"Being a Jew is like walking in the wind or swimming: you are touched at all points and conscious everywhere"

This quote by Lionel Trilling speaks to the distinct experience of being Jewish. It suggests that being Jewish is a prevalent and all-inclusive experience, like strolling in the wind or swimming. Just as the wind touches you at all points and you are conscious of its existence all over, so too is the experience of being Jewish. It is a feeling that is constantly present, and it impacts every element of life. Trilling's quote implies that being Jewish is an effective and meaningful experience, one that is deeply felt which forms the lives of those who identify as Jewish. It is a tip that being Jewish is more than simply a faith or a culture, but a way of life that is deeply rooted in the person.