The biblical story of the Binding of Isaac (Genesis 22) is the traditional Torah reading for the morning of Rosh Hashanah. This text includes the passage:
'By Myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, 17 that in blessing I will bless thee, and p. 25 in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast hearkened to My voice.'
This passage is one of the places where the Jewish people are identified as being especially "chosen" by the Almighty.
At Congregation Kerem Shalom Rosh Hashanah services this year, Rabbi Darby Leigh challenged us to consider what it really means to be "chosen." It can seem remarkably arrogant to claim that one is "chosen" by G-d, especially if one is, as I am, committed to the idea that no one group, indeed no single human, is "special" at that level.
I am taking that challenge seriously, and this blog will be my attempt to grapple with the issue. I anticipate adding a number of essays addressing different parts of the issue, as well as some kind of bibliography/resource list. I look forward to this process, as well as to seeing respectful and thoughtful discussion from anybody who wants to contribute.
One note on contributions: Because this is a potentially sensitive subject, I will be moderating comments. I will gladly allow opinions contrary to mine to appear, so long as they are phrased respectfully. Personal attacks and trolls will be ignored.
