November 24, 2003
THE LIPS OF THE RIGHTEOUS TEACH MANY:
Crash Course in Jewish History #67 - The Miracle of Jewish History (Rabbi Ken Spiro, Aish.com)
Over 300 years ago King Louis XIV of France asked Blaise Pascal, the great French philosopher, to give him proof of the supernatural. Pascal answered: "Why, the Jews, your Majesty -- the Jews."An astonishing answer. The best proof of the supernatural that Pascal could think of was: "The Jews."
We don't have to speculate what Pascal meant when he gave this answer, because he took the trouble to spell it out. (See Pensees, para. 620, p. 285.) Pascal said that the fact that the Jewish people survived until the 17th century -- to the time period when he was living -- was nothing short of a supernatural phenomenon.
There simply was no logical explanation for it.
As we have seen from this series, Jewish history simply doesn't comply with the rest of history; it does not make sense. [...]
Today there are approximately 12-14 million Jews in the world, where there should be 500 million. The reasons why: 1) persecution, and 2) assimilation.
The greatest strength of the Jewish people is also their greatest weakness.
Jews are a "stiff-necked" people. They have stubbornly clung to their beliefs and as a result outlasted all of the ancient empires of history while changing the way the entire world looks at morality and the concept of God. Jewish ideas -- of one God, of a loving God, of a universal vision for humanity -- have been at odds with the philosophies of all these empires, and to hold up that vision has required an unbelievable strength of character.
And yet, what is the greatest weakness of the Jewish people? Their stubborn individuality makes them unbendable. Every Jew thinks he/she is right. The hardest job on earth must be to unify and lead the Jewish people.
Of course, when unified, the Jewish people are an unbeatable force in human history.
Folks like Bill Clinton, Howard Dean, and the Europeans say that we need to be impartial brokers between Israel and Palestine. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 24, 2003 11:53 AM
The history of the Jews and of Isreal (lit "One who struggles with God") is astounding when you think about it. That such a tiny minority and such a tiny country is obsessed over by so many.
Posted by: Gideon at November 24, 2003 12:43 PMI am often struck by how those who share Pascal's and the Rabbi's view are so solid on so many other, seemingly unrelated issues.
Posted by: Peter B at November 24, 2003 2:42 PM