By Dr. Alex McFarland for THE CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK (CBN)
At a time when antisemitism increasingly surfaces in public discourse, online spaces, and even institutions that should know better, it is worth pausing to recognize a simple, powerful truth: The world we live in — with its freedoms, innovations, and culture — has been profoundly shaped by Jewish contributions. If gratitude were more evenly distributed, May 14 — the anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel — might well be celebrated globally as Jewish Appreciation Day.
The Jewish story is one of resilience, intellectual rigor, and a relentless commitment to improving the human condition. Despite centuries of persecution, displacement, and violence, Jewish individuals and communities have repeatedly contributed ideas and achievements that benefit all of humanity.
Let’s start with law and ethics. The concept that all people are equal before the law — central to America and all modern democracies — draws nearly exclusively from the Hebrew Bible. The idea that rulers, too, are subject to justice shaped Western legal systems. Moral philosophers like Baruch Spinoza challenged traditional authority (“divine right of kings”) and laid the groundwork for Enlightenment ideals that underpin modern civil liberties.
In the realm of science and medicine, Jewish contributions are nothing short of staggering. Physicist Albert Einstein revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and energy, fundamentally changing physics and enabling technologies we rely on today. Jonas Salk developed the first effective polio vaccine, saving millions of lives. Paul Ehrlich pioneered immunology and chemotherapy. These are not niche contributions; they are historic, civilization-defining breakthroughs.
