‘For You Were Foreigners’ 

Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. — Exodus 22:21 

Each week in synagogue, Jews read through the Torah from Genesis to Deuteronomy. The Torah portion for this week is Mishpatim, which means “laws,” from Exodus 21:1–24:18. 

When my husband and I made aliyah, immigrating to Israel, one of the things I most looked forward to was the opportunity to be part of the majority in society. Growing up as a Jew in America, I was always in the minority. 

For example, during the celebration of the Jewish holidays, my holidays were limited to our home, our synagogue, and the other Jews in our community. But out there in the wider culture, our festivals were nowhere to be seen. This never bothered me too much. Jews make up only about 2 percent of the population of the United States, so it’s understandable that the Jewish calendar doesn’t set the tone.  

But now that I live in Israel, in a majority Jewish society, I can enjoy the public displays of my faith in general. While it is wonderful to be a part of the majority after growing up as a minority, the experience of my upbringing taught me an important lesson.  

Protect the Foreigners 

In this week’s Torah portion the Bible commands us: “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” The message of this verse is so relevant to the Jewish people today. The Jewish people were persecuted for so long in so many different lands. Because of this, there could easily be a tendency for Jews who have returned to feel resentful to world.

The Bible warns us to remember what it felt like to be a minority, a foreigner to the culture in which we lived. As happy as the children of Israel were to be free and independent, God warned them, as He warns us today, to not use this newfound independence in the wrong way.  

Today, Israel is home to minorities of other faiths and nationalities who are not Jewish. Part of our covenantal responsibility in our land is to welcome “foreigners,” and protect them, from discrimination and persecution.

Your turn: Are there newcomers or immigrants in your community? What can you do to make them feel welcome?