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The Sources frequently tell us that if "all Israel" did this or that, wonderful things would happen. For example, if all Israel observed just one Shabbat properly, the Messiah would come. [Ta’anit Y 1:10; Ex. R. 25:12]

The problem is this: We don't always know who is Jewish and who isn't. It is likely that the vast majority of halachic Jews today have no idea they are Jewish. A single Jewish woman who was forced to convert out a thousand years ago could have thousands of matrilineal descendents today, all halachically Jewish, all ignorant of the fact.

So, given this reality, how do we give meaning to the phrase "all Israel"?

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    Is it that frequent? How many other examples are there?
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Sep 20, 2018 at 1:44
  • 1
    Should be a dupe of judaism.stackexchange.com/q/90271/9682.
    – DonielF
    Commented Sep 20, 2018 at 4:30
  • +1 Great question, I would extend it by 1. bringing all the Halachot that depend on that 2. Asking who's included - all grown males, females, kids, converts etc.
    – Al Berko
    Commented Sep 20, 2018 at 9:29
  • If a king of Israel dies, all Israel are eligible for kingship. [Horayot 13a]
    – Maurice Mizrahi
    Commented Sep 20, 2018 at 10:57
  • All Israel are responsible for one another. [Shevuot 39a]
    – Maurice Mizrahi
    Commented Sep 20, 2018 at 11:01

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