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The appearance of the Jewish people began with God’s commandment to our forefather Abraham to go up to the Land of Israel. There he would establish a large and blessed nation – a nation that would reveal God’s word to the world and bring blessing to all.
The Lord said to Abram: “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you: I will make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse him that curses you; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3).
Similarly, our forefather Isaac was promised: “All the nations of the earth shall be blessed through your offspring” (ibid. 26:4). Also our forefather Jacob was told: “All the families of the earth shall be blessed through you and your descendants” (ibid. 28:14).
In other words, as we say in the Aleinu prayer, the mission of the Jewish nation is to perfect the world under the sovereignty of the Almighty. We are meant to reveal to the world faith in God and the path to live a life of blessing, illuminated by the divine values of truth and goodness. This will gradually shower goodness and blessing on all nations, families, and individuals.
