What Makes Jews So Special?
I talk on over 100 Jewish people so I have plenty more to talk about in future sessions with you! But today, I don’t want to focus on one Jew but instead I want to explore the common traits or motivations of these successful Jews. And in the process I’m going to summarise all of Jewish history through some key people! But first, let me emphasis how successful Jews have been.
· One way of looking at success is through Nobel prize winners. To win a Nobel is an acknowledgement of having made a major discovery. There have been 965 Nobel winners in total; 216 of them, 22%, have been Jewish. Since Jews make up only 0.2% of the world’s population, they have received over 100 times the number of Nobel prizes that might be expected. That’s astonishing.
Everyone has heard of perhaps the most famous Nobel Prize Winner of all.
· Albert Einstein – who is best known for developing the general theory of relativity, one of the most complex concepts produced by a single brain - although did you know he didn’t win his Nobel Prize for relativity? Instead, he won it for explaining how light behaves - a discovery that led to modern electronics. But Einstein wasn’t alone. Jewish scientists have played a crucial role in many other discoveries.
· Robert Oppenheimer who didn’t win a Nobel prize, but did lead the Manhattan Project, which developed the atomic bombs that were dropped on Japan.
· Rosalind Franklin whose work on DNA structure laid the foundation for modern genetics. She never got the Nobel Prize she deserved, but without her, we wouldn’t understand DNA the way we do today. Her work led to the development of vaccines, including the COVID-19 ones we are all very grateful for.
Moving on to literature, Jews have had a massive impact on storytelling:
· Franz Kafka explored alienation in his unusual stories about deep personal struggles such as The Trial and Metamorphosis
· Isaac Bashevis Singer – a Nobel Prize-winning author who wrote in Yiddish, and focused on Jewish life, mysticism, and moral dilemmas.
· Arthur Miller who wrote the plays Death of a Salesman and The Crucible, which critiqued The Great American Dream and explored the challenges of moral dilemmas, identity, and guilt.
Maybe films are more up your street, and it was of course Jewish innovators who created Hollywood:
· Jack Warner helped found Warner Bros., and made the first talkie film, The Jazz Singer, as well as Casablanca and A Streetcar Named Desire.
· Steven Spielberg is one of the most successful directors and producers in film history, known for iconic films such as Schindler's List, Jurassic Park, and E.T.
· Stanley Kubrick - another innovative director, who made visionary films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange, and The Shining.
Why have Jews played such a big role in cinema? Because stories can explain how we survive and how we question the world around us.
And you have probably listened to music by these Jews
· Irving Berlin - one of America’s greatest songwriters, known for songs such as White Christmas, God Bless America, and There’s No Business Like Show Business.
· Barbra Streisand - a cultural icon and one of the best-selling vocalists of all time, with hits such as The Way We Were. She’s also been a highly successful actress on Broadway and Hollywood, starring in Funny Girl and A Star Is Born.
· Leonard Cohen - the Canadian singer-songwriter and poet, who wrote the haunting lyrics for songs that became classics - such as Hallelujah, Suzanne and Marianne.
· I want to explore the reasons behind the Jewish success story. I’ll take an overview of Jewish history and explore the unique combination of factors, which led Jews to survive and thrive. This has meant that at their best, Jews are radical change agents, who are driven to improve the world. It’s something that we can be really proud of. But what are the common links in the lives of the people who have helped create the Jewish story.
Let’s go right back to a frightening night, when the Biblical Jacob was returning home having spent 20 years in exile. He was about to encounter his estranged twin brother, Esau, who he had previously deceived, and who he feared wanted to kill him. That night he was forced to confront his innermost fears. The story is told in Genesis:
· “Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him: “What is your name?” And he said: “Jacob.” Then he said: “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
· There are many ways to understand this story. One interpretation is that Jacob was wrestling with his younger self. Jacob as a child had wanted to be Esau - the elder, stronger, their father’s favourite. The act of wrestling enabled Jacob to confront his descent into stealing and lying, and to accept responsibility for who he had been. He learnt that it was through struggle, and not by running away from conflict, that he could become the person that he was meant to be. So our life’s purpose - our Jewish challenge - is to discover who we truly are. And then we can help others discover what is their destiny. Jacob succeeded in developing his character, and so his name was changed, from ‘Jacob’ the trickster, to ‘Israel’, the person of conscience, who dealt with people directly, rather than by manipulating them. This was the supremely insightful moment of Jacob’s life, when he realised he could deal with conflict, without needing to deceive.
· The wrestling in Jacob’s dream, gave the Israelite people their identity; in fact, the name ‘Israel’ is derived from the word ‘struggle’, which has both positive and negative overtones. You don’t really achieve anything worthwhile in life without effort, but a life just full of struggle is a tough one to live. Jews have always faced adversity, not only with their enemies, but they have also struggled with themselves and with God. This helped them find out who they were and what they believed in. And God also now had a partner to struggle with; first an individual - then a nation - who argued, fought back and asked challenging, unsettling questions. The clearest role model for this provocative and independent personality, is Moses.
· Moses dominates the Torah and is the most influential Jew in history. When he first met God at the burning bush, and was given the job of saving the Israelites, his initial response was ”Mi Anochi?” meaning “Who am I [to do this]?” Like many other Jews on the cusp of deciding whether to fulfil their destiny, he hesitated, but then committed. Being Jewish is not about letting the great be the enemy of the good. He repeatedly suffered crises of confidence and frustration at not being able to achieve what he wanted. 40 years later, after he had led the Israelites to the borders of Canaan, Moses definitely knew what he stood for.
· He had become inspired, visionary and decisive; a religious innovator, the first person to really condemn idolatry. He developed the fundamentals of monotheism, creating Jews’ covenantal relationship with God. He was driven to ensure there was justice and was outraged by unrighteousness, so vigorously defended the persecuted. Initially unable to talk clearly, he found his voice and translated his understanding of the Divine word into a complete way of life, covering beliefs, ethics, worship and law.
· But he wasn’t perfect. He had his dream and he pursued it at all costs. He didn’t care much about others’ approval and brooked no opposition. He had a strong need to control and was reluctant to delegate. When his values were offended, he vented his frustration, often without reflecting - he killed an Egyptian taskmaster, he smashed the first set of tablets and he hit a rock to get water. He was impelled to act, because he simply knew he was right. His impetuosity meant he died frustrated and unhappy, unable to reach his Promised Land. He is the epitome of the frustration of the human condition, where people aspire to something they can never reach, and end up feeling disappointed.
· The Bible is full of audacious characters like Moses, who had a clear vision and swam against the tide of society’s expectations. For example:
· Jacob’s fourth son, Judah, was the first person who avoided blaming others when things went wrong. Instead he admitted he had treated poorly both his daughter-in-law Tamar and his half-brother Joseph. He had previously sold Joseph into slavery, but when confronted with the same situation again with Benjamin, he refused to repeat the mistake, and instead asked to take Benjamin’s place. He chose the moral course of action. This is the first proper example in the Bible of teshuva.
· The biblical Ruth was a Moabite widow, who showed unwavering loyalty to her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth defied patriarchal societal norms by leaving her own people and faith in order to support Naomi. She wasn’t passive or reactive, but took the initiative and secured her future with Boaz.
· Elijah had an unwavering faith and was convinced in the validity of everyone worshipping the one true God. To help achieve this goal, he attacked idolatry and killed 450 prophets of Baal. The Biblical author didn’t really approve of this zealotry, and the slaughter didn’t restore people’s faith in God. Simply shouting and telling people to believe and act, didn’t work [despite what some current political leaders might believe]. The ‘still small voice’ of God, that Elijah heard in the desert, showed him that God's presence and guidance came through quiet, intimate moments of reflection and humility.
· The stories about the ancient Israelites, describe their rebellions against society’s norms, as they tried to achieve social justice. This goal continued to dominate, as the Jewish story moved into recognisable history, and new leaders worked out how to develop Judaism in the face of changing external challenges..
· Let’s jump forward to the time of the Second Temple. When Jews had to respond to the challenge of Roman rule. Hillel the Elder was the greatest sage who lived during this time of political unrest and religious developments. He became renowned for his compassionate interpretation of Jewish law and emphasis on ethical teachings. [The picture is a depiction of the well-known story where Hillel the Elder is teaching a man the meaning of the whole Torah, while the man stands on one foot.] He created many of the essential aspects of Jewish religious practice that still exist today. He used the idea of tikkun olam, not just tradition, to determine Jewish law. He was the first to write down rules on how to understand halacha. This prevented chaotic interpretations of existing practices, and also widened rabbis’ freedom to adapt the laws of Torah to changing circumstances. Hillel’s Judaism was based on an audacious reading of Torah’s intention, and not just the simple letter of the text.
· One of Hillel’s students was probably Jesus of Nazareth. His story is a fascinating example of how Jewish innovation sometimes led to unexpected developments. Jesus was an observant, but unconventional Jew, who was driven by profound beliefs in God, ethics and social justice. He was independent, courageous, an inspirational and charismatic revolutionary, who attracted committed followers. His teachings challenged religious and societal norms. He tried to be a radical reformer, but within the boundaries of Judaism. He was executed by the Romans as a dangerous rebel, as he called for the overthrow of secular rule. Unlike his follower St Paul, he never wanted to create a new cult. After he died, his teaching was changed from one of national salvation for the Judean people, into a universalist mission, aimed at all people and focused on individual salvation.
· About 100 years later, Akiva ben Yosef was a leading Jewish scholar who rose from humble beginnings to become a central figure in the development of rabbinic Judaism. He was martyred by the Romans because of his support for the Bar Kokhba revolt. He was the driving force behind the idea that the written and oral law were part of the same Divine revelation, and so carried equal weight. Akiva encouraged a flexible and non-fundamentalist understanding of the Torah. Biblical laws should be interpreted to ensure they aligned with evolving moral norms. Akiva is the dominant voice in the Talmud and the 1,000 year project of rabbinic Judaism.
· Rabbi Schlomo Yitzchaki - better known as Rashi, who lived in Northern France during in the 11th century, (1040-1105) gave ordinary Jews access to this project. He wrote groundbreaking commentaries on the Torah and Talmud, which became the foundational texts for Jewish study and the authoritative way to explain the texts. He unlocked the Talmud’s esoteric mysteries, and so gave it a clear meaning. Rashi was a Biblical literalist, who innovated, not in what he said, but in the way he said it. He has had a greater impact on Jewish learning than anyone else.
· The other giant of medieval Judaism, was the supremely rational 12th century rabbi, Maimonides or Rambam, (1138-1204). He was an outstanding Jewish scholar, who wrote both the Mishneh Torah, the first definitive book of Jewish practice, and The Guide for the Perplexed, the greatest ever book of Jewish philosophy. He wanted to resolve the crisis affecting thinking Jews of his day - how to reconcile the rapidly developing scientific knowledge with faith in God. For him, Judaism was intellectually sound, so people could be religious without turning off their brains, or having to resort to leaps of faith. Indeed, Maimonides thought that relying on miracles was a sign of lack of faith, not of faith. Monotheism was built on the rationality of the natural order; it didn’t depend on magic. So the mitzvot were not there to please God, but were worthwhile in their own right, as they built character and self-restraint. Maimonides tried, but ultimately failed, to create a spiritual transformation in Judaism.
· Let’s fast forward to the Enlightenment. At this time, Jews were starting to engage with new ideas about reason, science, and personal freedom. The most radical thinker of the Enlightenment was Baruch Spinoza, who lived in the Dutch Republic in the 17th century. He argued that rational, scientific reasoning could completely replace religious dogma. He vigorously promoted freedom of conscience, liberty, and the rights (and responsibilities) of the individual. For him, freedom was the greatest value of all – one worth dying for. For Spinoza, the Bible was essentially wisdom literature and not divinely written. Because his radical ideas challenged the value of much religious ritual and the idea of a caring God, he was not only excommunicated from Judaism, but also banned by Christian authorities. But his ideas had a profound legacy; he laid the groundwork for modern secular philosophy, the French Revolution and modern Biblical criticism.
· Spinoza also directly inspired the most influential Jewish thinker of the 18th and 19th centuries and the epitome of the Enlightenment - Moses Mendelssohn. He fought for reason, morality and tolerance against religious fanaticism and political oppression. As the spiritual leader of German Jewry, he tried to strengthen Judaism. He wanted to encourage Jews to move out of the ghetto and into secular society, whilst preserving Jewish traditions and identity. He became a key figure in the Haskalah movement, promoting Jewish civic rights, reason, tolerance, and religious reform. His focus on the separation of religion and State, is still of vital importance today, especially in the face of contemporary religious extremism.
· Let’s now jump forward 100 years. By the 19th century, the doors to wider society were opening to European Jews and they used that opportunity in a variety of ways:
· The Rothschild family were a European banking dynasty, who created the greatest financial empire the world has ever seen, and who significantly influenced the development of global finance, diplomacy, and philanthropy. Their name became synonymous with wealth, self-indulgence and influence - their rapid rise was inspirational to many Jews. Their success was based on astute risk taking, a ruthless approach to competition and intense fraternal loyalty. They always maintained a strong commitment to Jewish causes, actively promoting civic equality and social respectability.
· A contemporary of the Rothschilds, and one of their biggest critics, was Karl Marx. He was the most controversial Jew of modern times, and the catalyst for social upheaval, revolution and tyranny. Marx was a philosopher, economist, and political theorist. His ideas on class struggle, capitalism, and socialism laid the foundation for communism. He was an idealistic radical, whose ideas were similar to the Biblical prophets. He wanted to overcome conflicting human interests in order to create a free and equal society. Not since Jesus had an obscure Jew inspired such global devotion, or been so disastrously misinterpreted.
· Achieving social justice also drove the revolutionary socialist, Emma Goldman, who became an international symbol of the spirit of resistance to institutional power. She was a Russian-born anarchist and political activist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, who was an important figure in the fight for individual freedoms, women's rights and workers' rights. She challenged societal norms and government authority and wanted revolutionary change. Her life was a courageous protest against authority, as she fought for individuals' rights to express their opinions without censorship or repression. She showed that struggles pursued with resolve and resilience can create change, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable opposition.
· Socialism was one response to anti-Semitism; another was Zionism - the radical idea of creating a Jewish homeland. Theodor Herzl was the driving force behind Zionism, as he thought Jews were a nation, not just a community who shared common beliefs and practices. He had a flair for public relations and audaciously approached political leaders across Europe for support. In less than a decade, he transformed Zionism from an insignificant debating movement into a robust political entity, that governments accepted as the authoritative representative of the Jewish people. By giving Jews the confidence that they could establish a political homeland, he left a greater mark on 20th century Jewish life than any other Jew. Against all the odds, he helped change the course of Jewish history.
· A contemporary of Herzl, Sigmund Freud, arguably made the biggest impact in the 20th century, on the world as a whole. Freud created the profession of human psychology. He developed revolutionary theories on the unconscious mind, human development, and the role of sexuality in determining behaviour,. Today, our views on Hamlet, a Dali painting or a Hitchcock film are influenced by Freud’s ideas. He pursued truth, by straining against the constraints of tradition and normative thinking. His outside status as a Jew in anti-Semitic Vienna, where he didn’t have much to lose, positively helped him make a breakthrough and challenge long-standing taboos.
· I could talk about so many 20th century Jews, who wrestled with what it meant to do the right Jewish thing and create a better world. Let me spotlight just three American Jews:
· Robert Oppenheimer directed the Los Alamos Laboratory during World War II. He became the most famous, respected and influential scientist of his generation. He developed the atomic bomb, but became increasingly concerned about the dangers that this posed for humanity. After the war, he opposed research on the hydrogen bomb and campaigned in favour of a test ban treaty with the Soviet Union. This alienated much of the American establishment, turning him into a magnet for conspiracy theories, a political pariah, and one of the most prominent victims of the McCarthy witch hunts. He was persecuted and humiliated, but stood firm for what he believed in, and eventually his reputation was rehabilitated.
· Another victim of McCarthyism was the playwright Arthur Miller. He grew up during the Great Depression, and witnessed the disillusionment and hardship that it led to. The promise of the American Dream had failed many; their reality was economic inequality and social injustice. One of his plays -The Crucible - examined how fear and hysteria can spread rapidly in a community, leading to irrational behaviour and the scapegoating of innocent people. It highlighted the dangers of extremism and the manipulation of strongly held beliefs for personal and political gain. His plays are very pertinent today.
· Contemporary relevance is also a feature of the films directed by Stanley Kubrick. His movies broke many Hollywood taboos; his protagonists are not heroes and he didn’t like the usual happy Hollywood ending, but his films became iconic classics. This is especially so with 2001: A Space Odyssey, which explored the risks associated with artificial intelligence. One message from this is that people are not self-sufficient; everyone needs others and just acting in one’s self-interest is ultimately doomed. His Jewishness played a crucial role in his filmmaking; he always saw himself as an outsider, as a rebel pushing back against authority.
· And being rebellious is a common trait in Audacious Jews. Since Biblical times, Jews have challenged the way things are done. They have been subversive, challenging and independent thinkers, driven by their self-belief, and willing to swim against the tide of conventional opinion. Because of this, they have often been isolated, misunderstood and unappreciated by others. Mostly there was little they could do about this. Instead, they were compelled to find their purpose, to wrestle with what it meant to be Jewish.
· And that wrestling led to enduring innovations that are widely accepted across society in many areas. Let’s just take three.
1. Firstly Religion. Judaism introduced ethical monotheism, the idea of the one God, which became the foundation stone of both Christianity and Islam. Judaism is the source of the Ten Commandments, the weekly day of rest and the concepts of conscience and responsibility.
2. Secondly Education. The Jewish emphasis on literacy and study led to the idea that education should be available to all. The Jewish tradition of debate, questioning, and analytical thinking has shaped legal and academic discourse.
3. Thirdly Human Rights. Judaism promoted the ideals of justice and dignity for all, and Jews have played a leading role in developing civil rights, labour movements, and social justice. The duty to help others through tzedakah is at the very centre of Judaism. Jewish moral principles have strongly influenced, even determined, Western legal and ethical systems.
So Jewish contributions to society are clear. But what has made Jews special? Well here are my conclusions from having researched over 100 Audacious Jews:
1. Firstly, many Jews are perfectionists; they want to do things as well as possible. This drive is connected with the idea of ‘God’ - that there is something important and idealistic, worth striving for. The feeling of having a destiny to do something special, has helped to inspire Jews to work for their vision - even for those Jews who want nothing to do with God. Being part of a people with a moral mission, has provided a sense of meaning and acceptance of suffering. And Jews live in the hope of achieving ‘the Promised Land’ - that the future will be better, than the present. Of course, idealists and perfectionists are often disappointed, as they set unrealistic goals. Yet the trait also gives them the drive to carry on trying to improve the world in the face of repeated setbacks.
2. Secondly, and maybe partly because of the first characteristic, Jews have been outsiders; they have been persecuted, never fully accepted; “a people that dwells alone”. Yet oppression, migration and desperate poverty, were often creative forces. They also led to a focus on study. Jews have often been successful in the secular world, because Judaism so strongly values learning. On the whole, Jews have struggled successfully with being a minority and having an inferior status. They couldn’t afford to be complacent, and so developed an insistent drive to survive and thrive.
· Thirdly, Judaism encourages Jews to challenge tradition and to think independently. There is a well-known anecdote told about the Nobel winning physicist, Isidor Isaac Rabi, whose mother instead of asking him if he got good grades in school, asked him, "Did you ask a good question today?" Open-ended questioning is encouraged, as there isn’t a dominant religious dogma or herd of sacred cows. Jews have always searched for truth by questioning and adapting. The focus on challenging, means that Jews are often sceptical, critical, and stubborn. This is how Jacob, Moses and even God, are portrayed in the Bible. These characters like to win every point of the argument, and are reluctant to admit errors or accept ideas that don’t fit with theirs, unless there is a clear, irrefutable reason. They are self-confident and stiff-necked, and can irritate others by arguing with all the minor points.
· Judaism has always pushed to make the world better. Many Jews dared to ask difficult questions, challenged the status quo, and strove to leave the world better than they found it. Our story is inspirational. When Jews are being properly Jewish, we, like Jacob, are wrestling with our own challenges, and so contributing in ways we never thought possible.
· Of course, just wrestling with ourselves won’t build a community. Hillel said, “If I am not for myself, who will I be? But if I am only for myself, what am I?” In other words, I need to take personal responsibility for myself as an individual, but I also need to act as part of a community and take collective responsibility.
· So to sustain Judaism, we need strong communal institutions and a shared sense of responsibility. At the same time, we should live the Jewish values of learning, justice, and tikkun olam – to strive to shape society for the better. That’s what we have done for the last 3,000 years, and the world definitely needs us to carry on providing that hope today.