Parshat B’haalot’cha; Numbers 8:1-12:16 By: Rabbi Denise L. Eger
As our Congress debates immigration reform on Capitol Hill our Torah portion for this week reminds us of important values. While our American minds are directed to discussions about the role and place of immigrants in our society and who gets in to our country and how, our Jewish hearts and minds must also look to our Torah for guidance.
In this week’s parasha, B’haalot’cha we read “There shall be one law for you, whether, stranger or citizen of the country. (Num.9:14).”
This Torah law speaks about the ger—translated above as stranger. But this word is understood in our tradition not as someone who is unknown but someone who is a alien. This is one who dwells and lives among the people Israel but is not necessarily part of the Israelite nation or a citizen of the Israelite nation.. The ger legally lives and works alongside the Israelites but is not a citizen, i.e. Jewish. In fact, the term ger tzedek—righteous stranger becomes the word for one who converts to Judaism and fully becomes a citizen of the covenant.
The ger or ger toshav -- was expected to abide by certain mitzvot or certain laws of our tradition although not the entire Mitzvah system. The ger toshav –or resident alien is first mentioned back in Exodus and several times in Leviticus. Some of the passages in Leviticus even describe our Jewish obligation to help the resident alien in our midst when they fall on hard times. Our tradition understands that the resident alien is a part of society and although not Jewish has a role to play. They may be workers, hired hands, or even refugees. But the fact that the Torah understands that society is not monolithic not even in Ancient Israel, should speak volumes to us. By including a discussion of the resident alien in our portion and in other sections of the Torah should help us understand that our own society is not different in that regard. As a country of immigrants, the United States must recognize that we have some obligations to those who have come here and make their home here.
That doesn’t mean that there ought not to be rules and obligations. Even in Jewish tradition there are basic rules for the ger toshav. In our torah portion this week, it describes how a ger might offer the sacred Passover Sacrifice. It particularly describes the delayed Passover sacrifice due to impurity or travel—but what is significant is that it says that they must observe the rules just as scrupulously as a Jew. How amazing to think that someone who isn’t Jewish (or in this case Israelite) might offer the Passover sacrifice! And yet, he or she is living in this tightly knit community and that the Passover sacrifice is so holy –there can be no short cuts not even for someone who isn’t technically bound to observe. Thus there is one law for the citizen and the ger alike. All are equal before this sacred law.
Maimonides in the Mishneh Torah explains, “ We should treat resident aliens with the consideration and kindliness that are accorded to Jewish people, since we are commanded to sustain them, as it is written: “You shall give it to the stranger who belongs to your community that he may eat it” (Deut. 14”21). Even with respect to idolaters, our sages admonish us to visit their sick, bury their dead along with the dead of Israel and maintain their poor as well as the Jewish poor, in the interests of peace, as it is written: Adonai is good to all and God’s mercy is over all God’s works” (Psalm 145:9) It is also written: “Its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace” (Proverbs 3:17).
Thus as the debate continues about what to do about those who have crossed our borders here in America without the benefit of a green card—we ought to remember that in Jewish tradition we recognize that there are those who will live among the people without being citizens. Jewish tradition demands that we treat those who come to live among us with dignity and righteousness. We do have the right to assert that they abide in our society peacefully and under the rule of law—but we cannot demonize the immigrant whether documented or not. As it says in our portion—there must be one law for both the citizen and the stranger in our midst.
Posted by Lee at May 29, 2007 09:52 AM
