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My late mother was an endless source of fireside philosophy. Of her many homilies and sayings, my favourite was always her observation about Reform Judaism – the movement which displaces strict observance of Jewish law with easy-does-it progressive thinking. As she would wryly remark with her tea-towel wisdom: "Why does Judaism need a reform movement? Every Jew does their own reforming."
It's so true. Ask two Jews a question and you'll get five opinions. And no more so on than on the subject of religious practice. Like the chap I once worked with who loved eating bacon yet fasted on the Day of Atonement (though sometimes he'd move the date if it coincided with a business meeting or important golf game).
Now, if I am to be truthful, I must admit first off that Reform Rabbi Lionel Blue, who died this week at the age of 86, promulgated a liberal interpretation of Judaism with which as a traditionalist, I disagree. I am unsettled by formal organisations that give official seal to the repackaging of our ancient faith. Since the more you dilute, the more you forget the original taste. Just keep adding water to a glass of Ribena and you'll see what I mean.
But the more important point is that this didn't stop me being warmed by Blue's wisdom, entertained by his humour and deeply respectful of the inspirational way in which he reached out to people, regardless of the star under which they were born.
Known to millions for his regular slot on BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day, here was a man who encapsulated all that was confusing and complicated about traditional religion.
The grandson of Russian Jewish immigrants (the family name was originally Bluestein), he had flirted with Christianity, suffered an early nervous breakdown because of his sexuality, and ran the gamut from angry Marxist atheist to the settled comfort of progressive Judaism, before eventually coming out as Britain's first openly gay rabbi. He shopped around to find what gave him solace – and remained utterly honest about having done so.
He struck a chord with so many. Even though a YouGov survey earlier this year found 46 per cent of adults of all races identify as having no religion.
Indeed, Blue once said: "You can wander into any place of worship you like and just start chatting as honestly as you can with whatever's there, with no service going on – keep away from the service – and see what happens."
As a society crashing and blundering through post millennial intolerance and confusion, this is indeed a parable for our times.
Blue's colourful, comic and deeply compassionate life view was pickled in the sweet and salty heritage of his Jewish background. Often he would sign off his broadcasts with a gentle "Jewish joke" gifting his listeners with a warm chuckle to set them on their way (something Today's rottweiler-in-chief John Humphries, or patron saint of school prefects Sarah Montague, spectacularly fail to do). Of course we Jews love to make everyone laugh. It's our way of making sure you don't hit us.
In today's troubled times, there's much to learn from the passing of this wise man. That force-feeding religious views– from the most benign attempts to proselyte to heinous acts of extremist aggression – is entirely counterproductive. Religion and intolerance should be mutually exclusive. We need to learn to accept our differences. Or, in Lionel Blue`s case, celebrate them.
A reformer who indeed did his own reforming. That really is a thought for all time.
I profoundly disagreed with Rabbi Lionel Blue's version of Judaism. But he was a symbol of hope for our times