Q&A: My question for Rabbi Michi
My question for Rabbi Michi
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Recently I listened to a very interesting podcast in which you spoke with Daniel Dushi, and I was very impressed. I wanted to ask you whether you believe that the Jewish people are a chosen people in the sense that they have a special role in history, and therefore their highly improbable course of history—exile, persecutions, the Holocaust, revival, ingathering of the exiles, unlikely victories against enormous forces in the region while in an inferior position, and so on—do you believe that? And how do you explain the unusual historical existence of the Jewish people? Do you think the hand of providence is involved, or is it just coincidence? And do you believe in the prophecies of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)?
Answer
I definitely think we have played a special role in history, down to the present day. It is even plausible that this is our role to play (though that is a different question). But all of this is not necessarily the result of miracles or divine involvement, nor is it mere coincidence. It could be the result of a unique culture that brought all this about.
As a rule, I believe in the prophecies of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), but they do not say very much. It is not clear what exactly the content of a prophecy is—it is open to all kinds of interpretations—and how it is realized. So that belief is fairly empty of content, and certainly not falsifiable.
Discussion on Answer
I haven't written about it because I don't have anything interesting to say about it. Factually, it's clear that we played a significant role in transmitting morality and the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), etc. Was this assigned to us in advance? Maybe.
By the way, speaking of belief in the prophecies of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), only now someone sent me a nice post on the matter that just sharpens what I wrote above: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AMVsyjvin/
Rabbi, thank you for the answer. Let me be more precise about what I mean. In the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) it speaks about the ingathering of the exiles from the four corners of the earth, about the rebuilding of Jerusalem, about wars with the nations that can literally be seen unfolding these very days. What do you think about all this? I mean, how is it possible that these things suddenly were fulfilled / are being fulfilled? The chances, for example, that the ingathering of the exiles would happen after 2,000 years of exile, despite all the difficulties, and would somehow succeed in the face of so many foes and enemies—this does not seem naturally likely. So do you think there is divine intervention here, perhaps something that happened in advance by instilling these abilities in the Jewish nation, or even actual providence throughout history and guidance of us? Why are you hesitant about the idea of providence being involved in the world?
All of these can be natural phenomena, influenced of course by our culture and Jewish law. I've explained several times why I'm hesitant. You can search the site for 'divine involvement in the world.'
Thank you, Rabbi,
I didn't say they can't be natural phenomena, but the whole issue here is one of probability. Is it plausible that all this happened (and is still happening) by chance, without any guiding hand? On the face of it, we're talking about a great many coincidences that don't seem likely to line up this way, and in accordance with prophecies from 2,500 years ago… (I'm talking about the ingathering of the exiles and the wars of the Jewish people with the nations, etc.)
The prophecies are not concrete, so I don't see them as carrying much weight. The ingathering of the exiles is the result of the fact that we have the Torah and received Jewish law, and the commandment of settling the Land, etc. These caused us not to forget it, to long for it, and in the end to return to it. I don't see any indications here of divine involvement. That's it, I'm done. The rest is written on the site's pages.
Thank you, Rabbi!
The Rabbi says it is even plausible that this is our role. I don't think I've seen a column on this issue, but if the Rabbi did write about it, I'd be happy for a reference.