THE MOST RECENT JEWISH THEOLOGY OF ELECTION

A happy alternative to the inadequacy of the secularist survivalism we have briefly examined in the introduction is the very recent attempt to renew discussion of the theology of Jewish identity by the contemporary Jewish thinker Michael Wyschogrod. Wyschogrod's work is an important revival and it is the work of a religiously committed Jew, one who is theologically serious and philosophically astute. It also comes closest to what I would consider to be the authentic teaching of Biblical–Rabbinic Judaism. Nevertheless, I do have some important differences with it. But because of the great similarity of our concerns, I want to discuss it at this point and then go directly into my own theological view on the subject.

In his recent book, The Body of Faith: Judaism as Corporeal Election, Wyschogrod forcefully argues for the centrality of the election of Israel. His basic point seems to be, in his own words, Why does God proceed by means of election, the choosing of one people among the nations as his people? Why is he not the father of all nations, calling them to his obedience and offering his love to man, whom he created in his image? …

We must avoid an answer that does too much. Any answer that would demonstrate that what God did was the only thing he could have done or that it was the right thing to do would be too much of an answer. God must not be subject to necessity or to a good not of his making, and must not be judged by standards external to him.