Dear Readers, These columns began on my area of America Online, called:  Judaism Today:  Where Do I Fit?   People anonymously sent me E-Mail, and I began to choose one for a public response in my Jewish E-Mail of the Week column. The column has become quite popular and is now syndicated internationally in many Jewish papers and websites.  I hope you find they help you as you think about the Ethics, Spirituality and Peoplehood components of the Jewish way of Life.  I welcome your comments... see the end of the column. Gil PS  Teachers and others, feel free to copy my columns and forward them or use them as you see fit.  Please see the friendly copyright notice at the end.

How Have the Jews Survived?

Dear Gil:

I have a very important question for my religion class. How have Jews endured and overcome their hardships?

Please write back to me asap, because I need my answer by tomorrow. Thank you for all your help and consideration.

T

Dear T:

BY TOMORROW!!! Boy oh boy! I get requests to do people's homework now and then...which I must decline...but I like your question enough to make it a column. Your teacher has given you a tough assignment that has no certain or short answer. I have thought of the question many times and have come up with a scenario that presents your question in a different light:

Imagine a Martian comes to earth and says "we have heard of these Earthlings called the Jews. What's the deal with these people? The whole planet seems obsessed with them."

"They are an unusual people to be sure." I would reply. "There have never been many of them, but since they appeared on the Earth, the rest of the world has given them special attention."

"Unfortunately, that attention has often meant persecuting, harming and killing them over thousands of years. In fact the first person to ever call them a people was one of their greatest enemies...his name was Pharaoh and he made them slaves."

"And that was just the beginning of their history. Over time, they have always known great enemies wherever they lived. They were dispersed and scattered all over the world and their neighbors blamed them for many of the world's problems from medical plagues to financial calamities."

"During the 20th century, in the bloodiest war that humans have ever known, one-third of the Jews on the planet were murdered in death camps. But in reality this Holocaust was one of many against the Jews over the centuries."

"Wow!" would say the Martian, "So are they extinct today?"

"No, somehow they are still around...though not many of them. Out of a planet of 6 billion or so people, there are only about 14 million Jews."

"Then I assume they are a downtrodden and depressed people," would say Mr. Martian

"Actually no. They are amongst the most productive, creative and optimistic of Earthlings. They are leaders in all that they do: art, science, medicine, literature, agriculture, business, law, education, entertainment...you will find them at the forefront of just about every kind of human achievement where ever they live.

And though they are only about .3 percent of the world's population, they have won about 18 percent of the world's Nobel Prizes!"

"THAT MAKES NO SENSE! THIS DOES NOT COMPUTE!" he would exclaim.

And he would be correct -- that Jews have survived is a miracle, that they have thrived and contribute so much to the world is beyond belief.

How is this possible?

Like you, the Dalai Lama asked the same question. He wanted the answer because he is struggling to save his people who are now living in exile. He invited seven Jewish scholars to come to India so he could personally ask them.

His query became a wonderful book that I suggest you read called: The Jew in The Lotus by Roger Kamenetz.

In that book and many others, there are many possible explanations. Your question really can't be answered properly in just a few words and requires serious study on your part. Still briefly here are some quick answers:

Because of God.

Because Jews have always emphasized the value of caring for others.

Because Jews have always emphasized learning.

Because Jews have always emphasizes family.

Because Jews have always emphasized community.

Because Jews have always aspired for peace.

Because Jews have always believed in hope.

In reality, the answer is probably a combination of these explanations and more. I'll end by again citing the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Pharaoh subjected the Jews to slavery, torture, horror and outright murder of babies.

Yet through it all, the Jews clung to the belief that they would someday be free. Was in faith it God? Was it God? Was it family and community support? The answer is yes.

And we Jews have indeed survived. This pivotal episode in Jewish history has been studied and repeated every year for thousands of years by Jews, young and old sitting around the Passover Seder table. The lessons have sunk in deeply.

These are some ideas for you to pursue. While you are at it, keep in mind that the national anthem of Israel is "Hatikvah" which means "The Hope." This is not a coincidence.

Good Luck! Hope you get an A!

Gil

A FRIENDLY COPYRIGHT NOTICE © Copyright Gil Mann These columns can be found at www.beingjewish.org.  Not only do I give you permissions to copy these Jewish Email columns...I HOPE YOU WILL and that you share them with others!  All I ask is that you never charge anyone for them and that you also include this little copyright notice.  Thank You!

Thanks,
Gil