If Filipinos can be like Jews…Credibility is not an Issue

One of the most peculiar civilizations in the world is probably the Jews. Years after years they face hullabaloos against those who question their existence. Age after age they are expected to disappear, and yet they endure. Epoch after epoch, large numbers of Jews have been murdered. They have been forcibly converted; hence, they abandoned their extraordinary faith to gain freedom from the wiles of their hecklers and disbelievers. The strife of their race will remain to be a flimsy trepidation. The mystery of their evolution remains to be salient in the international arena. They are few in number but their unrelenting journey underscores the history and the future of humankind. Hitherto, their persistent expedition highlights the world economy.

Jews are the most successful and blessed populace in the world. They have always been lavishly important in the spiritual history of humankind. They are also the most brilliant citizens in the world. From Chaim Weizmann to Albert Einstein, reflected a gargantuan figure of Jewish men and women of talent and genius. They dominate the world of science and technology. Most Nobel Prize winners in the field of Physics, Biotechnology, and other scientific disciplines are Jews. They are considered the richest magnates in the world. Tycoons in affluent countries like U.S.A., Canada, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, and many more are Jews. If these countries have strong and established economy, who would have to be thought of behind their hefty wealth if we are to make an analysis concerning elements of power? The dwelling of Jews, Israel, is slightly smaller than a state in the US, New Jersey, but the impact Israel brought to US’ economy is far, more, and larger than the combined 50 states and even to the other wealthiest nations in the world. Israeli companies are undeniably a dominant force in the financial capital of the world as how Israeli stocks traded on Wall Street. As of 2003, Israel, following Canada, ranks the utmost number of non-US stocks on Wall Street. The existence of Jewish tycoons on the American Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and New York Stock Exchange is a concrete and substantial testimony on Israel’s escalating significance in the global trade and business; thus, Jews’ dominance in the world economy is importunate. Majority of their stocks is focused on high technologies in the field of electronics, software, communication systems, electro and fiber optics, and many more which lead to the vanguard of high-end innovations.

Israel dominated also the production of aviation and military equipment that were being exported to U.S.A., China, and other countries. Nevertheless, Israel has a very strong military. Who could have forgotten the Arab-Israeli War or the Six-Day War in 1967? Their combatants were the Arab nations like: Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Iraq and later joined by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Algeria. These combined forces may be the world’s deadliest and strongest, yet the result of the upheaval was a decisive Israeli victory. During that time, Israel had a total 264,000 troops including the reserves, while their combatants had 547,000. Israel had 300 combat aircrafts and 600 tanks while the combatants had 957 combat aircrafts and 2,504 tanks. During the war, Israel had only 779 casualties with 2,563 wounded. Israel killed 21,000 and wounded 45,000 of the troops of their combatants. There were only 15 Jewish prisoners while their combatants had 6,000. Only 46 of Israel’s combat aircraft were reportedly lost while their opponents had over 400. With those statistical facts and figures, we can see obviously and evidently how powerful Israel is and how strong and tough Jews are. The abandoned, forsaken, and forcibly converted society remains to be strong from then ‘til now.

Jews are the “chosen people”. No matter what you do to the Jews, the Lord’s favor will always remain to them. The “chosenness” of the Jews is a mystery. No one can explain the mystery but only God knows His own purpose why He chose the Jews, only God knows why He set apart a very obscure tribe to be persecuted and to achieve more than anybody else and only God knows why He always gave His favor to the Jews in their stormy journey. In Deuteronomy 7:7, God says, “I chose you because you are more numerous or powerful, and not because you are morally, spiritually, or intellectually superior. You are not. I chose you out of my unknowable will.”

Jewish chosenness is not an enviable state. Sir Isaiah Berlin, who was perhaps the most brilliant British intellectual of this age, kept insisting that the Jews would be better off becoming a normal nation like the Albanians (his example) and not this unique people that spawned so much brilliance and creativity. Berlin added a striking metaphor to his argument. The healthy oyster, so he said, lives and dies in a state of normalcy and never produces a pearl. The pearl is a result of disease in oyster. Berlin wondered if given the choice the oyster would prefer to suffer the disease in order to produce the pearl. So it is with Jews: between persecution by their enemies and their own self-image as a chosen people (Hertzberg and Manheimer: 30). I am an advocate of the given metaphor. I am not skeptical in the relationship of the metaphor to the hounding and triumph of Jews. The metaphysics of Jews has something to do with the divine powers. I personally like Jewish character. Their successes never became a springboard for boastfulness rather an inspiration to do more in a way that it will surprise anybody. I can compare the Jews to a duck seafaring so slickly above the water but down under, they feverishly paddle. Jews work so hard to achieve and surpass other populace but it is never made known to anyone. They remain to be so silent despite of their numerous accomplishments. They let other people discover what they have achieved. That is the true HUMILITY. They are the less-heard and known citizens to some. Not even all have known their impact to the world economy and to the country that we always look upon, the land of milk and honey.

My contentions are: If Jews would have embargo of their stocks in those great and powerful countries, what will emerge? If Jews will freeze their global impact in trade and business, what will happen to the humankind? If Jews will become selfish as regards to their global contribution, what will happen to the world economy? The HUMILITY of Jews will keep things in balance. After all, God would not want them to be immodest. It is their character, lifestyle, and spiritual stability makes them to be liked and to be loved. Their personality opened the heart of God so He poured so many blessings to them and I believe that it was their character that kept the heart of God open for more blessings. I do not sound cynical regarding our own character and of our own present condition. It is really out in the context of gloominess. What I want to happen is Filipinos must have to brood over on the events and accounts that had happen in the lives of Jews and the metaphysics behind their unending success. Do we need to walk in the streets chanting phrases and clauses upholding disrespect to our fellowmen to display democracy? Do Filipinos really need to fight and howl in senate hearings and meetings or in the streets of our business districts? Do we really need to brag how good we are in so many ways? Like in the small wins we have, we already tend to shake the world with our pompous fête. We even fight for the credibility of some but we do not look at ourselves if we do have humility. We cannot tell who is credible unless one will admit his faults. Not all credible persons have humility in their heart but all humble persons are credible. If we will replicate HUMILITY then credibility is not an issue. Humility will suffice the unresolved issues of our lives. Nonetheless, it will teach us to be submissive and to seek more of the divine intervention to solve the issues in our lives and in our country. Moreover, the blessings that are meant for us all will not be hindered any longer; hence, we will become more progressive and productive. If we think like a Jew and act like a Jew, then we will have no enough room for our blessings and the then achievements and successes.