If you had to say in one sentence what being Jewish means, it is being able to make fun of yourself Jewishly.

When I first went to Israel, I saw soldiers pushing Palestinians around and thought, 'I can't stand this'. Then I'd meet somebody in a bar saying what wonderful people the Palestinians are and what mamzers the Jews are, and I'd think, 'Hang on'. It should be hard to make up your mind on any serious subject.

I've always felt as much outside the Jewish experience as in it. It astonished my family that I wrote about things Jewish.

Howard Jacobson Quotes