A one-line summary – Ask the Rabbi
Q. If you were asked for a one-line summary of Judaism what would you say?
A. Most people would quote the Golden Rule, “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Lev. 19:18).
The philosopher Simon Rawidowicz used to say that for him the leading sentence was from the Passover Haggadah, Ani v’lo malach – “I and not an angel”.
He probably meant something similar to Hillel’s saying, “If I am not for myself who will be for me?” In other words, don’t expect others to do what you have to do; don’t expect anyone else – an angel perhaps – to deputise for you.
Rawidowicz’s saying can be turned round to read, “An angel and not me”.
