spirit

torah portion

We, Too,
Were Strangers

I

n two major verses of this week’s
Torah portion, it clearly states:
“You shall not wrong a stranger
or oppress him, for you were strang-
ers in the land of Egypt. (Exodus
22:20), and “You shall not oppress
a stranger, for you know the feel-
ings of the stranger, having your-
selves been strangers in the land of
Egypt.”(Exodus 23:9)
In fact, there are 36 places in the
Torah that deal with protecting the
Essence of Judaism). If this is the
stranger, the ger. Our Talmud ampli-
case, then we cannot say that one
fies this by telling us not to treat
people is superior to another; and it
them as second-class citizens nor to follows that we each have the obliga-
patronize or exploit them in any way tion to take care of one another.
(Babba Metzia 59:b).
While in these times, we
Thus we have instilled
cannot deny that terrorist
in our collective memories
movements have gained
not only the sufferings of
followers and some have
being persecuted, expelled
done the unspeakable. Yet,
and even murdered just
we cannot look at every ger
because we were Jewish,
this way; rather, we should
but also a deeply ingrained
do two things in accordance
value that we are not to treat Rabbi Dorit
with what our tradition and
others who are gerim — i.e.
laws have taught us:
Edut
minorities, those from other
Continue to welcome
cultures, refugees, newcom-
these strangers; do every-
ers, etc. — with any form
thing in our power to ensure
of disrespect, injustice or
they are treated justly and
oppression.
kindly, and reassure them they are
We, of all people, can understand
safe here.
them, identify with their feelings
Also, work to get to the root
and fears and, therefore, we should
causes of terrorism and its attrac-
not in any way behave toward them
tion to some people by helping them
as those who once oppressed us did
to overcome their fears of us and our
to us.
culture, by helping them to integrate
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsh, a
from an early age on and experience
great 19th-century Torah commen-
the freedoms that make our society
tator, even said about these verses
a place where humans can thrive,
that “the treatment given to strang-
and by trying to understand and
ers is always the surest standard by
welcome a variety of cultures in our
which to measure the respect for
world that honor all life and our one
human rights and the humanitarian- amazing Creator. •
ism that prevails in any state.”
Rabbi Dorit Edut is a teacher, counselor
We are all gerim in God’s eyes,
and serves as the president of the Detroit
says philosopher Leo Baeck (The

Parshat Mishpatim:
Exodus 21:1-24:18;
(Shabbat Shekalim) II
Kings 12:1-12:17.

Interfaith Outreach Network (DION).

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February 23 • 2017

jn

February 23 • 2017

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