In return, God expects the self-restraint without which collective life would be impossible. As God gives to them, so they should give to him; and as God shares his bounty with them, so should they share it with one another, distributing it justly.

despite the Torah’s insistence on justice as the foundation of society, there is something prior to justice and to society itself, namely the gossamer strands of kindness that link self to self in bonds of love.

This is one of the strangest and most wonderful features of the Talmud: It’s as if, within its pages, the barriers of time and space do not exist. No matter when or where we live, we can listen in on this epic, centuries-long argument for the sake of heaven.

Like God, Torah’s authority is persuasive: an invitation to wisdom, rather than an intimidation through fear.