Why are we called “The Jews”? . . . (adapted from Rabbi E. Silberberg)

Many refer to the people enslaved in Egypt as “The Hebrews”, named after their language. In the bible, the Israelite nation is referred to as “The Children of Israel” or “The Children of Jacob”. Yet, for the past 2500 years or so we’ve been called “The Jews”. What is the origin of this label? Where does it come from? What does the word ‘Jew’ mean?

Perhaps these questions can be answered by analyzing the very first individual to be identified as a Jew: “There was a Jewish man in Shushan, the capital (of Persia), whose name was Mordechai” (Esther 2:5). Yes, Mordechai, one of the heroes of the Purim story, was the first member of our nation to carry the “Jewish” label.

Why?

The name “Jew” originates from Judah, Jacob’s fourth son. It was Judah who completely ignored all royal protocol and approached the powerful ruler of Egypt, risking his very life, and those of his brothers, for the sake of the release of his youngest brother, Benjamin.

Judah is the embodiment of the exiled Israelite who must walk a thin tightrope: While he must live at peace with his neighbors, follow the law and customs of the land, he must have the courage of his convictions to stand up against all the powers that be in order to defend his ideals.

Mordechai, ‘the Jew’, was a proud student of his great-uncle Judah. He knew that Torah law forbids a Jew from bowing to Haman. Even the risk of jeopardizing his entire nation’s existence would not bend Mordechai, for the Jewish People and G‑d are one and inseparable.

And the name has stuck.

Because the next 2500 years would repeatedly test our ‘Jewishness’. Under countless regimes – both friendly and, as was commonly the case, hostile – we struggled against friends and enemies who wished to impose their will upon us at the expense of our relationship with G‑d. Again and again we proved ourselves true to G‑d, earning the name Jew through oceans of blood and tears.  

On Purim we became truly ‘Jewish’. So let us celebrate this Purim as Jews. Let us fulfill the Purim mitzvoth and commit to add yet another mitzvah to our repertoire, thereby bringing together our entire ‘Jewish family’ back home to Israel with moshiach.

 

Shabbat Shalom & A Happy Purim,

Rabbi Raleigh Resnick