Q&A: The Jewish People
The Jewish People
Question
Hello, Rabbi. I would be happy if the Rabbi could explain the concept of the Jewish people as a collective, and mutual responsibility among Jews.
Answer
“The Jewish People” is a term for the Jewish collective. One can see it as merely a general name for the collection of Jews, but people tend to view it as the name of some idea that perhaps exists in reality. The Sages speak about the heavenly prince of this nation or that nation, and that too apparently refers to the same idea.
I did not understand what is unclear about the issue of mutual responsibility.
Discussion on Answer
What does “look after” mean?
That’s what I’m asking the Rabbi—how is this mutual responsibility between one Jew and another expressed?
The law of mutual responsibility is stated in Jewish law mainly with regard to enabling someone else to fulfill their obligation in commandments, and preventing another person from sinning (Shevuot 39a). Mutual responsibility in the sense commonly used today belongs to a collection of quite a few other specific commandments (“love your neighbor as yourself,” charity and kindness, and the like).
Do I have an obligation to look after every Jew???