Many Judaisms, One Me

As you can probably tell if you've read more than one or two things on here, I am Jewish. Many of my heroes are Jewish as well. Most of them were not religious, and I am not religious either. I love Kabbalah because it's trippy as shit and harmless as long as you don't take it too seriously. Traditional religion is not my bag and not likely to become so outside of things like classes. I'm Jewish by choice, meaning that I converted.

REASON

Atlas Shrugged

Ayn Rand, creator of The Collective, a cult, is one of the greatest and most bizarre voices for reason I have encountered. Everyone should wrestle with Rand. If you accept her philosophy or reject it outright, you have not tried hard enough.

IMAGINATION

Contact

Carl Sagan dedicated his life to science and education. His essays in a National Geo book when I was a kid lit a candle in the dark. His books have made me a better father.

COURAGE

Ethics

When I converted to Judaism, I took the name Baruch in honor of Baruch Spinoza. His ideas gave us the modern world. He walked away from the only community and family he had in order to be true to himself.

SPIRIT

The Thirteen Petalled Rose

A couple of years ago I discovered the works of Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, of blessed memory. I plan to read a little Steinsaltz every day for the foreseeable future.