Why do the Jewish believe they are God's chosen people?

I've looked it up and this is what I found:

Contrary to popular belief, Judaism does not maintain that Jews are better than other people. Although we refer to ourselves as G-d's chosen people, we do not believe that G-d chose the Jews because of any inherent superiority. According to the Talmud (Avodah Zarah 2b),(1. G-d offered the Torah to all the nations of the earth, and the Jews were the only ones who accepted it.) The story goes on to say that the Jews were offered the Torah last, and accepted it only because G-d held a mountain over their heads! (In Ex. 19:17, the words generally translated as "at the foot of the mountain" literally mean "underneath the mountain"!) Another traditional story suggests that G-d chose the Jewish nation (2. because they were the lowliest of nations, and their success would be attributed to G-d's might rather than their own ability). Clearly, these are not the ideas of a people who think they are better than other nations.

Link (http://www.jewfaq.org/gentiles.htm)

Based on 1 & 2 (highlighted in bold), that is why God 'chose' them.

But, after the explanation of 1 it says they were forced to (the moutain over their heads?) which sort of invalidates the reason!

Comments?

Even though i kinda feel sorry for the 'jews' now , especially after watching the 'pianist' and seeing how badly they were tortured , but i still think they brought things upon themselves. god's chosen ? well after reading that.. its quite clear that they didnt accept the religion upon faith..and it was only because they feared the mountain falling on them.

Based on 1 & 2 (highlighted in bold), that is why God 'chose' them.

But, after the explanation of 1 it says they were forced to (the moutain over their heads?) which sort of invalidates the reason!

I wouldn't take a mountain falling on their heads literally. It is only a parable from the Midrash.

The actual verse in Exodus says nothing about accepting these laws or I'm gonna drop a mountian on your head. This was a preparation prior to the giving of the 10 commandments. God said he wanted the people of Israel to be assembled "underneath" the mountain on which God was to reveal himself (as a cloud). The people were not to touch the mountain or to try to gaze upon God or they would die. I guess the story in the Midrash comes from the fact that God had to be assure that the Israelites would accept the convenant and Laws before revealing them, which they did.

Well thats what I get from reading the passage. I hope it helps.

The concept that G-d "held the mountain over the Jews' heads" is allegorical:

http://www.aish.com/torahportion/moray/The_Word_of_God.asp
http://www.tzivos-hashem.org/newsletter/nl105/torah.htm
http://www.sichosinenglish.org/books/letters-rebbe-1/37.htm

It was only after the Jewish people accepted the Torah willingly that G-d "held the mountain over the Jews' heads," and it refers to the tremendous level of love that the Creator expressed for the Jewish people, making them feel compelled, so to speak, to accept the Torah. Anyway, the links above explain further.

According to the Bible/Torah, G-d has brought His message of truth to the world through the Jewish people.

In the book of Exodus, G-d openly proclaims His son to the world: "Thus says the L-rd: My firstborn son is Israel" (Exodus 4:22).

"Israel" is the Jewish people—all of them. The Jews were chosen by G-d to be His special "son," to be, in the words of the Bible, "a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" for the whole world (Exodus 19:6).

All people are G-d's children, of course, but the Jews are like a "firstborn son" who brings G-d's Word to his younger brothers. By learning from the Jews (provided that they are following the 3300 year old Jewish tradition), mankind learns how to properly serve G-d and fulfil its purpose.

The Jewish people have been taught the secret to eternal life and blessings for all people, and now they finally have the freedom to reveal G-d's message.

According to that message, the key that unlocks the door to a personal relationship with G-d is His Law -- one part for the Jews, the other part for the rest of the world.

At Mount Sinai, G-d gave the Ten Commandments (and hundreds of others) to the Jewish people. These laws apply only to the Jews in their special role as the world's spiritual leaders.

But for everyone else, G-d gave the Seven Commandments (and dozens of other laws). These commandments were given to Noah, after he left the ark that saved his family from the great flood, as an eternal covenant with all the peoples of the earth. Since Mount Sinai, the Jews have carried the message of these seven laws to all the peoples.

A non-Jew who follows these commandments is called a righteous gentile, or a Noahide, and he receives both eternal life and G-d's blessings in his earthly life. By doing good works exactly as G-d commands, he earns a close relationship with his Creator.

Thus, in summary, the meaning of the fact that the Jewish people were "chosen from all the nations" [morning liturgy], is that they were charged with the role of influencing and showing the way to "all the nations," by being "a light unto the nations" [Isaiah, 42:6] by setting an example of devotion to the Creator and morality, and by teaching mankind the Noahide Code, G-d's Law for all humanity.

For more info, see http://webpages.charter.net/chavurathbneinoach/ and the sites in my signature.