It does not mean better, or loved more, and or superior in any way. It means chosen to observe 613 commandments from G-d whereas the other nations have only to observe 7 to find the same favor in the world to come - a difference of responsibility, yes, better than, no. And I have never heard a Rabbio say different.

the idea behind chosen is that g-d chose us to take certain personal responsibilities, i.e. commandments upon ourselves or anyone who calls himself a jew, i.e. accepts torah from sinai and related strict observances, attitutes, etc. there is no need to assume that this process is one of looking at others as inferior, that is a major flaw and a personal ego issue that needs to be resolved by the author and anyone else who misreads the intention.

Thanks for the revelation and you should know that Jews werent the only ones staying up all night, attending a service, hearing the 10 commandments, or even going to the Chotel at 4am to connect with G-d, non-Jews were there as well connecting with G-d on this special Holiday.

believe in an existence of the god?

There is a rationalist school of Jewish thought that traces its beginnings to Rambam. He responded in his time with disdain for those who preferred to mark the boundaries of Jewish belief using mystical beliefs, whose chief proponent Yehuda Halevi, preceded Rambam by about 2 generations. The Rambam, as opposed to YH, did not believe there was a superiority or different nature to Jews, but rather that the discipline of a life under the aegis of halacha brings one to an understanding of G-d that living otherwise can't. In this view, Jews are only such potentially "Jewish", and must earn their way to gain a status that the legacy of their forefathers permits them to reach only with a lot of work, rather than achieving it by some passively attained or intrinsic quality as a right-of-birth. He believed non-Jews could achieve the same level as Jews, though it'd be more difficult for them to do this without the halachic way of life and the legacy of Torah learning. In fact, that the Torah sees Balaam, a non-Jew, as having attained spiritual heights similar to those of Moshe shows that the Torah does not assume anything about one's provenance. What you are, is what you EARN. Therefore, there are SOME who this author ought to be saying should abandon the chauvinistic viewpoint. She seems not to realize that an entire school of Orthodox Jewish thought views automatic spiritual preference is not true, and that viewpoint challenged more than 800 years ago by Rambam - one of the greatest Jewish thinkers.

With your vast education in religious studies and your equating of Sudanese rights to those to Israelis in Israel it appears to me that you are one click away from becoming a self hating leftist. The chosen people concept is part of being a Jew. It is you who declared it means superior to others. You are drinking the anti semite's kool aid, next thing you will be comparing Jews to Nazis...I am sure it has crossed your mind. Go learn Torah and be proud to be "chosen."

God did not chose the Jews because they were superior. God had a friend, Abram, from Ur of the Chaldees. Abram was one man who BELIEVED God and God made a covenant with HIM and HIS decendants, through Issac and then Yakov (Israel). You SHOULD know this. All the stories you repeat in your article are not based on torah, but on apocryphal extra-torah stories handed down through Rabbis. The torah tells a completely different story. Your article has no truthful foundation.

This "Chosenitis Syndrome" is a posture inviting nothing but trouble in a world where the goyim are a vast majority.

Unfortunately the writer of this article seems to be missing the point. The Jewish nation is the only one to live by such a comprehensive book of rules i.e. the Bible. In it is included the highest levels of morals known to man, and yes all jews - religious that is, strive and try their utmost to stick to them. Yes of course there are plenty that dont manage and keep on failing as with every nation and religion, however there is not one other nation or religion that has the same high levels that the jews must stick to. Yes - there plenty of people from other religions that are on a far higher level than plenty of jews, including those that spit at youngsters and regard women as scum, (although those people can hardly be called religious jews). But as a whole the jewish nation is most definately the chosen one, and no, it is not an excuse to belittle or degrade other nations.

INSTEAD of being a self-hating Jew and doing everything possible to dilute or deny the TRUTH, why don't these Jews just convert to a suitable religion of their choice? We true Jews are not going to miss them!!!

Each people pretends to be the chosen one. Christian, Indhu, Muslim, Hopi, Rastafari, everybody thinks he's the chosen one, that's part of the human ego each of us has to overcome. Self questioning comes from a good intention, but young sister you should really dig deeper in yourself and your culture before taking voice in public. Meditation is a deep part of our tradition too, look for Rav Aryeh Kaplan's books. Humanity is one big family, and we Israelites sure give our special contribution, but if you look at history you might see tht it ain't the official one. We shall keep on giving the best of us and teaching one another to grow from within. Forward on to Zion, peace.

An ignoramus speaks again. Abraham chose G-d, suffered for him and G-d made a covenant with him and HIS future generations [children]. Anyone with a pure intent can convert and keep 613 like you and me. It is a matter of choosing to keep Torah not to be better than anyone else. You are making all Jews look and sound horrible. You will be responsible for the next genocide!!!!

can get so hung-up and guilt-ridden over a simple matter of cultural pride. Our religion creates the aspiration for us to be worthy of being a chosen people and a light unto the nations - but I am forced to admit that some of us have confused the aspiration with the reality.

Typical Torah-denying, "I'll do what I want, and pretend that it's what God wants," Western/co-dependent/assimilationist/exile mentality. Let's start worrying about what HaShem REALLY wants, and stop the influence of the goyim on our spiritual development.

Why do you choose to believe this woman's definition when the people who know better have explained it has nothing to do with superiority. And I've said this before, but after the Inquistion, the pogroms, and the Holocaust...I hope to hell the next time the God I don't believe in chooses somebody else.

The problem is not that Jews think they are chosen people; the issue is OTHERS whose religion is based on the Jewish Bible think Jews are chosen.

Thank you , Thank you , Thank you !!!!! Finally somebody who talks sense , I have been struggling with this question for years and found the answer in my opinion that is a year ago , the gentiles ( what an expression anyway ) means no less then us to our Father & king :)

THE ANSWER IS NOT EVEN ONE BECAUSE WE ONLY BELIVE IN ONE GOD AND NOT SMALL god

And I'll note this. Among small populations, minority groups as it were... persecution and disasters are not unique. Be it religious persecution or genocide. The difference is that the Jews *survived*. Others generally did not when faced with similar situations. So, basically, you're railing against an entity you do not believe in for not providing *perfect* protection.

continously since 6000 years. So I propose to remain chosen people, regardeless how a dangerous thing it is for us, jews.

it is through religouse study and pray but the sense of god support and mercyis a high valuable sense as you will be the chosen one ..it is individual sense it is not related to special religion

and the black coat brigade are not in any way morally capable of representing us.

If you believe in God, which I highly suspect maybe not, and you believe that His word is the ABSOLUTE truth, then by his words WE ARE THE CHOSEN PEOPLE. Why can't Jews accept that? And the ones that can't, go to another religion. There are plenty to choose from!

Her words mean nothing! God chose a people to bring the oracles of God to; and, also, Abraham would be a blessing to all Nations, because through him (lineage) came the true Messiah--Jesus Christ! As promised to the Forefathers', of Israel, a small Remnant will, eventually, come to the saving knowledge of Grace, which is only found in the shed-blood of God's only son; the ultimate sacrifice which was wrought on that Cross two-thousand years ago. God bless, Israel and His Jerusalem! A Christian Zionist

Baruch habba beshem Adonai ! Blessed is He that comes in the Name of Lord . In the Name of " PEACE "..be well !

A plague on all religions. More crimes have been committed in the name of religion throughout the whole of human history

Sounds like they knew how to have a good time..........

Limited knowledge is right. This piece is a joke. Bash on the religious, much?