Image Credit: AnatLevi8
Did you know that this week three Jewish professors were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry? That’s aside from the Jewish winners of this years prize in Medicine and Physics. That brings the total number of Jewish Nobel Laureates to 173 (out of a total of 855 Nobel Prizes awarded).
It’s nothing short of amazing that the Jewish people, who make up less than 0.2% of the world’s population, have had such a disproportionate powerful impact on history!
Despite our low numbers, we Jews have always had a central role in world events. Revolutions and social movements, wars and peace efforts, so often Jewish individuals are in the mix. (Even the ongoing government shutdown involves Jewish players; the Treasury Secretary, Jack Lew is Jewish and so is Eric Cantor, one of the Republican leaders in the House).
It’s no doubt that Jewish people have had a very strong impact on society, but what is the uniquely Jewish contribution to the world? What is it that only a Jew can accomplish and no one else?
Some will answer that the Jewish contribution is our emphasis on social justice. Indeed in many Jewish communities this is the primary focus. But while it may be true that the Torah places high importance on taking care of others, and yes, you may have heard the story of Hillel, who answered a prospective convert that the entire Torah can be summed up thus; “Don’t do to others that which you don’t want done to yourself.” Still, this is not a uniquely Jewish trait. Anyone, Jews or non-Jews, can just as well be active in social justice projects. It is not a uniquely Jewish contribution.
The task that we as Jews have been assigned by G-d is to effect the “unification and attachment” of this world with G-d. This can be seen by noticing the distinction between the commandments given to non-Jews, 7 in all, and the 613 Mitzvot that we have been given: The 7 laws that all mankind are responsible to live by are primarily logical laws given to ensure an orderly world. The 613 Mitzvot serve the additional purpose of bridging the infinite gulf between Creator and creation.
If you think about it, there should be no real way to create a connection between G-d and the universe. G-d is omnipotent and omniscient, while we (and all of existence) are but limited physical beings, what can we offer? However, for some reason G-d chose us and gave us Mitzvot, thereby giving us the ability to connect this world with G-d. A Mitzvah is more than just a good deed; a uniquely Jewish Mitzvah is to wrap tefillin, to light Shabbat candles, to place a mezuzah at the doors of your home, to study Torah and more.
When we fulfill G-d’s will, in the form of a uniquely Jewish Mitzvah, we elevate the world and fulfill our uniquely Jewish mission: to make the world a G-dly place.