Jews as the chosen people
The Jewish belief of Jews as a chosen people is that Jews are the chosen people of God. Jews believe that God has given them a special job to repair the world. Their job is to make the world a better place with more good in it. They must use the things in the world to increase good and come closer to God. They call this “tikkun olam” – repairing the world. Jews see themselves as God’s partner to repair the world in any way they can – to find ways to lessen suffering of people and animals, to make more peace and respect between people, and to protect the earth’s environment from destruction.
Interpretations[change | change source]
From the Bible[change | change source]
Jews believe that God made an agreement called a “covenant” with Abraham, the ancestor of the Jewish people. The Bible says that God promised to bless Abraham and his descendants if they worshipped God and were faithful to him. God made this covenant with Abraham's son, Isaac, and with Isaac's son, Jacob. God also gave Jacob another name – Israel. This is how Jacob’s descendants got the name the “Children of Israel” or “Israelites.” God later gave the Israelites the Torah to the Israelites through their leader, Moses. The Torah told the Israelites how to live and build their community. God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments and other laws in the Torah.
The Jews are sometimes called the “Chosen People.” This is because the Bible says God told them “you will be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6) and “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord chose you to be His own special nation out of all peoples on the earth” (Deuteronomy 14:2). Jews understand this means that they have special duties and responsibilities commanded by God. For example, Jews must build a just society and serve only God. Jews believe that this covenant works in two ways: if they follow God’s laws, He will give them his love and protection, but they are also responsible for their sins – bad actions – and not doing what God told them. Jews believe that they must teach other people that God exists and that God wants all people to do good actions. Jews believe that their job in the world is to be "a light to the nations" (Isiah 49:6) by showing the people of the world ways to make the world a better place.
Modern views[change | change source]
The idea of chosenness has traditionally been interpreted by Jews in two ways: one way is that God chose the Israelites, while the other is that the Israelites chose God. Another opinion is that even though the Jews chose to follow God, the Kabbalah and Tanya teach that even prior to creation, the "Jewish soul" was already chosen.
Jews do not try to convince other people to believe in Judaism. Jews believe they have a special job to show all peoples that God exists, but people do not have to be Jewish to follow God. All people can serve God by following the Seven Commandments (rules) given to Noah. But, Judaism accepts people who choose to change their religion to Judaism.
From other religions[change | change source]
O children of Israel, remember my favor which I bestowed upon you, and that I favored you above all creation. (Qur'an 2:47). 2:122).
Many Christians also believe that the Jews were God's chosen people ( ), but because of Jewish rejection of Jesus, the Christians in turn received that special status ( ). This doctrine is known as Supersessionism.
References[change | change source]
- Green, Arthur (2014). Judaism’s 10 Best Ideas. Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing. pp. 29–35. ISBN 978-1-58023-803-8.
- "Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World". My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- Greenberg, Irving. "The Covenant & God". My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- Mendes-Flohr, Paul (2006). "Judaism". In Riggs, Thomas. Encyclopedia of Religious Practices. 1: Religions and Denominations. Detroit: Gale. p. 423-453.
- Birnbaum, Philip (1975). "Attah Behartanu". A Book of Jewish Concepts. New York: Hebrew Publishing Company. pp. 70–72. ISBN 88482876X Check
|isbn=value: length (help).
- Birnbaum, Philip (1975). "Proselytes". A Book of Jewish Concepts. New York: Hebrew Publishing Company. pp. 132–134. ISBN 88482876X Check
|isbn=value: length (help).
- Liberation and reconciliation: a Black theology p. 24
- The Collegeville Bible Commentary: Based on the New American Bible, Robert J. Karris, Liturgical Press, 1992, p. 1042
Other websites[change | change source]
- The Contemporary Rivalry over the Chosen People: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Perspectives - Avi Beker at the Institute for Global Jewish Affairs
- Chosen people at the Jewish Encyclopedia
- The Jewish concept of chosenness
- The Chosen People FAQs
- How does Jewish Pride differ from Nazi Supremacy?, Rabbi Tzvi Freeman