“The Jewish people have the honor of being hated.” – Bret Stephens

The unique mission bestowed upon the Jewish people in Parshat Yitro has also been a persistent source of antisemitism throughout history, especially today.

Before the giving of the Ten Commandments, God instructs Moshe to tell the people that if they remain faithful to the covenant, they will be an am segula – a chosen people. Though “the entire earth is Mine,” God declares, Israel is to become a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” How have biblical interpreters understood the idea of chosenness? And what does it demand of the Jewish people – and of the State of Israel – today?

Some commentaries adopt a particularistic approach. Rashi, writing in the shadow of the Crusades, explains that while God is sovereign over all humanity, the Jewish people are God’s most precious possession, likened to a treasured jewel. Yet midrashic tradition adds an important universal dimension: the Torah was offered to all nations; Israel was simply the one that accepted it. Other biblical interpreters emphasize responsibility over privilege. Sforno and Rabbi S.R. Hirsch understand the phrase “kingdom of priests” as a mission: the Jewish people are meant to serve as God’s shlichim (representatives) in the world – modeling monotheism, Torah and holiness.

Chosenness is a double-edged legacy: it has aroused resentment, yet inspired extraordinary contributions to humanity. This tension continues today around the State of Israel. In the face of demonization and hostility, Israel’s calling is not to be distracted by its critics, but to live as a holy nation – a start-up nation not only in technology, but in every arena that sanctifies God’s name in the world. Shabbat Shalom -Karen Miller Jackson