One of the great questions that Jews discussed, particularly in the 20th Century and within the Zionist movement, was that the Jews were not a “normal” people like other peoples.
Singularity or specialness has both positive and negative implications. On the negative side, living as a minority among the native population in different countries, Jews frequently seemed to be a people apart, alien, different, other and disliked by the people among whom they lived. On the other hand, Jews often take pride in their commitments to education and professional achievement, like the “Look how many Jewish Nobel Prize winners there are” game. Jews frequently have been engaged in movements to make society better, more inclusive, and more just.
Is this perhaps the meaning of chosenness? In this week’s Torah portion we read, “You shall not profane My holy name, that I may be sanctified in the midst of the Israelite people—I the LORD who sanctify you” (Leviticus 22:32). Commenting on this verse, Sforno (Italy, 1475-1550), wrote, “The verse is reminiscent of Ezekiel 36,20 where the prophet laments that the exiles who come to host countries behave in such a way that the leaders of the host countries exclaim in dismay that surely these cannot be the people of whom they have heard that they emulate the ways of their God!”
According to Sforno, this week’s portion is teaching us that the way we live our lives can either sanctify or desecrate God’s image. Or to put it in more secular terms, the way we live our lives and treat one another can serve as a positive or a negative example for society.
Emor – Leviticus 21:1-24:23, The Parashat Ha Shavua for Shabbat, Saturday, May 18, 2019
May 17, 2019 by Dean Kertesz •
One of the great questions that Jews discussed, particularly in the 20th Century and within the Zionist movement, was that the Jews were not a “normal” people like other peoples.
Singularity or specialness has both positive and negative implications. On the negative side, living as a minority among the native population in different countries, Jews frequently seemed to be a people apart, alien, different, other and disliked by the people among whom they lived. On the other hand, Jews often take pride in their commitments to education and professional achievement, like the “Look how many Jewish Nobel Prize winners there are” game. Jews frequently have been engaged in movements to make society better, more inclusive, and more just.
Is this perhaps the meaning of chosenness? In this week’s Torah portion we read, “You shall not profane My holy name, that I may be sanctified in the midst of the Israelite people—I the LORD who sanctify you” (Leviticus 22:32). Commenting on this verse, Sforno (Italy, 1475-1550), wrote, “The verse is reminiscent of Ezekiel 36,20 where the prophet laments that the exiles who come to host countries behave in such a way that the leaders of the host countries exclaim in dismay that surely these cannot be the people of whom they have heard that they emulate the ways of their God!”
According to Sforno, this week’s portion is teaching us that the way we live our lives can either sanctify or desecrate God’s image. Or to put it in more secular terms, the way we live our lives and treat one another can serve as a positive or a negative example for society.