Shay Golden and Judaism: 10 Surprising Quotes from Shay Golden on Judaism

1. "There is Hashem. Without a doubt. I have no question. What makes me say this? The fact that He burns within my bones. It is clear to me that everything is done with His involvement and knowledge... The thought that there is no Hashem seems irrational to me. Anyone who thinks even a little about the complexity of this universe understands that denying the existence of a hidden and great force is truly the irrational thing."

2. "I never lose faith at any stage. There isn't a moment when I say that there is no Hashem. There are just times when I am angry, frustrated, bitter, or very disappointed, but I never stop believing."

3. "I even have a small Psalms booklet in my pocket, from the army, and I read from it occasionally. I remember 15 out of 150 chapters by heart so that it's always with me. My *chai* necklace is completely genuine. We were born Jews, and we will live Jewish lives. I don't think I was born Jewish by accident. I don't believe that everything in life is random." (From an interview with 'Mako').

4. "I make a point to talk to Hashem. Not necessarily aloud, but in my thoughts I speak with Him, and sometimes I'm convinced that He listens. I have reasons to believe He pays attention to my words. I have no doubt that He is aware of the presence of all people and everything that happens in life."

5. "I grew up in a completely secular home, without any signs of Judaism. And yet, even as a child, I always felt that there was meaning to being Jewish, there was a reason for it, and it wasn't random. It was clear to me that just as there is a sun and there is a sky, there is also Hashem. I had no doubt about it, even from an internal place; Judaism was always within me. To this day, this feeling exists within me."

6. "I am completely certain that Hashem watches over me, and I mean 'watches' in the deep sense of the word. He not only protects but also oversees my actions, looks, examines, and checks. It is clear to me that I am not alone."

7. "I will not agree to convert my religion for any amount of money in the world. I am Jewish, and I think there is a reason I was born Jewish. It isn't by chance. If everything in life were random, then life would have no meaning - and then what would be the point of living them?"

8. "I love praying very much; it's my way of communicating with Hashem, and I do it often. I believe from the deepest place in my heart that even in the hardest times, Hashem is with me. When I truly need Him, He always listens. This helps me in any situation of facing adversity or difficulty. On tough days, I simply look up to the sky and say: 'I lift my eyes to You who dwells in the heavens,' and then I know there is a moment of favor between me and Hashem."

9. "I always remind myself: It's clear that if Hashem wanted to, He could just appear right now in Rabin Square and say to everyone: 'Hello, nice to meet you, I am Hashem. From now on, you work for me and believe in me.' At that moment, the entire country would begin to serve Him. But Hashem wants it differently, He asks that we believe in Him even when He doesn't give us any sign. This is the deepest faith, and it's what is required of us. This is also the meaning of 'I am the Lord your God.' You need to believe in Me as I am, without shape, without color, without anything, and if you are searching for all those things, it means you are practicing idolatry."

10. "The genius of Shabbat also lies in the fact that Hashem demands complete rest, in which not only do you turn off the work computer, but also the one in your mind. There's something very social about Shabbat. Hashem brings us together in a kind of labor union and cares for our rest rights. It's wonderful to me."

"Afraid of religionization, hate Judaism? Then you're somewhat anti-Semitic." Watch Golden's remarks: