Chosenness and Unity

By Rabbi Mordechai Willig

I.

Hashem brings punishment upon the nations so that Yisrael should hear and be afraid, as it says (Tz'fania 3:6,7), I have destroyed nations etc. I said "Just fear Me, accept mussar" (Rashi Shemos 7:3). According to the Chafetz Chaim (Kuntres Bais Yisrael, Hashmata 2, Ma Lecha Nirdam) Hashem does this in modern times as well. Thus, while Divine justice is always present, a distant natural disaster which claims many lives is a message to Am Yisrael to fear Hashem and repent.

World events are ordained by Divine Providence. This extends beyond earthquakes and floods. It applies to human actions as well. Like streams of water, the heart of a king is in the hands of Hashem. Wherever He wishes He moves it (Mishlei 21:1). Hashem restricts a king's freedom of choice (bechira) since his decisions affect all those under his rule (Ralbag). Therefore, we should pray to Hashem, since He controls the decision of the king (Rabbeinu Yona).

Israel is the land that Hashem investigates (Devarim 11:12), and, through it, other lands as well (Rashi). Hashem's eyes are always on it (ibid.) to see what it needs and to initiate decrees for good or bad (Rashi). Divine Providence is more intense in Israel (Ramban Vayikra 18:25), and affects other lands and nations as well.

In his opening comments on the Torah (Breishis 1:1) Rashi presents these ideas. The Torah begins with the story of creation so that that if the nations of the world will say to Yisrael "You are robbers that captured the land of seven nations", they will respond "Hashem gave it to us". Moreover, the world was created because if of Yisrael who are called reishis.

These ideas are part of the nature of the chosenness (bechira) of Am Yisrael, emphasized repeatedly in our daily tefilla, in birchos haTorah, birchos Krias Shema, and elsewhere. This idea, which is a cardinal principle of Judaism, will ultimately be accepted by all of mankind. That acceptance is an eschatological phenomenon emphasized repeatedly by the Nevi'im. Historically, nearly all Jews, including many non-observant ones, accepted that we are the Am Hanivchar - the chosen nation.

Nowadays, however, some Jews question our biblical right to the land of Israel and our unique state of chosenness. The zeitgeist of liberalism and universalism rejects particularism and nationalism of any kind. (See The Failure of Jewish Universalism, American Thinker, Jan. 11, 2017). Idealism and utopianism, essential elements of proper Jewish belief and practice and of our ability to survive as a nation despite persecution and temptation, have been misappropriated by Jews who deny their chosenness.

II.

The recent elections and presidential decisions, veritable political earthquakes, have exposed seismic fault lines within the Jewish community as well (See Trump's Jews and Obama's Jews).  Reaction to Trump's election and to Obama's UN abstention was, predictably, split along political lines. However, the vitriol and unqualified denunciations within the Jewish community itself are cause for great concern.

The Seforno (Breishis 37:2) comments that the events of Parshas Vayeishev (which was read on the day after the aforementioned abstention) resemble the events of the second Beis Hamikdash and its destruction. Specifically (37:18), the brothers imagined that Yosef plotted to kill them physically, spiritually, or both, in order that only he would survive as the blessed son. Since the Torah said, "one who tries to kill you, kill him first" (Sanhedrin 72a), they decided to kill Yosef.

Ultimately (37:28), they sold Yosef. Similarly, during Bayis Sheini, when Hasmonean kings quarreled they sold one another out to the Romans. This caused our present exile, just as selling Yosef caused the exile in Egypt (Shabbos 10b).

On Yom Kippur (Mussaf) we link the ten martyrs of Roman times with the ten brothers who sold Yosef. The Netziv (Meishiv Davar I, 42) writes that the dispute of that time between the Prushim and the Tzdukim led to the baseless hatred and illicit bloodshed. One who saw a fellow Porush sin would, because of sinas chinam, decree him a Tzduki and lower him (into a pit, see Avodah Zara 26b).

Writing in the late nineteenth century, the Netziv fears that one who sees a fellow observant Jew who serves Hashem in a different way will decree him a heretic. He will distance himself, and they will pursue (rodfim) one another permissibly according to their false imagination, chas veshalom.

The erroneous labeling of another Jew as a rodef, which existed in biblical, Roman and modern times, is a present danger as well. Notwithstanding the danger of anti-Zionist activities by Jews lobbying the governments of the U.S. and Israel, a direct and violent clash between the Jews themselves presents an even greater danger. Moreover, the ultimate decision of rulers in both countries is in Hashem's hands. By avoiding sinas chinam and respecting even Jews with whom we strongly disagree, we can earn Hashem's positive intervention (see Yerushalmi Peah 1:1, contrasting the armies of David and Achav) and hasten the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash.