Who Is the Stranger? Parashat Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18)
Who Is the Stranger ? Parashat Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18) Shabbat Parashat Mishpatim: 25 Shevat 5778 כ"ה בשבט תשע״ח "You shall not wrong or oppress the stranger for you were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Exodus 22:20) כ וְגֵר לֹא-תוֹנֶה, וְלֹא תִלְחָצֶנּוּ: כִּי-גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם, בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם. (שמות כב:כ) Ger (or Stranger ) is the Hebrew term used by the Torah in reference to what we might today term the " O ther " living amongst us . We often speak about celebrating diversity, pluralism and embracing people who are different from us, but how do our actions reflect our lofty ideals? In this week's Torah portion, we are commanded not to wrong or oppress the stranger; the rationale for the commandment is quite clear -- empathy: you were strangers in the Land of Egypt and know what it feels like to be the stranger/other! How strongly does the Torah feel about this precept? Well, the Torah reit
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