The Chosen People: What does it mean?

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS A DIFFICULT SUBJECT WITH MANY NECESSARY TANGENTS, PLEASE BEAR WITH ME.

For millennia one of the major accusations raised against the Jewish community was, and is, that Jews express superiority. The more learned exponents of this canard point to the bible and Jewish prayers, where Jews are called the "Chosen People". I felt that it may be a good idea to delve into the biblical meaning of the phrase "chosen".


To place this conversation in proper context we should begin by asking the question "chosen for what"?

Abraham the first Jew came to know the monotheistic G-d through exploration and inquiry. Once he came to the conclusion that there is a G-d, he began to spread this belief to those around him. Not through the sword but through conversation and example.

Furthermore Abraham was promulgating a belief in one G-d NOT the tenants of Judaism. Why? Because Judaism believes in a G-d that created an incomprehensibly complex world, and like, that annoying un-assembled dresser from target, every piece of material -from the leaf falling off the tree to the nation-state- plays a specific role and has a unique irreplaceable purpose. To force Judaism (or even subtly influence Jewish practices) on others is simply antithetical to Jewish belief in absolute divine providence i.e. EVERY THING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

Thus Abraham's role was to introduce monotheism to a world steeped in polytheistic mythology. His decedent’s role in larger society was and is informed by Abraham's role. The Jew was chosen to be the standard bearer and proponent of monotheism. Indeed the success is reflected by Islam and to a great degree Christianity.

Yet this still raises two questions.
1. Why the Jews?
2. Why is the mission of the Jew -to spread monotheism- so important; to the extent that it is the only role OPENLY attributed in the Bible to a people?

To the first question the greatest Jewish Rabbis have debated and have concluded that it was because G-d loved the Jewish people; WHY DID G-d love the Jewish people? We don't know. What we do know is that this "love" has translated into countless massacres, inquisitions, and the holocaust, yet it IS LOVE.

The second question has a, perhaps, more rational explanation. Monotheism is essential to world peace.
One may counter, "But whose monotheism", The Christians the Muslims etc.?

Judaism's belief in one G-d is that all should serve G-d in their own way. But that they should follow the seven universal laws, something most societies already aspire to. These seven laws are logical but they are not followed because of logic. After all how often has genocide been justified by the human mind!

The key here is that the Jew is the only EXPLICITLY chosen being! But the Jew was chosen to promulgate the belief that WE ARE ALL CHOSEN BY THE CHIEF ARCHITECT AND PLAY AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN THE DIVINE PLAN!

In othe words the Jew was chosen and has suffered happily to spread the belief that we are all chosen.

Indeed if one wanted to preclude world peace they could never succeed as long as there are Jews proclaiming the uniqueness and sanctity of the life of EVERY individual. Far more on this to come.