What is it that I find so amazing after all these years, every time I come to this pasuk?
Not only does the survival of the Jews defy the laws of nature, but the entire world is blessed through their tenacity and faith, as the brachos of Avraham Avinu transform a hostile, scary universe
From the time I began to learn Chumash, I’ve always been amazed by the first blessing given by HaKadosh Baruch Hu to Avraham Avinu in parshas Lech Lecha. With this brachah, HaKadosh Baruch Hu detaches Avraham Avinu from the rest of the world in order to make a special nation of his descendants. In our prayers we reflect upon this unique status in the blessing “Atah vechartanu,” which has so angered and provoked the nations of the world against us throughout the ages. Even some of those among our own people have viewed our “chosen-ness” as a sign of arrogance and racism. But that’s partly because they haven’t taken note of the words at the end of G-d’s blessing to Avraham: “And through you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” And in fact, we don’t always take note of those words either.
While these words indicate that Am Yisrael is a distinct, separate nation that carries HaKadosh Baruch Hu’s banner in This World, the purpose of this separation is that ultimately, all the nations of the world should benefit from this blessing. Ultimately, HaKadosh Baruch Hu is asking Avraham’s nation to return the heart of all nations to Him, as it will be in the end of days.
So what is it that I find so amazing after all these years, every time I come to this pasuk?
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