What is Am Yisrael (The Jewish People)?

Rabbi Shlomo Aviner


Question: What is Am Yisrael? Can its nature be defined?
Answer: This is a very big question. In his book OROT (Lights of Israel 1,3) Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook clarifies that the nation of Israel is beyond definition. Saying that Am Yisrael (The Jewish People) is the Divine vessel for the appearance of G-d's light in the world, is as though we were attempting to define the concept of Divine light. Am Yisrael's major concern is goodness. Its essence is genius, talent, the aspiration to G-dliness, to the ultimate goodness. From this eternal aspiration the Jew devotes his soul to doing as much good to as many people as possible. The Jews are blessed with the capacity to endow life with profound goodness and morality. Capacity for Devotion to G-d.

This brings up the question: What is special about our people?
The Creator told Avraham our father: 'And I will make thee into a great nation' (Genesis 12, 2). We are a great nation, but in what way? The commentary on this is summed up in Deuteronomy: "Where is there a nation who has a closeness with G-d such as our G-d every time we call out to him? And what nation has such just laws and rules as this Torah?" (ibid. 4,8). The purpose is to be a nation of great holiness, morality and G-d consciousness: "And you who are devout to G-d are all alive today" (ibid 4,4). We are a nation with greatness in its capacity for G-d consciousness; we possess this talent. G-d directed history towards the appearance of a great nation. There must be a nation through which G-d will convey His messages in this world. This nation will then bring good and blessing to humanity: "And all the nations will be blessed by your merit" (Genesis 12, 3; 28, 24). Just as there are nations great in the realm of mathematics or physics, in metaphysics or music, and their contribution is needed by all other nations, so we are a great nation in the sense of our ability to discover the G-dly presence in the world.

 

 

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