This debate about “better” has degenerated into subtle symantics. I think the point Torahis1 is trying to make is that none of us should confuse the superior mission that klal yisroel has as a nation with there necessarily being anything inately superior with any one of ourselves as individuals. Each of us has a POTENTIAL for greater accomplishment and an OOPORTUNITY/ RESPONSIBILITY for greater kiddush hashem than our non-jewish neighbors. But in the sense that the word “better” is often understood to refer to simple “mentschlachkeit” we should not delude ourselves into think that it is a birthright. We all have to work on ourselves and when we get too caught up in thinking that “mentschlachkeit” is automatic, that is when we risk behaving in a non-mentschlach manner.
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