Core Identity of the Jewish People

As we approach the holiday of Shavuos, the anniversary of the Jewish People receiving the eternal covenant from G-d, known as the Torah, it's important to reflect on our identity. Judaism is not a classical religion in the sense of a set of beliefs that all of its members adhere to. In contrast to other major religions, such as Christianity or Islam, if one rejects the core tenets of those faiths, they will no longer be a Christian or Muslim. Judaism has no such exit clause. One can say they don't believe in G-d or the Torah, and one is still considered Jewish. Judaism is also not a nationality in the traditional sense, as there are American Jews, Iranian Jews, and even Fijian Jews. Judaism is also not a race, as there are White Jews, Black Jews, Hispanic Jews, Asian Jews, etc. If Judaism is not a classical religion, nationality, or race, then as the caterpillar asked Alice in Alice in Wonderland, “Who are You?” ​ Rabbi Saadiah Gaon, one of the greatest Rabbis in our history, wrote the following in the ninth century. Unlike other nations of the world, defined by geographic borders, shared ethnicity, language, or political sovereignty, the Jewish people exist solely because of their adherence to divine law. Because the Jewish people were given the Torah in the wilderness before they had a land or a state, Rabbi Saadiah Gaon argued that their identity transcends geography. The Jewish people are intrinsically tied together by their shared religious and ethical obligations. They are a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" unified by their spiritual mission and collective destiny. His spiritual definition of nationhood was the exact mechanism that allowed Jews to survive thousands of years in exile. Dispersed among other nations and stripped of a homeland, the Jewish people remained unified by their shared covenant, laws, and ritual practices, preventing them from simply blending into the broader populations. ​ The Talmud teaches that the word Sinai is associated with the word Sinah (transliterated from original Hebrew, or hatred. It was at that time that the original Jew hatred was known as antisemitism. For thousands of years, we have been hated by so many precisely because we accepted this eternal covenant from G-d. As we once again celebrate this moment's anniversary, it's important to lean into our core identity and proudly recognize the unique nature of the Jewish people. Have a Peaceful Shavuos, ​ Rabbi Yaakov Fisch