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Who was the first Jew - Avrohom, Isaac, or Yaakov? The answer is none of them, since Jewish identity with binding mitzvah (מצוה) obligations only began at Sinai. The shiur uses this paradox to explain why halacha (הלכה) follows maternal lineage and how Judaism differs fundamentally from belief-based religions.
This comprehensive shiur addresses fundamental questions about Jewish identity and the origins of Jewish peoplehood. Rabbi Zweig begins by establishing the historical timeline from Creation through the Exodus, noting that Avrohom was born in year 1948 from Creation and coexisted with Noah for 58 years. The central question explored is 'Who was the first Jew?' with the surprising conclusion that neither Avrohom, Isaac, nor Yaakov were technically 'Jewish' in the halachic sense we understand today. The shiur explains that the term 'Jew' (Yehudi) derives from Yehuda and wasn't used until the Purim (פורים) story, when most exiled Jews came from the territory of Judea. More fundamentally, Jewish identity as we know it - with binding mitzvah (מצוה) obligations - only began at Mount Sinai when the covenant was established. Therefore, the children of those who accepted the Torah (תורה) at Sinai were the first people born automatically into Jewish legal status.
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Deuteronomy 7:3-4, Kiddushin 68b
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