Q&A: The Survival of the Jewish People
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
The Survival of the Jewish People
Question
Hello Rabbi Michi,
2 questions.
1. Why, in your opinion, is there still importance to the continued existence of the Jewish people? I understand that in the past Judaism introduced values and beliefs that perhaps did not exist in the ancient world. But today, what unique value does it add to the world? If none, then why oppose Israel being a state of all its citizens?
2. Why is it important to study Torah?
Answer
How nice that there are simple questions that can be condensed and squeezed into a sentence or two. 🙂
- The importance of the Jewish people is not measured in terms of what they contribute to the world. On the contrary, in the accepted outlooks the world exists in order to contribute to them. At the root of the matter stands the assumption that the fundamental purpose of human beings is not moral-value-based conduct. Morality is meant to create a healthy society, and once that exists one can then approach the goal itself: the religious values achieved by the commandments (especially those that do not belong to morality, but not only them). I do not see a connection to the question of a state of all its citizens. That is a question that concerns the state, not the people. And in general, who told you that one must oppose a state of all its citizens? And who told you that there is value in the continued existence of the Jewish people? Right now it exists, and there is no reason not to be concerned for its continued existence.
- Because it is God’s will that we study, and because the commandments are a collection of His wills, and studying them is cleaving to His will, and through it, to Him.