In the year 1899, Mark Twain penned his famous essay Concerning the Jews, which he later described as his “gem in the ocean.” He concluded with the following passage:
The Egyptian, the Babylonian and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?
The Egyptian, the Babylonian and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?
Blaise Pascal, Pensées, p. 116
This people are not eminent solely by their antiquity, but are also singular by their duration, which has always continued from their origin till now. For, whereas the nations of Greece and of Italy, of Lacedaemon, of Athens and of Rome, and others who came long after, have long since perished, these ever remain, and in spite of the endeavors of many powerful kings who have a hundred times tried to destroy them, as their historians testify, and as it is easy to conjecture from the natural order of things during so long a space of years, they have nevertheless been preserved (and this preservation has been foretold); and extending from the earliest times to the latest, their history comprehends in its duration all our histories which it preceded by a long time.
This people are not eminent solely by their antiquity, but are also singular by their duration, which has always continued from their origin till now. For, whereas the nations of Greece and of Italy, of Lacedaemon, of Athens and of Rome, and others who came long after, have long since perished, these ever remain, and in spite of the endeavors of many powerful kings who have a hundred times tried to destroy them, as their historians testify, and as it is easy to conjecture from the natural order of things during so long a space of years, they have nevertheless been preserved (and this preservation has been foretold); and extending from the earliest times to the latest, their history comprehends in its duration all our histories which it preceded by a long time.
Nikolai Berdyaev, The Meaning of History (1935)
The Jews have played an all-important role in history. Their destiny is too imbued with the “metaphysical” to be explained either in material or positive historical terms … Its survival is a mysterious and wonderful phenomenon demonstrating that the life of this people is governed by special predetermination, transcending the process of adaptation … The survival of the Jews, their resistance to destruction, their endurance under absolute peculiar conditions and the fateful role played by them in history; all point to the particular and mysterious foundations of their destiny.
The Jews have played an all-important role in history. Their destiny is too imbued with the “metaphysical” to be explained either in material or positive historical terms … Its survival is a mysterious and wonderful phenomenon demonstrating that the life of this people is governed by special predetermination, transcending the process of adaptation … The survival of the Jews, their resistance to destruction, their endurance under absolute peculiar conditions and the fateful role played by them in history; all point to the particular and mysterious foundations of their destiny.
Leo Tolstoy, What is the Jew? quoted in The Final Resolution, p. 189
What is the Jew? … What kind of unique creature is this whom all the rulers of all the nations of the world have disgraced and crushed and expelled and destroyed; persecuted, burned and drowned, and who, despite their anger and their fury, continues to live and to flourish? What is this Jew whom they have never succeeded in enticing with all the enticements in the world, whose oppressors and persecutors only suggested that he deny (and disown) his religion and cast aside the faithfulness of his ancestors?! The Jew – is the symbol of eternity. … He is the one who for so long had guarded the prophetic message and transmitted it to all mankind. A people such as this can never disappear. The Jew is eternal. He is the embodiment of eternity.
What is the Jew? … What kind of unique creature is this whom all the rulers of all the nations of the world have disgraced and crushed and expelled and destroyed; persecuted, burned and drowned, and who, despite their anger and their fury, continues to live and to flourish? What is this Jew whom they have never succeeded in enticing with all the enticements in the world, whose oppressors and persecutors only suggested that he deny (and disown) his religion and cast aside the faithfulness of his ancestors?! The Jew – is the symbol of eternity. … He is the one who for so long had guarded the prophetic message and transmitted it to all mankind. A people such as this can never disappear. The Jew is eternal. He is the embodiment of eternity.
Winston Churchill, Illustrated Sunday Herald, 8 February, 1920
Some people like Jews and some do not, but no thoughtful man can doubt the fact that they are beyond all question the most formidable and the most remarkable race which has ever appeared in the world.
Some people like Jews and some do not, but no thoughtful man can doubt the fact that they are beyond all question the most formidable and the most remarkable race which has ever appeared in the world.
Rabbi Motty Berger and Rabbi Asher Resnick, The Seven Wonders of Jewish History, www.aish.com
The fact that we are an eternal nation becomes even more amazing when we consider that the Jews don’t even possess the basic characteristics that define a nation: Land, language and history.
Do the Jewish people have a land in common?
Well, for 2000 years, the vast majority of the Jewish people never set foot in the Land of Israel. All other nations in the world had a land in common that they settled and lived in, but for the majority of our history, the Jews never had a land to call their own. Israel was a common dream, yes, but not a common land.
Now how many of you speak Hebrew? How many speak it well? For the vast majority of our history, most Jews didn’t speak the language. Sure, the Torah portion was read aloud in Hebrew, in Shul, but the spoken languages were Aramaic, Ladino, Yiddish, French, English, and many others.
How about a common history? Well, you’ve got to go pretty far back in time to get to one. For the last several centuries, Jews have been scattered across the globe. We certainly don’t have a history in common.
So, not only are the Jewish people poor candidates for being an eternal nation – without a common land, language or history – we’re hardly candidates to be any kind of nation at all!
The fact that we are an eternal nation becomes even more amazing when we consider that the Jews don’t even possess the basic characteristics that define a nation: Land, language and history.
Do the Jewish people have a land in common?
Well, for 2000 years, the vast majority of the Jewish people never set foot in the Land of Israel. All other nations in the world had a land in common that they settled and lived in, but for the majority of our history, the Jews never had a land to call their own. Israel was a common dream, yes, but not a common land.
Now how many of you speak Hebrew? How many speak it well? For the vast majority of our history, most Jews didn’t speak the language. Sure, the Torah portion was read aloud in Hebrew, in Shul, but the spoken languages were Aramaic, Ladino, Yiddish, French, English, and many others.
How about a common history? Well, you’ve got to go pretty far back in time to get to one. For the last several centuries, Jews have been scattered across the globe. We certainly don’t have a history in common.
So, not only are the Jewish people poor candidates for being an eternal nation – without a common land, language or history – we’re hardly candidates to be any kind of nation at all!
Huston Smith, The Religions of Man, pp. 292-3
We have already quoted the judgment of a sociologist that “by every sociological law the Jews should have perished long ago”; to which we may now add that of a noted philosopher, Nicholas Berdyaev: “The continued existence of Jewry down the centuries is rationally inexplicable.”
If what these facts and judgments attest to is true and Jewish history and achievement have been atypical, there are two possibilities. Either the credit belongs to the Jews themselves, or it belongs to God. Given this alternative the Jews instinctively turned the credit God-ward. One of the striking features of this exceptional people has been their refusal to see anything exceptional in themselves as people … The only alternative was that it had come from God’s special grace. Thus it is that a concept which looks at first to have been prompted by national arrogance [i.e., the Chosen People] turns out to be the humblest interpretation of the facts they saw coming their way.
We have already quoted the judgment of a sociologist that “by every sociological law the Jews should have perished long ago”; to which we may now add that of a noted philosopher, Nicholas Berdyaev: “The continued existence of Jewry down the centuries is rationally inexplicable.”
If what these facts and judgments attest to is true and Jewish history and achievement have been atypical, there are two possibilities. Either the credit belongs to the Jews themselves, or it belongs to God. Given this alternative the Jews instinctively turned the credit God-ward. One of the striking features of this exceptional people has been their refusal to see anything exceptional in themselves as people … The only alternative was that it had come from God’s special grace. Thus it is that a concept which looks at first to have been prompted by national arrogance [i.e., the Chosen People] turns out to be the humblest interpretation of the facts they saw coming their way.
(ה) וְעַתָּ֗ה אִם־שָׁמ֤וֹעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ בְּקֹלִ֔י וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֖ם אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֑י וִהְיִ֨יתֶם לִ֤י סְגֻלָּה֙ מִכׇּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים כִּי־לִ֖י כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
(5) Now then, if you will obey Me faithfully and keep My covenant, you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples. Indeed, all the earth is Mine,
(יז) אֶת־ה' הֶאֱמַ֖רְתָּ הַיּ֑וֹם לִהְיוֹת֩ לְךָ֨ לֵֽאלֹקִ֜ים וְלָלֶ֣כֶת בִּדְרָכָ֗יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֨ר חֻקָּ֧יו וּמִצְוֺתָ֛יו וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֥עַ בְּקֹלֽוֹ׃ (יח) וַֽה' הֶאֱמִֽירְךָ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם לִהְי֥וֹת לוֹ֙ לְעַ֣ם סְגֻלָּ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־לָ֑ךְ וְלִשְׁמֹ֖ר כׇּל־מִצְוֺתָֽיו׃
(17) You have affirmed this day that the LORD is your God, that you will walk in His ways, that you will observe His laws and commandments and rules, and that you will obey Him. (18) And the LORD has affirmed this day that you are, as He promised you, His treasured people who shall observe all His commandments,
(ג) ....וְאַהֲבַ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ אֲהַבְתִּ֔יךְ עַל־כֵּ֖ן מְשַׁכְתִּ֥יךְ חָֽסֶד׃
(3) ....I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn out kindness for you.
(יא) כִּֽי־אִתְּךָ֥ אֲנִ֛י נְאֻם־ה' לְהֽוֹשִׁיעֶ֑ךָ כִּי֩ אֶעֱשֶׂ֨ה כָלָ֜ה בְּכׇֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֣ם ׀ אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֲפִצוֹתִ֣יךָ שָּׁ֗ם אַ֤ךְ אֹֽתְךָ֙ לֹֽא־אֶעֱשֶׂ֣ה כָלָ֔ה וְיִסַּרְתִּ֙יךָ֙ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֔ט וְנַקֵּ֖ה לֹ֥א אֲנַקֶּֽךָּ׃ {ס}
(11) For I am with you to deliver you
—declares the LORD.
I will make an end of all the nations
Among which I have dispersed you;
But I will not make an end of you!
I will not leave you unpunished,
But will chastise you in measure.
—declares the LORD.
I will make an end of all the nations
Among which I have dispersed you;
But I will not make an end of you!
I will not leave you unpunished,
But will chastise you in measure.
(לה) כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר ה' נֹתֵ֥ן שֶׁ֙מֶשׁ֙ לְא֣וֹר יוֹמָ֔ם חֻקֹּ֛ת יָרֵ֥חַ וְכוֹכָבִ֖ים לְא֣וֹר לָ֑יְלָה רֹגַ֤ע הַיָּם֙ וַיֶּהֱמ֣וּ גַלָּ֔יו ה' צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמֽוֹ׃ (לו) אִם־יָמֻ֜שׁוּ הַחֻקִּ֥ים הָאֵ֛לֶּה מִלְּפָנַ֖י נְאֻם־ה' גַּם֩ זֶ֨רַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל יִשְׁבְּת֗וּ מִהְי֥וֹת גּ֛וֹי לְפָנַ֖י כׇּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ {ס}
(35) Thus said the LORD, Who established the sun for light by day, The laws of moon and stars for light by night,Who stirs up the sea into roaring waves, Whose name is LORD of Hosts:
(36) If these laws should ever be annulled by Me—declares the LORD—Only then would the offspring of Israel cease To be a nation before Me for all time.
Talmud Bavli, Yoma 69b
If not for fear of the Holy One, Blessed is He, how could a single nation survive among the nations?
If not for fear of the Holy One, Blessed is He, how could a single nation survive among the nations?
Tosafot, Chagigah 3b
It is said in the Midrash that three things testify about each other: Israel, Shabbat, and the Holy One, Blessed be He. Israel and God testify about Shabbat that it is a day of rest; Israel and Shabbat testify about God that He is One; God and Shabbat testify about Israel that they are unique among the nations.
It is said in the Midrash that three things testify about each other: Israel, Shabbat, and the Holy One, Blessed be He. Israel and God testify about Shabbat that it is a day of rest; Israel and Shabbat testify about God that He is One; God and Shabbat testify about Israel that they are unique among the nations.
Rabbi Shlomo Molcho (16th century), Sefer Ha-Mefoar
For the Nation of Israel is God’s ‘Throne of Glory.’ Just as He is without any limit so Israel are without any limit. This is the meaning of the verse, “You, O God, dwell forever; Your throne is from generation to generation.” Just as God is eternal, so Israel, who are His throne, are eternal.
For the Nation of Israel is God’s ‘Throne of Glory.’ Just as He is without any limit so Israel are without any limit. This is the meaning of the verse, “You, O God, dwell forever; Your throne is from generation to generation.” Just as God is eternal, so Israel, who are His throne, are eternal.
(יז) אֶת־ה' הֶאֱמַ֖רְתָּ הַיּ֑וֹם לִהְיוֹת֩ לְךָ֨ לֵֽאלֹקִ֜ים וְלָלֶ֣כֶת בִּדְרָכָ֗יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֨ר חֻקָּ֧יו וּמִצְוֺתָ֛יו וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֖יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֥עַ בְּקֹלֽוֹ׃ (יח) וַֽה' הֶאֱמִֽירְךָ֣ הַיּ֗וֹם לִהְי֥וֹת לוֹ֙ לְעַ֣ם סְגֻלָּ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּר־לָ֑ךְ וְלִשְׁמֹ֖ר כׇּל־מִצְוֺתָֽיו׃
(17) You have affirmed this day that the LORD is your God, that you will walk in His ways, that you will observe His laws and commandments and rules, and that you will obey Him. (18) And the LORD has affirmed this day that you are, as He promised you, His treasured people who shall observe all His commandments,
(יד) וְאִם־לֹ֥א תִשְׁמְע֖וּ לִ֑י וְלֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֔וּ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַמִּצְוֺ֖ת הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
(14) But if you do not obey Me and do not observe all these commandments,
(לג) וְאֶתְכֶם֙ אֱזָרֶ֣ה בַגּוֹיִ֔ם וַהֲרִיקֹתִ֥י אַחֲרֵיכֶ֖ם חָ֑רֶב וְהָיְתָ֤ה אַרְצְכֶם֙ שְׁמָמָ֔ה וְעָרֵיכֶ֖ם יִהְי֥וּ חׇרְבָּֽה׃
(33) And you I will scatter among the nations, and I will unsheath the sword against you. Your land shall become a desolation and your cities a ruin.
(מד) וְאַף־גַּם־זֹ֠את בִּֽהְיוֹתָ֞ם בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֗ם לֹֽא־מְאַסְתִּ֤ים וְלֹֽא־גְעַלְתִּים֙ לְכַלֹּתָ֔ם לְהָפֵ֥ר בְּרִיתִ֖י אִתָּ֑ם כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י ה' אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃
(44) Yet, even then, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or spurn them so as to destroy them, annulling My covenant with them: for I the LORD am their God.
(כו) הַעִידֹ֩תִי֩ בָכֶ֨ם הַיּ֜וֹם אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ כִּֽי־אָבֹ֣ד תֹּאבֵדוּן֮ מַהֵר֒ מֵעַ֣ל הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֜ם עֹבְרִ֧ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּ֑הּ לֹֽא־תַאֲרִיכֻ֤ן יָמִים֙ עָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֥י הִשָּׁמֵ֖ד תִּשָּׁמֵדֽוּן׃ (כז) וְהֵפִ֧יץ ה' אֶתְכֶ֖ם בָּעַמִּ֑ים וְנִשְׁאַרְתֶּם֙ מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֔ר בַּגּוֹיִ֕ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְנַהֵ֧ג ה' אֶתְכֶ֖ם שָֽׁמָּה׃
(26) I call heaven and earth this day to witness against you that you shall soon perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess; you shall not long endure in it, but shall be utterly wiped out. (27) The LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a scant few of you shall be left among the nations to which the LORD will drive you.
The Discovery Sourcebook, Aish HaTorah, p. 62
The Jewish nation is ancient. However, in relation to the length of its days, its numbers are few. The persecution and servitude, the forced conversions and the assimilation, all did their part to curb its growth …The total number of Jews never exceeded 16 million – and rarely exceeded 1% of total world population. (Currently it’s 0.23%!)
When the Common Era began, Jews comprised 10% of the Roman Empire. By comparison to the multiplication of China, one can imagine how many Jews there should have been now!
The Jewish nation is ancient. However, in relation to the length of its days, its numbers are few. The persecution and servitude, the forced conversions and the assimilation, all did their part to curb its growth …The total number of Jews never exceeded 16 million – and rarely exceeded 1% of total world population. (Currently it’s 0.23%!)
When the Common Era began, Jews comprised 10% of the Roman Empire. By comparison to the multiplication of China, one can imagine how many Jews there should have been now!
Talmud Bavli, Sanhedrin 97b
Rabbi Yehoshua told him, “If they do not repent, they will not be redeemed. Rather, God brings upon them a king whose decrees are as harsh as those of Haman, and [the people of] Israel repent, and they return to the right path.”
Rabbi Yehoshua told him, “If they do not repent, they will not be redeemed. Rather, God brings upon them a king whose decrees are as harsh as those of Haman, and [the people of] Israel repent, and they return to the right path.”
Talmud Bavli, Megillah 14a
The removal of the ring [Achashverosh’s signet ring which was given to Haman in order to seal the decree against the Jews] was greater than forty-eight prophets and seven prophetesses that prophesied for Israel. None of them could induce Israel to repent, yet the removal of the ring did.
The removal of the ring [Achashverosh’s signet ring which was given to Haman in order to seal the decree against the Jews] was greater than forty-eight prophets and seven prophetesses that prophesied for Israel. None of them could induce Israel to repent, yet the removal of the ring did.
Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 20:31-36
“As I live,” says the Lord God, “I will not be inquired of by you. But what enters your mind shall not come about, what you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the families of the lands, to serve wood and stone.’ As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with poured
“As I live,” says the Lord God, “I will not be inquired of by you. But what enters your mind shall not come about, what you say, ‘Let us be like the nations, like the families of the lands, to serve wood and stone.’ As I live,” says the Lord God, “surely with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with poured
Anne Frank, Diary of a Young Girl, entry dated April 11, 1944
Who has made us Jews different from all other people? Who has allowed us to suffer so terribly up until now? It is God who has made us as we are, but it will be God, too, Who will raise us up again. Who knows, it might even be our religion from which the world and all peoples learn good, and for that reason and only that reason do we suffer. We can never become just Netherlanders, or just English or representatives of any country for that matter. We will always remain Jews.
Who has made us Jews different from all other people? Who has allowed us to suffer so terribly up until now? It is God who has made us as we are, but it will be God, too, Who will raise us up again. Who knows, it might even be our religion from which the world and all peoples learn good, and for that reason and only that reason do we suffer. We can never become just Netherlanders, or just English or representatives of any country for that matter. We will always remain Jews.
(ה) וְיָדַעְתָּ֖ עִם־לְבָבֶ֑ךָ כִּ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר יְיַסֵּ֥ר אִישׁ֙ אֶת־בְּנ֔וֹ ה' אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ מְיַסְּרֶֽךָּ׃
(5) Bear in mind that the LORD your God disciplines you just as a man disciplines his son.
(ג) וְשָׁ֨ב ה' אֱלֹקֶ֛יךָ אֶת־שְׁבוּתְךָ֖ וְרִחֲמֶ֑ךָ וְשָׁ֗ב וְקִבֶּצְךָ֙ מִכׇּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר הֱפִֽיצְךָ֛ ה' אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ שָֽׁמָּה׃ (ד) אִם־יִהְיֶ֥ה נִֽדַּחֲךָ֖ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם מִשָּׁ֗ם יְקַבֶּצְךָ֙ ה' אֱלֹקֶ֔יךָ וּמִשָּׁ֖ם יִקָּחֶֽךָ׃ (ה) וֶהֱבִיאֲךָ֞ ה' אֱלֹקֶ֗יךָ אֶל־הָאָ֛רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יָרְשׁ֥וּ אֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֑הּ וְהֵיטִֽבְךָ֥ וְהִרְבְּךָ֖ מֵאֲבֹתֶֽיךָ׃
(3) then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and take you back in love. He will bring you together again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you. (4) Even if your outcasts are at the ends of the world, from there the LORD your God will gather you, from there He will fetch you. (5) And the LORD your God will bring you to the land that your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will make you more prosperous and more numerous than your fathers.