Point of Pride

In the Book of Exodus, God calls the Jewish people a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” A story in the Talmud demonstrates how we could fulfill this verse and inspire the respect of the nations that surround us.

The Talmud relates the fascinating account of what took place when a rabbinic sage visited the court of Izgadar, the ruler of the Babylonian-Persian Empire. Rather than cower in the presence of such strength and power, the sage stood staunchly as a proud and committed Jew. The king's response was profound, and demonstrative of how to inspire the respect of the nations that surround us.