The Chosen #1 - Dispute As To Hashem's Reasons For Choosing Us - Room For Arrogance?

Regarding the recent posts about the choseness of the Jewish People, I thought it would be edifying to expand with some more posts.... [I am calling it #1 even though we have already had a number of posts].

There is actually a very interesting dispute among the earlier Sages: Rav Saadiah Gaon [Emunos Vi-deos 3/7] and Rambam [Moreh Nevuchim 2/ 29] maintain that we were chosen because we accepted the Torah. However the Kuzari [1/26,27, 101-103], Rav Yosef Albo [Sefer Ha-Ikkarim 3/37], the Ohr Hachaim [we quoted in a previous post] and the Maharal [Netzach Yisrael Chapter 11 ("chapter 11" is SCARY!) and Gevuros Hashem Ch. 24] assert that we were chosen for reasons beyond human reason. Hashem loves us and therefore chose us. Why do you love your mother? Your wife? Your child? Because they DID something specfic? No. You love them because of who they are.

Hashem loves us because of our very essence. We are His עם סגולה  - treasure among the nations.

[Those who would like to expand their horizons and knowledge are invited to read the cited sources inside. That is why I gave you the "address".....]

According to the first approach one may argue that there is nothing inherently special about the Jew and we were just given a job to do on earth that was given to no other people. According to the second approach - Jews as a people are inherently superior [in the spiritual sense of the world without in any way implying that we have the right to harm anyone else] over the other nations.

It is worth keeping in mind the pasuk with the commentary of Chazal - לא מרובכם חשק השם בכם כי אתם המעט מכל העמים - Hashem did not desire us because we "made ourselves great" but because we made ourselves small. מעט מכל העמים. We must be the most self effacing of the nations. THAT is what earns us love from Hashem.


 לזכות רבי דוד שוקראללה בן רחל וכל בני ביתו לברכה והצלחה באהבה רבה