Parashat: Sh’lach Lechla

Parashat: Sh’lach
Torah Reading: Numbers 13:1–15:41

“There shall be one law for you and for the resident stranger; it shall be a law for all time throughout the ages. You and the stranger shall be alike before the Eternal. The same ritual and the same rule shall apply to you and to the stranger who resides among you.”

— Numbers 15:15–16

While the verses above from this week’s Torah portion, Shlach Lecha, are focused on the obligations of a non-Israelite who chooses of their own volition to make a sacrifice to God (noting that they are under the same framework, obligations and restrictions as an Israelite) the reality is that this sentiment is much broader in the Torah. No fewer than four other places we find the same reminder that the same laws apply to Israelites and to “gerim” — usually termed “strangers.” Some commentators note that a ger might also be a person who has converted to Judaism. However, it is very clear that both in antiquity and today, our Jewish community counts within our midst countless others who, while not formally Jewish themselves, are very much invested in the wellness and maintenance of the community. And we are reminded that they have the same obligations, restrictions and rights as someone who is fully Jewish. And, perhaps, there are larger implications for the societies we live in today!

— Rabbi Craig Axler