Draft:Jewish exceptionalism

• Comment: the topic is too broad and perhaps overlaps with other pages; much more literature review is required Cinder painter (talk) 19:00, 11 June 2025 (UTC)
  :Cinder painter, what other pages do you mean? And what do you mean by broad? Can you elaborate? 176.28.150.183 (talk) 20:16, 16 June 2025 (UTC)

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Jewish exceptionalism is a belief that the Jewish people hold a unique quality, mission, or destiny, often rooted in religious or historical interpretations. It's a multifaceted concept with various expressions such as the idea of a chosen people or that they are inherently superior to other groups. This concept can be found in various Jewish traditions and in the thought of Zionist and anti-Zionist thinkers alike.

Israel exceptionalism

Israeli exceptionalism stems from the state's self-perception as the "sole protector of the Jews as a historically oppressed people" and "the only democracy in the Middle East."

Some scholars have drawn parallels between Israeli exceptionalism and the American concept of Manifest Destiny, arguing that both ideologies justify a "permanent state of exception" and territorial expansionism.

Israel is also framed in Western discourse as morally superior largely due to its founding by survivors of what they consider as the "greatest crime in history"—the Holocaust.

Pankaj Mishra argues that Israel has sought to cultivate a "particular version of the Holocaust" to "legitimize expansionist Zionism."

In Christianity

Martin Luther in his small epistle, That Jesus Christ was Born a Jew, wrote: "When we are inclined to boast of our position, we should remember that we are but Gentiles, while the Jews are of the lineage of Christ. We are aliens and in-laws; they are blood relatives, cousins, and brothers of our Lord."

Controversies

Some argue that the state of exception frequently serves to justify and legitimize expansionism, violations of international law, and the evasion of legal sanctions and criticism.

Zionism

Zionism claimed exceptionalism based on the ancient origins of Jews, Judaism, and Israel, which trace their roots to the Jewish Bible. This branch of exceptionalism stems from the Jewish doctrine of being chosen people, invoking a perceived "divine right" to Palestine.

Zionists also framed their movement as exceptional by portraying Zionism as a "decolonizing and liberation project," emphasizing the long history of Jewish suffering, their ability to outlive their enemies, their contributions to civilization, and their military victories against Arab armies—despite Israel being "a small country, under siege by hostile neighbors." Zionism depicts Israel as uniquely vulnerable, with a uniquely tragic history facing "existential threats," thereby justifying exemptions from international law.

These exceptionalist claims have become central to the self-image of many Israelis and Jews worldwide.

Gaza war

The belief in the Holocaust’s uniqueness—along with the exceptional status of Jews and Israel—has long been foundational to Holocaust and genocide studies.

However, the Gaza war has sparked intense debate and division among Holocaust and genocide studies scholars, challenging these core assumptions. Some argue that the conflict has "split the field like no debate before," with discussions in the Journal of Genocide Research examining themes such as "the end of Israel exceptionalism" and "the senselessness of genocide studies after Gaza".