Clergy Sermons

Ki Tavo – Love the Ger

*Ger means stranger/foreigner

I have a distinct memory from when I was around nine or ten and would attend Yom Kippur services.  We came to that pages-long prayer Al Chet, where we enumerated all the ways we missed the mark in the past year.  It is a long list!  I remember reading through it and at a young age being struck by how many things on the list had to do with words we said. We have missed the mark by gossip, by idle chatter, foul speech, foolish talk.  It helped create a deep awareness that words matter.  Gossip hurts!  How we characterize others has an impact. 

On was one word on the list that gave me pause for a number of years, because I didn’t know what it meant:  We have missed the mark through xenophobia.  I had no idea what the word “xenophobia” meant, so I asked my mom.  She explained that it is fear and hatred of strangers or foreigners. This is expressed in both words and actions.  I hope that this year, when people read it, it makes them think about the fact that xenophobia still exists and we must do what we can to reject this behavior.

This morning’s portion tries to instill in our hearts and souls an obligation to care for those who are different or vulnerable. This morning’s portion describes the first thing we, as a people, are required to do once we enter and settle in the land, following the forty years we were wandering in the wilderness. It might sound familiar to you as these words are used as a core piece of the Passover Seder.  The context is that you are required to take your first fruits to the place God will cause God’s name to dwell and enjoy them with your family and share them with those in need.  Deuteronomy 26:11 – And you shall enjoy, together with the Levite and the stranger in your midst, all the bounty that the Lord your God has bestowed upon you and your household.  You don’t offer it as a sacrifice or burn it on the altar as we read in previous places. You share with the Levites who do not have ancestral land and need support, and you share with the ger in your midst.  The word ger probably refers to people from other lands who came for economic opportunity.  It might be best translated as foreigner.  Think about that person and why they would be on the list of people with whom we celebrate and our duty to make sure that they have food.  They don’t speak the native language.  They don’t know the local customs.  They don’t have family to fall back on.  It would be easy to exploit them, take advantage of them or target them. The Torah teaches that we must include, share resources and care for the ger.

This is about human dignity.  Everyone is created in the Divine Image and deserves to be treated with respect.  The Torah is especially concerned about those who may not be treated well, knowing that we often fear those who are different.  Embedded in this text is a deep sense of empathy.  We know what it feels like to be mistreated.  We were slaves in Egypt and we have to ensure that oppression, racism and prejudice never happen. Go back to the declaration we make when we bring our first fruits.  Deuteronomy 26:6, 7 - The Egyptians dealt harshly with us and oppressed us; they imposed heavy labor upon us.  We cried to the Lord… and the Lord heard our plea and saw our plight, our misery and our oppression. Why remember this terrible moment in history? Because it instills in our hearts and minds the need to care for others in that situation. The genius of Judaism is that the very story we tell about ourselves and our origins as oppressed strangers in a strange land is meant to awaken us to the plight of the stranger we encounter in our own land.

The moral revolution of the book of Deuteronomy goes beyond teaching us to share our food and celebration with the ger as in the context of lessons from our past – it teaches us to love the ger – the foreigner/stranger (Deuteronomy 10:17-19). In fact, we learn that God loves the ger – and as we imitate God, we too love the ger. In the section we just read in Ki Tavo, we are God’s agents of love.  Not only do we share with the ger, widow, orphan and Levite when we feast at the Temple, we invite them to the gates of our cities and homes. Deuteronomy 26:12 -  When you have set aside in full the tenth part of your yield in the third year, the year of the tithe – and have given to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow that they may eat their fill in your settlements.   

Include the ger in your celebrations, feed and care for the ger, feel empathy for the ger’s plight, love the ger.  This is a clear, passionate injunction against xenophobia.  So when we hear words that turn people against strangers lift up in our country, we feel pain.  We respond.  Rabbi Avi Shafran, an esteemed Orthodox rabbi writes that false accusations against Haitian immigrants of eating dogs and cats in Springfield, Ohio, should evoke our dismay.  He reminds us how such hateful words and unfair characterizations were used against us throughout history.  Sefer Ha-Chinuch, a Thirteenth century Jewish text writes that we are not to cause the ger pain in any way.   Listen to his words: “We are to learn from this precious mitzvah to have mercy on any person who finds himself in a foreign place.” Let’s respond to the hatred that has risen up against the Haitian community in Springfield with empathy and care.  We cannot ignore such hatred when it occurs.

I say all of this with the awareness that immigration policy is complicated, with legitimate differences of opinion. Words of hatred come from every place on the political spectrum.  I so appreciate all the officials and local activism meant to stop hatred and foster connection.  Ohio Governor Mike DeWine spoke out vociferously and repeatedly, noting the immigrants are in Ohio legally and praising their work ethic. Simple acts – patronizing restaurants, ensuring safety, saying, I care, praying together – all of these things have brought healing and I pray that this healing continues.

Lift up whenever oppression of the ger – the foreigner, the stranger occurs.  As I have listened to the students in this community, it is painfully clear that the experience of our ancestors is being repeated in their lives in real ways.  They feel like the ger – ostracized, singled out, judged harshly simply because they are Jewish.  Will our government, schools and neighbors see this and respond? 

Let’s begin in our own community.  Let’s lift up where we see and experience mistreatment and practice love of stranger – ahavat ha’ger.  Do you know about the refugee circle that is part of CBJ?  A committee led by Dr. Jon Rose is sponsoring a family from Russia brought to this area by Jewish Family Service.  This is part of a national program by which communities sponsor refugees.  The committee has gotten to know our family and when you know people, that is the beginning of living this mitzvah. Let me tell you a little about the family we are sponsoring.  The father is Serge and mother is Aleksandra (Alex). They have two wonderful children, Roman, age 9 and Alisa, age 6.  When they first arrived, the committee helped enroll the kids at camp in the JCC, of course waiving the fee.  Roman and Alisa loved it.   

The family is not Jewish – but our kindness extends beyond our own.  We helped them find a home, a car and are helping in the English as a Second Language course.  Volunteers help with driving, tutoring, applications for asylum, driver’s tests, all those things we take for granted. As we heard their stories, our hearts grew more deeply connected. What is it like to be here?  Serge and Alex shared how they miss friends, family, food. That is a tough part of being a ger, in a foreign land. The kids miss the snow and Aleksander and Serge miss being able to express themselves fully with others.  Serge misses working and earning a living.  Our laws don’t allow it for six months.  Their English is improving, but it isn’t easy.  We learned that they were political activists, fighting for democracy, who opposed the war in Ukraine. They simply wanted to live in safety with their family. 

Their story is full of twists and turns and at many points along the way they encountered the care of the Jewish community.  They talked about legally getting from Mexico to the United States but, having no money for food, shelter or getting to their next destination, a Jewish volunteer group helped them buy food and bus tickets to Phoenix.  They ultimately ended up in San Jose and lived in homeless shelters and then found Jewish Family Service of Silicon Valley.  That when they connected to our Resettlement Committee.  They were so grateful to leave the shelter they had lived in for thirteen months and move into an apartment belonging to a CBJ congregant.  They love California and discovering the Bay Area. The children are thriving.  People from the committee have invited them over to swim.  They feel safe.  They are so grateful.  

You can join our efforts as we extend beyond the wonderful Resettlement Committee.  We will collect gift cards for the family.  The committee will speak to our community during Sukkot and Jon Rose will teach in our religious school.   Please contact Rabbi Ilana or Jon Rose if you are interested in these efforts.  

          When we love the ger, it changes us.  It re-orients us to who we are and how the world should work.  I believe these efforts ripple out to our community and maybe even our country. Let’s continue to see the pain of one another, fight xenophobia, and continue to bring healing and love, person by person, word by word, act by act.   Shabbat Shalom.