Q&A: A Unique Weight Among the Jewish People
A Unique Weight Among the Jewish People
Question
Hello, honorable Rabbi!
In the fifth booklet, the Rabbi pointed out the unique weight of the Jewish people in culture, science, etc.
Aren't there today other nations with similar weight in many fields, like the United States for example, which has influenced many areas around the world?
Answer
There are, but not in that proportion. Beyond that, the United States has power (economic and otherwise) that explains this quite well. It isn't an ethnic or religious question. Beyond that, in the United States too we're talking about many Jews. And beyond that, the United States imports the best talent from all over the world. And we haven't even started talking about the persecutions and suffering of the Jews.
Discussion on Answer
Both. To the best of my knowledge, there are no other nations with that much influence relative to their power and size. The examples you gave are completely the opposite kind of examples. I don't have much to add. It seems entirely obvious to me, unless one insists otherwise.
Hello, honorable Rabbi.
What is the proportion? Is it Jewish success relative to their share of the world's population, or success in itself, which surpasses others by a great deal in many fields?
There are other nations too whose proportion relative to the world is tiny; even if they had power (the Jews today also have power), they still influenced the world greatly in a variety of fields, like Rome, Egypt, etc. Why is our phenomenon unique?