The Isrealite Covenant as Jews Understand It

I asked a question a little while ago about why Jews do not actively seek to convert people, and about this idea of a nation of priests

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mnbvcxz87 said:

What's expected of jews as the chosen people is to practice the 613 commandments (although it is less for men/women as 613 is for both) and behave in such as way as to be an example upon gentiles, non jews.

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The Jewish nation is often referred to as "the Chosen People."

Many people (including Jews) are uncomfortable with this idea. They perceive the concept of a "Chosen People" as racist and mindful of the Nazi concept of a supreme "Aryan" nation. It appears to contradict the accepted Western ideal of all people being equal before God.

Is the Jewish concept of choseness racist?

When the Torah refers to the Jewish people as "chosen," it is not in any way asserting that Jews are racially superior. Americans, Russians, Europeans, Asians and Ethiopians are all part of the Jewish people. It is impossible to define choseness as anything related to race, since Jews are racially diverse.

Yet while the term "Chosen People" (Am Nivchar- Deut. 7:6) does not mean racially superior, choseness does imply a special uniqueness.

What is this uniqueness?

Historically, it goes back to Abraham. Abraham lived in a world steeped in idolatry, which he concluded was contradicted by the reality of design in nature.

So Abraham came to a belief in God, and took upon himself the mission of teaching others of the monotheistic ideal. Abraham was even willing to suffer persecution for his beliefs. After years of enormous effort, dedication and a willingness to accept the responsibility to be God's representative in this world, God chose Abraham and his descendents to be the teachers of this monotheistic message.

In other words it is not so much that God chose the Jews; it is more accurate that the Jews (through Abraham) chose God.

(...).

The essence of being chosen means responsibility. It is a responsibility to change the world -- not by converting everyone to Judaism, but by living as a model community upheld by ethics, morals and beliefs of one God. In that way, we can influence the rest of mankind, a "light unto the nations" (Isaiah 42:6).

(...).

Further, Judaism is not exclusionary. A human being need not to be Jewish to reach a high spiritual level. Enoch "walked with God," and Noah had quite a high level of relationship, though neither were Jewish. Our tradition is that all of the 70 nations must function together and play an integral part in that "being" called humanity.

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Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying: You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities.

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Jayda06 said:

thank you so much stillsmallvoice!

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Jayda06 said:

so it seems to me that judaism is more than a religion... like jews do not concieve of it like other people think of religions...

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Jayda06 said:

you dont have to become jewish to be saved... but if you are jewish you have responsibilities to be something...

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Jayda06 said:

okay so if i may ask... are the practices and rituals associated with judaism about correct worship and how we should worship or is it about honoring the relationship with God?

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Jayda06 said:

...non jews dont have to have sacrifices at temples and shofar horns and torahs and things right... just worship God?

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Jayda06 said:

and do you think that Jesus if not a prophet nor son of God was at least a very successful Jew? like because so many people are monotheistic and honor (well... verbally) the jewish status as role models, because of Jesus than his effect is what Jews are meant to do? ... i mean he is kind of responsible for christianity and islam which together are about 4 billion monotheists...

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The flipside of being "chosen" is not so pleasant:

Amos 3:1-2 tells us:

Quote:
Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt, saying: You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will visit upon you all your iniquities.
Be well!

ssv

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