Simon Sebag Montefiore

Well, I think it is the nature of institutions. And also, history is filled with examples of tiny groups of activists seizing control of giant institutions, whole countries, because they're better organized and because they have the passion of belief. and which is very powerful.

And also, one has to look at, you know, we're often asked in our own predicament at the moment, like, why is it that, for example, gay rights activists are supporting Hamas that would murder them if they actually met them? And why it is the case? And this is a wider malaise in a society like ours, which is highly secular, highly skeptical about all belief.

And also, one has to look at, you know, we're often asked in our own predicament at the moment, like, why is it that, for example, gay rights activists are supporting Hamas that would murder them if they actually met them? And why it is the case? And this is a wider malaise in a society like ours, which is highly secular, highly skeptical about all belief.

And also, one has to look at, you know, we're often asked in our own predicament at the moment, like, why is it that, for example, gay rights activists are supporting Hamas that would murder them if they actually met them? And why it is the case? And this is a wider malaise in a society like ours, which is highly secular, highly skeptical about all belief.

And yet we're amazingly impressed with religious fanaticism because we feel that these people must have something that we don't have. They have the passion.

And yet we're amazingly impressed with religious fanaticism because we feel that these people must have something that we don't have. They have the passion.

And yet we're amazingly impressed with religious fanaticism because we feel that these people must have something that we don't have. They have the passion.

We're jealous. We're jealous because they have a passion that they believe in. We don't know where we're doing. Every day we try a new fad. You know, every day we're trying a new diet. But these people, they know. They know. So I think that they... We're jealous that they have a passion that they are devoted to. And we're not sure what we have. That's the nature of an open society.

We're jealous. We're jealous because they have a passion that they believe in. We don't know where we're doing. Every day we try a new fad. You know, every day we're trying a new diet. But these people, they know. They know. So I think that they... We're jealous that they have a passion that they are devoted to. And we're not sure what we have. That's the nature of an open society.

We're jealous. We're jealous because they have a passion that they believe in. We don't know where we're doing. Every day we try a new fad. You know, every day we're trying a new diet. But these people, they know. They know. So I think that they... We're jealous that they have a passion that they are devoted to. And we're not sure what we have. That's the nature of an open society.

And I think that, I don't know what that revival would look like, but I think that the predicaments and dilemmas and conundrums of our society, the coming world of crisis that we're facing, means that I think there will be some sort of religious revival. What it would look like, will it be in traditional religions, Christianity and Judaism, et cetera? Or will it be in a new manifestation?

And I think that, I don't know what that revival would look like, but I think that the predicaments and dilemmas and conundrums of our society, the coming world of crisis that we're facing, means that I think there will be some sort of religious revival. What it would look like, will it be in traditional religions, Christianity and Judaism, et cetera? Or will it be in a new manifestation?

And I think that, I don't know what that revival would look like, but I think that the predicaments and dilemmas and conundrums of our society, the coming world of crisis that we're facing, means that I think there will be some sort of religious revival. What it would look like, will it be in traditional religions, Christianity and Judaism, et cetera? Or will it be in a new manifestation?

But I think that we do need meaning in our life.

But I think that we do need meaning in our life.

But I think that we do need meaning in our life.

Moses Montefiore was such an interesting character, a fascinating character. His story really defies the sort of clichés about Victorian Britain, especially for Americans, which you think of... I know you all think of Britain as a sort of class-ridden, racist, primitive society. But actually, you know, he arrived as an Italian immigrant... with his parents in the 1790s.

Moses Montefiore was such an interesting character, a fascinating character. His story really defies the sort of clichés about Victorian Britain, especially for Americans, which you think of... I know you all think of Britain as a sort of class-ridden, racist, primitive society. But actually, you know, he arrived as an Italian immigrant... with his parents in the 1790s.

Moses Montefiore was such an interesting character, a fascinating character. His story really defies the sort of clichés about Victorian Britain, especially for Americans, which you think of... I know you all think of Britain as a sort of class-ridden, racist, primitive society. But actually, you know, he arrived as an Italian immigrant... with his parents in the 1790s.

By the time he died, he had a sort of several thousand-acre estate, a stately home, a hereditary title. He was friends with the royal family. He was friends with the queen. He was the equivalent of a billionaire. So... Societies are very complex, and life is very nuanced.