DOV TALES
by Dov Burt Levy

Perhaps like me, you receive emails from well-meaning friends describing how accomplished Jews are, as compared with Muslims.

It goes like this: Among twelve million Jews, a mere 0.2 percent of the world's population, 126 have received Nobel prizes. Muslims, with 1.4 billion, or 20 percent of world population, have received six. The bottom line, implied or stated, is, "Look how Jews have benefited the world compared with Arabs."

Not surprising that individual Jews would be pushing that information in the West, especially Europe, where prevailing sympathy goes to the "poor" Palestinians, most of whom are Muslim Arabs, and against Israel. Why not advertise our superior contributions compared with those of our adversaries?

Other Jews, perhaps recalling other times, find such a recitation to be in poor taste, unnecessarily provocative. Besides, Jews live in advanced countries, while most Muslims do not.

Even some Muslims are equally impressed with Jewish accomplishment. Islamabad-based columnist Dr. Farrukh Saleem, in an article entitled "Why Are Jews So Powerful," states, "For every single Jew in the world there are 100 Muslims. Yet, Jews are more than 100 times more powerful than all the Muslims put together. Ever wondered why?"

He ticks off a list of Jewish achievements and, in the last paragraph asks, "So, why are Jews so powerful? Answer: Education."

Early in January, an Agence France Presse story headlined "Nearly one in three in Arab world illiterate," reported that that startling figure takes into account the illiteracy of nearly half the women in the Middle East, according to the Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific Organization.

But there is a problem that gets in the way of improving education for Arab populations: In the Arab states that surround and menace Israel, widespread education would, while improving lives (and maybe producing Nobel prize winners), open the eyes of the people, who could then topple the despotic regimes. And their dictators know it.

Which brings me to the question posed by Rabbi Mitchell Wohlberg, of Beth Tfiloh Congregation in Baltimore, whose October 20, 2007 sermon has been widely circulated.

Rabbi Wohlberg talks about the consequences of facts cited in the October issue of Vanity Fair. An article in that magazine called "The 2007 New Establishment" lists those who, in the magazine's judgment, are America's 100 most powerful and influential people. Fifty-one of the 100 are Jewish, according to a counting by Joseph Aaron, editor of the Chicago Jewish News.

As the rabbi puts it, "this is not a list of shleppers… names like Warren Buffet, Clinton and Oprah Winfrey" are next to names like Spielberg, Bloomberg, Lauder and Weinstein.

Rabbi Wohlberg raises the question of Jewish power and success. Shall we be modest about these facts? Or shall we flaunt our real and perceived success? As columnist Akiva Eldar wrote in Haaretz, the Arab belief "that Jews rule the world has become one of Israel's most important deterrent factors, no less than its military strength."

The rabbi offers Talmudic references supporting both positions. Jacob, during a famine in Egypt, told his children "when you go down to Egypt don't let the people see that you have bread. And don't all come marching in together as one; people will be afraid of you; people will envy you; people will give you the 'evil eye.'"

On the other hand, says Rabbi Wohlberg, citing Exodus, "describing the garment that was made for the High Priest to wear in the Temple, we are told that the hem of his robe had bells on it so that people would know that he was coming. And the Lubavitcher Rebbe saw this as a lesson that a Jew should go out into this world proud and confident, trying to spread the message."

Thus, the Lubavitcher Chasidim have well-decorated "Mitzvah Vans" and large, public Chanukah menorahs. Says Wohlberg, "from the perspective of the Lubavitcher Rebbe you could say — although he never would have put it this way: 'If you've got it, flaunt it!'"

So, dear reader, let me join Rabbi Wohlberg in asking what you think. Lie low or flaunt it? Are such prominent declarations of Jewish achievement, including wealth and success, good for the Jewish community or not?