In Randle Cotgrave’s dictionary, in the early 17th century, the word appears as concern for one’s country. But it is the etymology of the term that may reveal to us what our tradition has to say about patriotism.
I refer to the ancient Greek “pater,” or father, meaning an indication of concern for one’s land. This connection makes us think of Avraham, as the “father of all nations.” Because one of the incentives of his joining the covenant is the wellbeing of others (Ber. 12:3), he can be thought of as a patriot in a societal sense. At the same time, his relationship to the land, outside of the one he was promised, is more complex, as he is both an sojourner (ger) and a resident (toshav), per Ber. 23:4. This may be the root of the problem with Lot, another covenant member. But we return to that later.
A second relevant figure is Yirmiyahu. In his letter to the exiles (in Yir. 29:7), the Jews are told to seek the welfare of their government. This is closer to the sense of patriotism with which we are familiar. Returning to Avraham, being a patriot, he would not allow squabbles to get in the way of his ultimate concern. Lot’s perception of his own rights in his inclusion within Abraham’s covenant was different from what Avraham had in mind, just as Efron’s perspective about Avraham’s rights very much differed from his, but that did not shake his true patriotism. If only the rich and powerful would take notice….
