In parshat Ki Tisa, Moshe Rabbeinu passes a cosmic test. After the sin of the golden calf, HaShem proposes to Moshe that he become the progenitor of a new holy nation, instead of Israel (Shemot 32:10). Moshe refuses and defends the Jews with fervor: "Relent from Your burning anger and reconsider regarding the evil against Your Nation. Remember for Abraham, for Isaac, and for Israel." (Shemot 32:12,13)



There never was a greater Jew than Moshe. Never was anyone as disappointed with the People of Israel as Moshe was after the sin of the golden calf. If Moshe nevertheless kept believing in the Jewish Nation, no one has the right to denounce it - for all times. The Talmud teaches us how the prophet Hoshea failed in this area:



"The Almighty said to Hoshea: 'Your children have sinned.'" Hoshea should have answered: "Your sons are the sons of your dear ones, they are the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, may your compassion be over them." Not only did Hoshea not say this, but he said instead: "Master of the Universe, the whole world is yours, exchange them for another people." The Almighty said: "What shall I do with such an elder?" (Pesachim 87)



By proposing that the Nation be destroyed, Hoshea did the exact opposite of Moshe Rabbeinu. It is clear that Hoshea was well aware of that: His answer to start the nation anew obviously refers to Shemot 32:10. Hoshea is proposing to HaShem to start a new nation from himself! From where did Hoshea get the chutspa to come up with such a thing? What made him think he was at the level of Moshe?



The above fragment of the Talmud is the immediate sequel of a statement that Hoshea was greater than Yeshaya, Amos and Micha. The statement is quite startling, because the latter were among the greatest of prophets. Hoshea was thus a very great Jew, while he lived in a generation that failed miserably. The difference was so enormous that Hoshea lost hope and came to the conclusion that there was no other solution than to start a new nation. However, Hoshea erred horrendously. On the one hand, he underestimated the status of his people, which means that he lost sight of the faithfulness of HaShem to His Nation, the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. On the other hand, he overestimated his own status, which means that he lost sight of the absolute uniqueness of Moshe.



The Talmud continues with an elaborate account of how the Almighty taught Hoshea through great tribulations - he was commanded to marry an unfaithful woman, to have children with her, and then to divorce her - how deep his mistakes had been; how wrong he was to think so highly of himself and how impossible it is that HaShem would ever exchange the sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for another nation.



The unique nature of Israel is an unshakeable axiom. Being a Jew equals servitude to the God of Israel and servitude to the Nation of Israel. No matter how much the Nation rebels against the Torah of Moshe, a faithful Jew will not stray one inch and he will not despair. He will always defend the chosen Nation before the throne of God, and demand Divine compassion.