For I firmly believe that Jewish life, indeed any communal life, can only be organized according to democratic principles.

No heirloom of humankind captures the past as do art and language.

Epistemology is the study of knowledge. By what conduit do we know what we know?

I am determined to give the Yiddish language a fighting chance to survive.

I have always striven to raise the voice of hope for a world where hate gives way to respect and oppression to liberation.

By showing hunger, deprivation, starvation and brutality, as well as endurance and nobility, documentaries inform, prod our memories, even stir us to action. Such films do battle for our very soul.

I prefer to make common cause with those whose weapons are guitars, banjos, fiddles and words.

All too often arrogance accompanies strength, and we must never assume that justice is on the side of the strong. The use of power must always be accompanied by moral choice.

But there is a difference here: When Jewish children are murdered, Arabs celebrate the deed. The death of an Arab child is no cause for celebration in Israel.

No doubt unity is something to be desired, to be striven for, but it cannot be willed into being by mere declarations.

After the advent of the written word, the masses who could not - or were not permitted to - read, were given sermons by the few who could.

The trick about falling is to catch yourself before you hit the dirt.

To remember oneself and to relax the body is something we have to do constantly.

Every good man resists others in those points in which he resists himself.

...[W]ords can be communicative only between those who share similar experiences.

I love doing shows. I love rocking shows. I love playing instruments. I love singing. If I can find a way to do that and feed my family, then I'm a happy man.

A lot of bands whine about the road and how tough it is.

In the taxi I let my hand lie on her leg like a promise, but I had no intention of keeping my promise.

Timing: The alpha and omega of aerialists, jugglers, actors, diplomats, publicists, generals, prizefighters, revolutionists, financiers, dictators, lovers.

I can't go into a bar anywhere without someone starting to play 'the Entertainer'.

I did theater as a kid, more of an after-school program. But every night I would put on a movie and fall asleep to it.