The Chosen People. We’ve been using this term for quite some time. We believe we’re chosen but where does it actually begin? In the book of דברים/Deuteronomy we begin to see an argument for something that sets the Jewish people (the Israelites or Hebrews) apart from the rest of the world. At the end of last week’s reading, VaEtchanan, we find:
but it was because יהוה favored you and kept the oath made to your fathers that יהוה freed you with a mighty hand and rescued you from the house of bondage, from the power of Pharaoh King of Egypt. Deuteronomy 7:7 – 8
I've put the words of “choseness” in red. The words in blue allude to our being chosen. Nowhere are we called the “chosen people” in the Torah but it’s clearly alluded to.
In this week’s Parsha, Ekev, we have even more examples.
And when your God יהוה has thrust them from your path, say not to yourselves, “יהוה has enabled us to possess this land because of our virtues”; it is rather because of the wickedness of those nations that יהוה is dispossessing them before you.
It is not because of your virtues and your rectitude that you will be able to possess their country; but it is because of their wickedness that your God יהוה is dispossessing those nations before you, and in order to fulfill the oath that יהוה made to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Know, then, that it is not for any virtue of yours that your God יהוה is giving you this good land to possess; for you are a stiff-necked people. Deuteronomy 9:4 – 6
What is confirmed is that our being “chosen” is not some designation of us being superior or better. It does not appear that we’re more loved or favored by God. This discussion has been a very difficult one through the generations because it’s possible that we could take our being chosen as a cause to be chauvinistic and believe we’re superior to those around us. Likewise, other people could look at us as the favored people and thus the people worthy of their disdain.
In the words of Tevye “I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?” This tongue and cheek statement is something that needs greater acceptance and awareness. If the Jewish people are “The Chosen People”, why have we been the most marginalized and hated over the centuries? If we are “chosen”, why do we contend with genetic diseases that harm our people? If we’re “chosen”, perhaps God might want to inform the rest of the world that this is the case? The problem is that’s not the case and neither should it be.
God cannot have one people that are favored above all others and it’s not the argument made by the Torah, the Bible and the rabbinic sources. We’re a people who’ve been designated for a relationship with God through the Torah and through the commandments. This doesn’t exclude others from having a relationship with God. This doesn’t entitle us to more prosperity or success. This isn’t proof of Jewish superiority and it’s not evidence of other nations being inferior. To believe one nation of the world has been chosen to be loved and all others haven’t been would betray the fundamental doctrine of the Oneness of God and God’s universality. Think of it as a gift God has given us. It’s a gift we must take care of and must help promote. One group being given a gift doesn’t exclude others from also receiving gifts. We must understand that Judaism isn’t an exclusive religion or relationship with God, but one of the paths to be in the relationship and it’s our path.
Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Hearshen
Candlelighting time on August 4 is 8:17 pm. There will be no Zoom services this week.
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