Does G-d Show Favoritism? - נשא

Does G-d Show Favoritism?

Does G-d show favoritism? The Torah says G-d does not. But the Priestly Blessing implies that He does, as the verse states: “May the Lord show favor to you and give you peace”. 

How can both be true?

 The Talmud explains that G-d shows favoritism to the Jewish people because they show it to Him. Although He commands them to recite the grace after meals only when they are fully satisfied, the Jewish people go beyond the letter of the law and recite the blessing even after eating a mere olive-sized piece of bread:

Rav Avira taught, sometimes he said it in the name of Rabbi Ami, and sometimes he said it in the name of Rabbi Asi: The ministering angels said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: Master of the Universe, in Your Torah it is written: “The great, mighty and awesome God who favors no one and takes no bribe” (Deuteronomy 10:17), yet You, nevertheless, show favor to Israel, as it is written: “The Lord shall show favor to you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:26). He replied to them: And how can I not show favor to Israel, as I wrote for them in the Torah: “And you shall eat and be satisfied, and bless the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:10), meaning that there is no obligation to bless the Lord until one is satiated; yet they are exacting with themselves to recite Grace after Meals even if they have eaten as much as an olive-bulk or an egg-bulk. Since they go beyond the requirements of the law, they are worthy of favor. (Tamud, Berachot 20b)

There are two ways to think of a relationship and covenant. The first is as a contract of mutual obligation. But then, there is a deeper form of connection, one which is a commitment not bound by the benefit each party receives in return for what they invest. Rather, it is a relationship of devotion and commitment, where each party invests themselves beyond what is merely their duty. The second relationship is characterized not by a social contract but by the commitment of love. Love emerges from a mutual dedication, where each party “shows favoritism”, giving beyond what is “deserving”

to the other, bestowing more than the requirement of calculated benefit. 

If Sinai was the contractual marriage between the people and G-d, where the people received the Torah, the marriage contract, then the building of the tabernacle represents the building of the home where the relationship plays out. Creating a home is only possible by “showing favoritism” and expressing devotional love. 

The language used in the blessing the priests recite before fulfilling the commandment to bless the people is, “who commanded us to bless his nation Israel with love”. Indeed, the Zohar, the primary work of Jewish mysticism, says that if a priest does not genuinely love the people, he should not recite the priestly blessing. Perhaps the reason is that love and devotion are at the heart of the blessing. The priest blessing the people must experience the unconditional love G-d has for the people in order to be a conduit for this extraordinary blessing. For without love, the priestly blessing is impossible.