J7: Chosen People

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Introduction

Sunday, 31st August 1997. As thousands of different tributes form around the world pour in to mark the tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales, there does seem to be one common theme that runs through most. Princess Diana's legacy is universal, she cared for everyone irrelevant of their race or creed. In her humanitarian efforts throughout the world she reached out and touched all, breaking down any barriers that exist between people. Irrelevant of religious, economic or national differences, she was the people's princess. What a positive legacy this is. How many wars have been started due to the misunderstandings that exist between different people? How much bloodshed has there been as a result of intolerance and hatred of people who are different? In the age of increasing globalisation, where information can be transmitted around the world at the push of a button and boundaries between people seem increasingly fragile, this universal message is of crucial importance.

Indeed it is and this is why this JAMS chapter asks what possibly is the most crucial Jewish question of all. So why be different? As Jews we often celebrate the fact that we are different, separate from everyone else.

"Today you have declared allegiance to God, making him your God…God has similarly declared his allegiance to you today, making you His special nation" (Deutronomy 26:17-18)

We have our own set of rules that apply just to us and our own set of festivals that link us to historic events of our people in the past. Intermarriage is frowned upon and various laws are actually designed to keep us from mixing too much with other people. This is the opposite of a universal message. It is a particular one. It applies to a particular people that seem determined to mark themselves off from everyone else. Is Princess Diana's overriding legacy such an anathema to Jewish thought? Does not such a separatist attitude promote disharmony, intolerance and conflict? Why be different?

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