesn't, it will end Israel. I'm not in favor of settlements. Simon Schama criticalendextremely share on social
Silence, this will surprise you not, isn't really a Jewish concept. Simon Schama conceptjewishsilence Change image and share on social
Anyone can write an academic piece directed at other academics. To write something that delivers an argument and a gripping storyline to someone's granny or eight-year-old takes the highest quality of your powers. Simon Schama academicargumentdeliver share on social
