In address to Mr. Laymen’s idea that, “Hashem is specific: the G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If this being is real, he is so because he has revealed himself as being in covenant with a particular people.”. Mr Laymen’s idea is not the accepted Jewish concept of G-d.
The primary thought of Jews as regards G-d is that He is the one true G-d and that he is the G-d of all creation. This is, by no means, specific only to The Children of Israel. One of G-d’s names is Ein Sof, which translates to, Without End. Considering the confines of the finite mind, this is perhaps the most purely abstract idea we might have of G-d and does not hold to your idea of G-d’s specificity. Being without end or beginning there is nothing to compare this aspect of G-d to. There is no generality from which to derive specificity. Hashem, The Name, is quite a bit more specific then Ein Sof but still, it is a generalization of a name being referred to and which cannot be uttered, YHVH.
As for the revelations in the Hebrew Bible, up through Noah, G-d provides laws for all Man. In Hebrew, the word for mankind is, Bnei Adam. This translates as the Children of Adam. When Noah recovered from the flood he entered into a covenant with G-d that bound him and his children to the seven Noahnic Laws. As the story tells us, being the only survivors of the flood, all human beings are Noah’s decendants. So, these laws and covenant are applicable as a universal, human, revelation and promise.
The revelations and covenant between G-d and Abraham are specific to him and his descendants. Those laws given to Moses on Mount Sinai are laws that set the Children of Israel apart as the chosen nation of servants to G-d. These laws, whether by design or not, create a holy peculiarity for the Children of Israel, of which Jews are one branch. The most peculiar branch of this tree would be Moses’ Levite branch, who are the only other known surviving branch of Israel’s line. These survivng lines of the Children f Israel are the only people currently bound to the laws given by Him to Moses at Mount Sinai. The tribe of Levi are a tribe set aside to serve the temple and their priests who are the descendants of Aaron, the Cohenim. The Cohnim are set aside, most peculiarly, to act out the most holy of services to G-d in the Temple.
The point of this little essay is to point out the false premise of Mr. Laymen comments above. Reading the Hebrew Bible and the Rabbinical commentaries make it very clear that G-d, HaShem, Ein Sof, Adonai and Elohim are all the same being, the one true G-d who created the Universe and set all of history into motion. He is everyone’s G-d, and has set aside a people to carry out His peculiar laws. G-d is quite general but it is His people, chosen to be His servants who are peculiar and specific.
