"My mother was very agnostic. She would never set foot in the synagogue, she couldn't be doing with it"

Janet Suzman’s statement reflects a personal recollection of her mother’s relationship to religion and religious practice. By describing her mother as “very agnostic,” Suzman highlights a position of uncertainty or skepticism regarding the existence of God or religious truths. Agnosticism, in this context, suggests that her mother neither affirmed nor denied religious beliefs but maintained a stance of questioning or withholding conviction.

The phrase “she would never set foot in the synagogue” signifies more than a mere absence from religious services; it emphasizes a deliberate distancing from formal religious rituals and communal worship. Synagogue, representing the Jewish place of worship and communal gathering, holds particular importance in Jewish tradition and culture. Refusing to enter such a space indicates a conscious rejection not only of religious doctrines but also perhaps of communal identification or participation in the rituals that bind individuals to a faith community.

Suzman’s comment, “she couldn’t be doing with it,” uses colloquial language to further express her mother’s attitude. The phrase conveys a kind of exasperation or complete lack of interest, her mother had no patience or inclination for religious observance, suggesting that, for her, such rituals were irrelevant or unimportant to her own values and worldview. This may also reflect broader themes: the tension between cultural or familial expectation and personal belief, or the generational shifts in attitudes toward religion and tradition.

Underlying this reminiscence is a portrait of a woman asserting her autonomy regarding spiritual matters. By resisting participation in religious activities, Suzman's mother asserts her right to decide for herself, independent of communal norms or familial expectations. This act could be interpreted as both a private philosophical stance and a subtle form of resistance in contexts where religious practice might serve as a pressure point for conformity. Ultimately, Suzman’s description of her mother illustrates the complexity of individual relationships to faith and tradition within families and societies.