"Judaism as a religion was never very active in proselytizing, just as a family would never go out into the streets to grab people to join the family.
It doesn’t mean that Jews feel superior or inferior.
It’s simply that from the very beginning it had its own rhythm and way of living.
Even when members of such a family are out of the family house, when they are wandering far away, they continue the lifestyle, theologically, sociologically, behavioristically.
Of course, members of the family can be severely chastised and rifts can occur between individuals and groups, but there is really no way of leaving the family.
You can even hate it, but you cannot be separated from it.
After some time, people, younger or older, come to the conclusion that, in fact, they can’t get away from it, and therefore it is far better to try to find the ways in which they are connected—because the connection is beyond choice.
It’s a matter of being born with it.
And since you are stuck with it, it is far better to get to know where you came from and who you are."
From Pebbles of Wisdom from Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz (forthcoming)
