You shall not wrong or oppress a stranger: for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall not ill-treat any widow or orphan. If you do mistreat them, I will heed their outcry as soon as they cry out to Me, and My anger shall blaze forth and I will put you to the sword and and your own wives shall become widows and your children orphans. Exodus 22:20-23

The stranger who resides with you shall e to you as one of your citizens. You shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land og Egype: I am the LORD your G-d. Leviticus 19:34

According to the Rabbis these texts expose us to a critical idea: Because God created all human beings in God's image and because we were strangers in Egypt, we are commanded to act empathically and lovingly to strangers.


haggadah Section: Maggid - Beginning
Source: Tobi Inlender & Janice Kamenir-Reznik for Jews United for Democracy & Justice