Lionel Blue Quotes

A collection of quotes by Lionel Blue.

Lionel Blue was a British Reform Rabbi, broadcaster, and writer, best known for his work as a radio and television presenter. Born on February 6, 1930, in the East End of London, he grew up in a traditional Jewish family.

Blue studied at Balliol College, Oxford, where he pursued a degree in classics and modern languages. Later, he attended Leo Baeck College in London to become a rabbi. In 1960, he became the first British rabbi to come out as gay.

Throughout his career, Blue made significant contributions to religious broadcasting, including his regular appearances on BBC Radio 4's "Thought for the Day" and "Beyond Belief" programs. He was admired for his unique ability to blend humor and spiritual teachings, making complex religious topics accessible to a wide audience.

Apart from his radio work, Blue authored several books, including "My Affair With Christianity" and "Meditations on the Old Testament." His writings reflected his progressive approach toward Judaism, focusing on inclusivity, social justice, and the pursuit of happiness.

Lionel Blue was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Civil Law from the University of Birmingham in 2003 and was appointed an honorary Doctor of Divinity by the University of Glasgow in 2006. He passed away on December 19, 2016, leaving behind a significant legacy as a respected religious thinker and a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community within religious establishments.

I didn't want to be on the losing side. I was fed up with Je

I didn't want to be on the losing side. I was fed up with Jewish weakness, timidity and fear. I didn't want any more Jewish sentimentality and Jewish suffering. I was sickened by our sad songs.

What would I have done if I'd been put to the test? Would I

What would I have done if I'd been put to the test? Would I have risked my own life for people I hardly knew? Probably, I would have looked the other way at best or become another apologist for evil at worst.

I found that when I did something for the sake of heaven, he

I found that when I did something for the sake of heaven, heaven happened. These things changed my life. I owe them to my encounter with Christianity.

My mother was a modern woman with a limited interest in reli

My mother was a modern woman with a limited interest in religion. When the sun set and the fast of the Day of Atonement ended, she shot from the synagogue like a rocket to dance the Charleston.

The real evidence for Jesus and Christianity is in how Jesus

The real evidence for Jesus and Christianity is in how Jesus and the Christianity based on him manifest themselves in the lives of practicing Christians.

During the Second World War, evacuated to non-Jewish househo

During the Second World War, evacuated to non-Jewish households, I encountered Christianity at home and in school.

The Christian use of religion as a personal love affair both

The Christian use of religion as a personal love affair both shocked me, and attracted me.

For some years I deserted religion in favour of Marxism. The

For some years I deserted religion in favour of Marxism. The republic of goodness seemed more attainable than the Kingdom of God.

Praying privately in churches, I began to discover that heav

Praying privately in churches, I began to discover that heaven was my true home and also that it was here and now, woven into this life.

To my surprise, my 70s are nicer than my 60s and my 60s than

To my surprise, my 70s are nicer than my 60s and my 60s than my 50s, and I wouldn't wish my teens and 20s on my enemies.

I feel that the Christian experience and the Jewish one have

I feel that the Christian experience and the Jewish one have much to give each other. If this open society continues and there is no return to political anti-Semitism, then this encounter, deeper than any theology, may happen.

My mother enjoyed old age, and because of her I've begun to

My mother enjoyed old age, and because of her I've begun to enjoy parts of it too. So far I've had it good and am crumbling nicely.

I learnt pity, sympathy, and what it was like to be at the o

I learnt pity, sympathy, and what it was like to be at the other end of the stick. Such lessons can't be learnt in lecture halls.

Early on I saw the repression and idolatry of Stalinism, and

Early on I saw the repression and idolatry of Stalinism, and when it cracked, I was open to religion again.