Posted on 05/17/2011 8:06:47 AM PDT by Kaslin
I assume that the type of person who reads columns such as this one has wondered at one time or another why, for thousands of years, there has been so much attention paid to Jews and why, today, to Israel, the one Jewish state.
But how do most people explain this preoccupation? There is no fully rational explanation for the amount of attention paid to the Jews and the Jewish state. And there is no fully rational explanation for the amount of hatred directed at Jews and the Jewish state.
A lifetime of study of this issue, including writing (with Rabbi Joseph Telushkin) a book on anti-Semitism ("Why the Jews? The Reason for Antisemitism") has convinced me that, along with all the rational explanations, there is one explanation that transcends reason alone.
It is that the Jews are God's chosen people.
Now, believe me, dear reader, I am well aware of the hazards of making such a claim.
It sounds chauvinistic. It sounds racist. And it sounds irrational, if not bizarre.
But it is none of these.
As regards chauvinism, there is not a hint of inherent superiority in the claim of Jewish chosen-ness. In fact, the Jewish Bible, the book that states the Jews are chosen, constantly berates the Jews for their flawed moral behavior. No bible of any other religion is so critical of the religious group affiliated with that bible as the Hebrew Scriptures are of the Jews.
As for racism, Jewish chosen-ness cannot be racist by definition. Here is why: a) The Jews are not a race; there are Jews of every race. And b) any person of any race, ethnicity or nationality can become a member of the Jewish people and thereby be as chosen as Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah or the chief rabbi of Israel.
And with regard to chosen-ness being an irrational or even bizarre claim, it must be so only to atheists. They don't believe in a Chooser, so they cannot believe in a Chosen. But for most believing Jews and Christians (most particularly the Founders who saw America as a Second Israel, a second Chosen People), Jewish Chosen-ness has been a given. And even the atheist must look at the evidence and conclude that the Jews play a role in history that defies reason.
Can reason alone explain how a hodgepodge of ex-slaves was able to change history -- to introduce the moral God-Creator we know as God; to write the world's most influential book, the Bible; to devise ethical monotheism; to be the only civilization to deny the cyclical worldview and give humanity belief in a linear (i.e., purposeful) history; to provide morality-driven prophets and so much more -- without God playing the decisive role in this people's history?
Without the Jews, there would be no Christianity (a fact acknowledged by the great majority of Christians) and no Islam (a fact acknowledged by almost no Muslims). Read Thomas Cahill's "The Gifts of the Jews" or Paul Johnson's "A History of the Jews" to get an idea about how much this people changed history.
What further renders the claim for Jewish chosen-ness worthy of rational consideration is that virtually every other nation has perceived itself as chosen or otherwise divinely special. For example, China means "Middle Kingdom" in Chinese -- meaning that China is at the center of the world; and Japan considers itself the land where the sun originates ("Land of the Rising Sun"). The difference between Jewish chosen-ness and other nations' similar claims is that no one cares about any other group considering itself Chosen, while vast numbers of non-Jews have either believed the Jews' claim or have hated the Jews for it.
Perhaps the greatest evidence for the Jews' chosen-ness has been provided in modern times, during which time evil has consistently targeted the Jews:
-- Nazi Germany was more concerned with exterminating the Jews than with winning World War II.
-- Throughout its 70-year history, the Soviet Union persecuted its Jews and tried to extinguish Judaism. Hatred of Jews was one thing communists and Nazis shared.
-- The United Nations has spent more time discussing and condemning the Jewish state than any other country in the world. Yet, this state is smaller than every Central American country, including El Salvador, Panama and even Belize. Imagine if the amount of attention paid to Israel were paid to Belize -- who would not think there was something extraordinary about that country?
-- Much of the contemporary Muslim world -- and nearly all the Arab world -- is obsessed with annihilating the one Jewish state.
In the words of Catholic scholar Father Edward Flannery, the Jews carry the burden of God in history. Most Jews, being secular, do not believe this. And many Jews dislike talk of chosen-ness because they fear it will increase anti-Semitism; they may be right.
But it doesn't alter the fact that the obsession with one of the smallest countries and smallest peoples on earth, and the unique hatred of the Jews and the Jewish state by the world's most vicious ideologies, can be best explained only in transcendent terms. Namely that God, for whatever reason, chose the Jews.
Bit late, your replacement theology has already been soundly refuted.
“Apparently it bothers you for me to bring up the basis of Freemasonry being Kabbalah, Solomon’s temple, etc. Sorry ‘bout that.”
Apparently, you are crazy. I could care less about what Freemasons and even less about what you think about them.
“And I didn’t even mention Kabbalah is also the basis of almost every form of witchcraft and occultic group in the world.”
I have no idea about that. I don’t doubt crazy people distort religion, just like you distort things.
“Are you running cover for your Kabbalist brethren?”
I don’t know a thing about Kabbala.
I do think you are running from men in little white coats who need to take you away.
Appears as tho Hagee like to 'shock' people by his statements...And obviously it worked...Hagee is not wrong but he doesn't go into detail (during that session) to really clarify it...
Jesus did not come AS the Messiah...Jesus came to BE the Messiah...Jesus was born to die...
Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Of course this verse has been altared in all the bibles except the KJV but the truth is there...Jesus' kingdom is not now, but later...
The Jews were looking for a literal King...They didn't get one, yet...
If I was a female, but my wife wouldn’t probably not go for that ...lol ...I’m a recent Noahide, so I enjoy your posts about Judaism...thanks!
Many Jews lived in Arabia, Mesopotamia etc. and definitely Arabs will have some Jewish blood. Ditto for indians from Maharashtra (Bene-Israeli) and Ethiopians (probably more so for Ethiopians), Poles and Italians(due to centuries of inter-mingling) and to a lower extent Spaniards/Portuguese and Germans
Those without this blood are mostly going to be Russians (due to strict rules -- but I could be wrong based on Khazar history), English (as the Jews were kicked out early and when they were allowed back were strictly segregated) and Scandanavians (low interaction) and sub-Saharan, south of Ethiopian Africans and South-East Asians and Chinese/Japanese/Koreans
:)
That's the only reason the Poles and Jews argue -- they can't decide who are the chosen people!
I’m sorry to disagree, but in my humble opinion, present day Judaens/Jews are now just of the tribe of Judah but will have blood from other tribes (besides Benjamin and Simeon that were intermingled in Judah and of course the Levites)
Then you admit that Hagee's words sound heretical in the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m6pPnQjn7w
The best you can say is that Hagee's words need further explanation. Heresy is a tremendous evil and it is wrong to give even the appearance of heresy. However, when Hagee does explain further, he confirms that he is indeed a heretic by saying that Jesus did not come as the Christ.
I am not sure anything in your post had anything to do with mine.
Chill out...
There are few religions more heretical than yours...
Hagee did not say that Jesus did not come as the Christ...Why are you making more stuff up???
I am Jewish.
Comedy album, from 1964:
You Don’t Have to be Jewish
from team that gave us The First Family
Hysterical stuff. Featured such personalities of the day as:
Frank Gallop, Jack Gilford, Lou Jacobi, Betty Walker and Arlene Golonka and others
Home from the office: (with Jewish accent a must)
Man: Sweetheart, you’re honey bunch is home, where are you?
Wife: I’m hiding.
Man: I have a surprise for you, where are you?
Wife: I’m hiding.
Man: I have those gold earrings you wanted, where are you?
Wife: I’m hiding!
IN THE FRONT CLOSET!
I am told the following comes from Jewish sources.
If not, or if any Jewish person is offended, I hope they will forgive me.
I collected it from something recently, but did not save the source.
Goldberg, the representative of the Jewish people on earth, wanted to meet the boss.
The arrangements were made, and Goldberg was soon ushered into the Gates of Heaven.
He was expected.
After a short delay, he was brought into the office.
Goldberg said, Hello, I am Goldberg, the representative of the Jewish people on earth. They have sent me here to see YOU.
The Boss responded, Yes, Mr. Goldberg, what can I do for You?
Goldberg approached HIM. You see, they wanted me to ask you if it is true, that we Jews are the chosen people?
The Boss said loud and clear, YES Mr. Goldberg YOU are the chosen people.
Goldberg hesitated a moment, but then spoke.
Well could you do us a favor? Would you mind choosing somebody else for a change?
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