Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow
Shabbat Re’eh
Torah:
Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17
Haftarah:
Isaiah 54:11 - 55:5
“Treasured
People”
Dear Friends,
Are we Jews God’s chosen people? For Rabbi Mordecai
Kaplan and the early framers of Reconstructionist Judaism, the concept of
chosenness was impossible to uphold in contemporary Judaism. At a time in world history, when the Jewish
people was emancipated and finally engaging with all nations, creeds, and
religions, how can we maintain that the Jews are the chosen of God and everyone
else is not? It makes no sense. It is
chauvinistic. That’s why the text of
certain prayers, such as the Torah blessings, the Kiddush wine blessing, and
Aleynu, were changed to remove claims of chosenness.
In this week’s Torah portion, the Children of
Israel is referred to as Am segulah,
which is often translated as treasured
people. The medieval commentator
Rashi explains that the people of Israel are like a precious cup amongst other
cups belonging to a ruler. Each one is
special. Each one is precious in its own
way. Similarly, all people are special
and precious in it own way. All belong
to God. Yet, Israel has a special
relationship, which comes from its history, the Covenant at Sinai, prohibition
of idolatry, and the practice of mitzvot.
Thus, according to Rashi, we are called am segulah – God’s treasured people.
Think of all the blessings that the Jewish people
has brought to and shared with the world.
How do you understand the Torah’s description of Israel as am segulah – God’s treasured people?
Shabbat Shalom,
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