Are Jews genetically different?
We recently discussed the opinion of the Kuzari, the Maharal, the Mekubalim, Rav Kook [he has a passage about this that is hard to believe he wrote - but he did. My censor (some dude who looks just like me and wears my shoes daily) won't let me quote it...] and many others that Jews are different and more G-dly than Gentiles by their very nature [which of course can be neglected like any other natural quality].
What about the Rambam? Some say - the Rambam was a rationalist. He didn't believe in the "supra-rational stuff" that Jews are different. People who say this are usually themselves rationalists and are uncomfortable with the notion that we are special. Instead, they say [and impute onto their Rebbe the Rambam] that we have special responsibilities and obligations but are no different than Gentiles.
My own position is - how am I supposed to know?! It is better not to approach the text with preconceived notions. I only know what our rabbis teach us. If we are different - so be it. If we are not - so be IT. Either way, we control the world's banks so what does it matter.
So the Rambam. A few sources with which to contend:
1] The Rambam writes in his Epistle to Yemen [אגרת תימן]:
וכבר הבטיחנו הבורא יתברך כאדם הנכנס ערב לחברו ודי לנו בערבותו והודיענו שכל מי שעמד על הר סיני שהם מאמינים בנבואות משה רבינו בכל מה שבא על ידו הם ובניהם ובני בניהם עד עולם שכן אמר הקב"ה יתברך (שמות י''ט ט') הנה אנכי בא אליך בעב הענן בעבור ישמע העם בדברי עמך וגם בך יאמינו לעולם לפיכך יש לדעת שכל מי שנטה מדרך הדת הנתונה במעמד ההוא שאינו מזרע האנשים ההם וכן אמרו רבותינו ז"ל על כל המסתפק בנבואה לא עמדו אבותיו על הר סיני המקום יצילנו ויצילכם מן הספק וירחיק ממנו ומכם המחשבות המביאות לידי ספק ולידי מכשול.
We have been given adequate divine assurance that not only did all the persons who were present at the Sinaitic Revelation believe in the prophecy of Moshe and in his Law, but that their descendants likewise would do so, until the end of time, as it is written, "Lo, I come unto you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever." (Exodus 10:9). Consequently it is manifest that he who spurns the religion that was revealed at that event, is not an offspring of the folk who witnessed it. For our sages of blessed memory have insisted that they who doubt the divine message are not scions of the race that were present on Mount Sinai. May God guard us and you from doubt, and banish from our midst confusion, suspicion, which lead to it.
Sounds like we have an "Emunah" gene. [Noted by Rav Bleicher Shlita. See Shabbos 97a - מאמינים בני מאמינים].
2] חַיָּבִין אָנוּ לְהִזָּהֵר בְּמִצְוַת צְדָקָה יוֹתֵר מִכָּל מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה. שֶׁהַצְּדָקָה סִימָן לַצַּדִּיק זֶרַע אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יח יט) "כִּי יְדַעְתִּיו לְמַעַן אֲשֶׁר יְצַוֶּה אֶת בָּנָיו" (בראשית יח יט) "לַעֲשׂוֹת צְדָקָה".
We are obligated to be careful with regard to the mitzvah of charity to a greater extent than all [other] positive commandments, because charity is an identifying mark for a righteous person, a descendant of Avraham, our patriarch, as [Genesis 18:19] states: "I have known him, because he commands his children... to perform charity. [Rambam Hilchos Matnos Aniim 10-1].
Sounds like Tzdaka is in our blood....
3] וְכָל מִי שֶׁהוּא אַכְזָרִי וְאֵינוֹ מְרַחֵם יֵשׁ לָחוּשׁ לְיַחֲסוֹ. שֶׁאֵין הָאַכְזָרִיּוּת מְצוּיָה אֶלָּא בְּעַכּוּ''ם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה נ מב) "אַכְזָרִי הֵמָּה וְלֹא יְרַחֵמוּ".
Whenever a person is cruel and does not show mercy, his lineage is suspect, for cruelty is found only among the gentiles, as [Yirmiyahu 3:42] states: "They are cruel and will not show mercy." [Ibid 10-2 and see Beitzah 32b]
Sounds like compassion is part of our genetic makeup.
Now one can argue that each of these examples doesn't appoint to something genetic but rather something that is part of our culture. For example - about 70 percent of black families in the US are one parent families. Is that genetic? No. It is part of their culture and can [and hopefully will] be changed. So Emunah, Tzdaka and compassion are not part of our genetics but part of our culture [like going to college among all but certain segments of the Torah community. Otherwise - all Jews of all stripes go to college. That isn't genetic but cultural. Even though one could argue that the desire for education IS part of our genetics].
But it would seem that the Rambam viewed Jews as having special, inborn characteristics. When Chazal said [Yevamos 78b] that the three signs of Jews are רחמנים ביישנים and גומלי חסדים, that would seem to point in the same direction.
