younger participants in public rituals see that elders and wise people are accorded honor, and understand implicitly whom they should take as role models. In this way, they learn to value experience and knowledge, and they understand that if they wish to obtain similar prestige, they should seek to acquire such experience and knowledge.

Unlike Shimen, Heidi aspires to base her beliefs solely on evidence and to choose her commitments based on these justified beliefs. She specifically aspires for her most deeply held beliefs to transcend the particular culture in which she lives.

whatever the fine details of your preferred victimhood hierarchy, one thing must remain sacred if you wish to remain a member in good standing in Amber’s world: you must hate Israel too.

When new issues arise, popular consensus often precedes rabbinic consensus.

Shimen has no interest in justifying his stringencies or his leniencies, or in convincing others to accept them. He’s completely comfortable in his own skin. He has no interest in sugarcoating Judaism to make it more palatable to those of refined taste. In fact, since for him Judaism is defined by tradition, the very idea of “fixing” it is inherent

the process of formulating clear principles helps us overcome systemic bias.

Every society requires that members, or wannabe members, signal they’re serious about giving as much as they get and not just eating the kugel and running.

When the author of the Mishna Berura writes, as he often does, that “the common practice is such and such, but this is wrong,” Shimen’s response is to credit the author’s claim regarding the common practice and to ignore the admonition.

while a messianic era will come one day, we must wait for it patiently.