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Why Be a Nation?Rabbi Shlomo AvinerQuestion: We are overjoyed at the rebirth of our nation, but we cannot overlook the fact that the general direction it is taking is universalistic, as we see from the unification of the European nations. Why shouldn't the whole human race become one big family? Why should we insist on a separate national identity which leads to bloodshed? Answer: Indeed, we find both these approaches expressed by our Early Sages: on the one hand "any human created in the image of G-d is dear', and on the other hand 'the children of Israel are dear, as they have been named children of G-d' (Pirkei Avot 3, 18). However, there is no contradiction here, as both were said by the same Sage, the great Rabbi Akiva. It is true in a sense that all of humanity is one big family; we all have one father, one Creator, who has made us all. And yet, each nation has a unique character, a collective psychology, a national genius, or as the Sages termed it: an angel of its own. Just as every individual has a soul, so does every nation have a soul. We must strengthen peace ties among nations, while at the same time being on guard so that the globalization processes do not annihilate the special 'personality' of every nation. It is indeed difficult and painful to see that nationalism sometimes causes bloodshed, and not necessarily nationalism, at that, but rather any religious or social idea given in the hands of extremists. In other words: it is not the idea which causes bloodshed but rather the fanaticism of its adherents, who are lacking Midot Tovot (positive personality traits), and therefore believe they possess the whole truth. Such individuals cannot tolerate anyone who differs from them. And so the world is filled with wars based on national, religious, financial or social differences. The more man purifies his character, the less wars he will suffer. But after all, doesn't it seem as though there is an inner contradiction between nationalism and morality, as though nationalism manifests a type of collective egoism? The answer to this is that this egoism is essential, as every nation must see to its own needs before it takes care of others, lest it suffer. Excessive concern for other nations may turn out to be national suicide. However, this is not the case with the nation of Israel, whose raison d'etre is not to be concerned with itself only but rather to bestow blessing on humanity at large, as G-d said to Avraham our forefather, the father of the nation of Israel: "And I will make thee into a great nation and all the families of the land will be blessed by your merit" (Genesis 12,2). Indeed we see Avraham caring not only for his family, but also for every person he meets for the mere sake of his humanness. Avraham selflessly accepts guests from any nation and tongue and prays even for the people of Sodom. This is why he deserves the title "Av Hamon Goyim" 'father of many nations' (Genesis 17, 4), father of all humanity. If so, why is a special nation needed? Just as man needs a heart, so humanity needs a 'heart nation'. Rabbi Yehuda Halevi writes that Am Yisrael is the heart of humanity (Kuzari 2, 36). Not a detached heart nor an arrogant one, not a frozen heart, but a live heart to pump life energy into all the organs. Just as loving the heart means loving all the organs, so loving the nation of Israel is equal to love of humanity. When we work on behalf of our nation, to strengthen the Jewish army and state and hold on to the Land of Israel, we are in fact acting on behalf of humanity as a whole. This is not egoistic love, it is universal love. Indeed, since Am Yisrael has settled its land, much light has shone forth from it to all the nations, endowing them with joy and many blessings. Throughout the generations, while suffering so much from the peoples surrounding us "All nations have surrounded me surrounded me like bees", we have not ceased to pray for their happiness and success, ending our three daily prayers reciting the 'Aleinu LeShabe'ach' ('We must now Praise') prayer for the wellbeing of humanity in general. We care for all human beings on earth, though our love for the nation of Israel is deepest. Our task now is to cement the ties among ourselves, i.e., within our nation, following which we will proceed towards world peace.
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