Joseph and Feivel,
I recall a shmooz from my mashgiach wherein he explained (quoting the Kuzari and others) that “Yisrael” is in fact a different category in the creation distinct from other members of humanity. This distinction, however, he explained is a double-edged sword. It is true that we are embued with greater energies and potential (and remember, a goy can, by his CHOICE to be migayer, earn that greater status as well) but that we have the choice to use those energies for kidush hashem or ch”v chilul hashem. He went on to quote other gedolim who noted that all too often the leaders of some of the most corrupt and perverse movements in recent history had been jews who failed to use their greater energies for the purposes of kedusha.
I don’t think that either of you are really disagreeing with me or the writer of this letter. I think we all agree that we should get up in the morning and make the bracha “shelo asani goy” with the pride of knowing that “Ashrecha Yisrael Mi Komocha”
Where we differ is in emphasis. The two of you like to emphasize the element of a “birthright” of greater holiness. Yes we do have a birthright to greater kedusha. But when the emphasis is on what we are entitled to for free, rather than what we must work for, and when the emphasis is on saying things like “the inherent tumah that permeates the umos haolam” rather than on the notion of “chaviv adam shenivra b’tzelem” that often becomes a recipe for chilul hashem rather than kiddush hashem.
Not long ago, dozens of residents of Boro Park engaged in a riot against the local police over an incident that essentially was a minor nuisance that was blown way out of proportion. It was an unmitigated chilul hashem of the worst order. I can’t help but think that the perpetrators of that riot were more likely members of the “we are born hollier” school of emphasis than of the “we must work to realize our greater potential for holliness” school of thought. And if I’m right, I’d much rather be a member of the latter.