Derek Thompson

And he made this point that I thought really stuck with me is that

When the Israelites are on Mount Sinai and they're receiving the Ten Commandments,

They say to God, which means we will hear and we will, sorry, we will do, first we do, and then we will hear.

Which seems to me backwards because the way I had been operating, I think most people operate this way, is give me the evidence, give me the facts, and then I will decide what I do with it.

If I need to change my behavior, tell me why, and then I'll do it.

But that's not what the Israelites said.

They said, first we will do, then we will hear.

And that, I think, is a tremendous insight, that these practices have been around for thousands of years, and you don't hear the revelation of why they're special.

And we're not talking about anything supernatural or mythical.

I haven't actually changed my mind about any of the supernatural parts of these religions.

What I've changed my mind about is that there are benefits to these practices that you don't get unless you do them.

And I think that was the insight I got from Judaism.

Then he referred me to an imam.

And when I met with Imam, it was interesting.

I asked him the same question.

He was very gracious.

In fact, it's amazing.

When I came there, he had a kosher meal for me, even though I don't keep kosher, but he knew my background is Jewish.

And so he had a kosher meal, even though I don't.

He was incredibly hospitable.