This phrase, “Am Yisrael,” especially when it concludes with the word “Chai,” fills our hearts with Jewish pride and fortitude. But what exactly does Am Yisrael mean? The nation of Israel? Are we Americans included? The people Israel? Are we Israeli? I suspect most people would say it simply means the Jewish people.
Jewish identity is complex, nuanced and multifaceted. We are a people, a nation, a religion, a state and more.
The Jewish people are called by three names: Yaakov, Yisrael and Yeshurun, each denoting a different quality of who we are (material for great sermons). Yisrael is the most sublime of the names, given to Yaakov by G-d’s angel with whom he had battled. It means, “for you have striven with the Divine and with man and have prevailed.” This is thus a very fitting name for a 3,337-year-old people that is still alive and very vibrant.
“Am” means the people, the ordinary folk, not the elites. The kabbalists associate the word ”Am” with Amum, dim, the ordinary folks whose soul-fire appears dimmed, as embers whose fire appears extinguished, but isn’t and is easily fired up again. We, Am Yisrael, the common, are not common at all. We are an Am Kadosh, a holy people, G-d’s Am Segula, His treasured nation (Devarim 14:2).
How does the common and ordinary jibe with the sublime Yisrael? The answer is, precisely so! Our bond with G-d is because of who we are at our spiritual core. We are G-d’s children (Devarim 14:1), in the way that a parent loves HIS child, not for what they achieve, but for who they are. Am Yisrael Chai!
