Q. (See question 1617 above) My second question, is that although the term, “goy” simply means a person of the nations, it seems to always be used in the pejorative. How can we be Or HaGoyim if we look down on the other nations? Can we not be proud of our rich heritage, culture, and traditions without speaking of others as somehow a little less than human?
A. A. The connotation that some or many individuals give to words they use, does not reflect at all what the Torah intended, or establishes to be correct.
The word or title “goy” or nation is commonly used in the Bible and by our Sages, equally for Gentiles and Jews, A few examples; “And I will make you (Abraham) into a great “goy”, and I will bless you” (Bereshis 12: 2), “to be a kingdom of priests and a holy “goy” (Shemos 19: 6), “He became a great, mighty, and numerous “goy”.” (Devarim 26: 4 and in the Pessach Hagadah), “Shomer “goy” kadosh” (Tachanun in siddur), to mention just a few.
Then again, you may argue that the same applies to the term “Jew” and the way it is used by some Gentiles.
See Shulchan Aruch (C.M. 34: 22) who rules that a righteous Gentile preempts and supersedes a Jewish wicked or apostate.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
Important Numbers
