The Chosen People

Found 4 Search results

  1. In the Lions' Den - Part 1

    Rabbi Yaakov Medan

    The phenomenon of Anti-Semitism did not exist during the first Beit HaMikdash period. The Babylonian conquest of Yehuda was part of a regional struggle, and not aimed specifically at the Jewish faith. The rise of Anti-Semitism during the Second Beit HaMikdash period may relate to the fact that the Jewish Nation was the first nation to be exiled and still retain its national spirit. Its people, as Daniel and his companions demonstrate, were shown to be courageous and talented. This was a threatening phenomenon, which might have given rise to hatred.

  2. Amos 3-4 - Matan Al HaPerek

    Rabbi David Sabato

    In the beginning of Chapter 3, Amos warns the nation that being the chosen people will not prevent them from being punished.   In fact, the opposite is true – the choice imposes on them a responsibility which, if ignored, will bring harsh punishment.  In the continuaton of the perek there is a series of rhetorical questons with similar structures, emphasizing that the prophet is compelled to prophesy (3-8). Afer the series of questons, Amos begins to give prophecies of rebuke against the upper classes in Samaria, whose wealth is derived from exploitaton of the poor. 

    Chapter 4 begins with rebuke for the idol worship in Beit El and Gilgal. The naton absorbs blow afer blow, but remains rebellious and does not return to God.

    The study guide includes guided questions and an appendix about the Kingdom of Israel.

  3. Rashi

    Part 7 - Rashi and Christianity (II)

    Dr. Avigail Rock

    In the Torah itself, we find the following pro-Israel and anti-Christian trends in Rashi's commentary that appear to be a response to Christianity:

    • The Eternal Selection of Jewish Nation
    • The Jewish Nation as a Moral People
    • The demonization of Esav as a symbol of Christianity
    • The defense of Yaakov and his entitlement to the birthrite and the blessings

    These interpretations of Rashi cannot be seen only as encouraging the Jewish community at a time of persecution; it appears that Rashi’s aim is to teach his generation how to answer theological challenges.

  4. How Sefer Tehillim interprets Sefer Breishit

    Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

    תאריך פרסום: 2022 | | Hour and 5 minutes

    Even though Sefer Breishit clearly tells the story of how God chose our forefathers to start a nation; the underlying thematic question of why God chose them remains unclear. In this lecture, we will turn to several key chapters in the book of Tehillim that allude to those stories, to see how they can help us answer that fundamental question.