Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-1972) was a philosopher and civil rights activist best known for his writings and inspiring quotes on ethics and mysticism. Born into a family of Hasidic rabbis in Warsaw, Poland, he was called to the spiritual life at a young age. In 1939, weeks before the Nazi invasion, Herschel fled to London and then New York City. His mother and sisters died in the Holocaust, a tragedy that greatly shaped Heschel’s theology. Most significantly his conviction that people can choose to live in a state of constant awe and gratitude, and act alongside God to create a better world. A belief that led Heschel to march alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in Selma, of which he famously said, “I felt my legs were praying.” Heschel’s words continue to spur new generations to live in radical amazement.
An Unlikely Source of Comfort from Beyond
By Tess Clarkson11 min read
Her father’s voice soothed her difficult situation with her beloved dog.
