The Torah, which is also known as the Five Books of Moses, part of the Jewish Bible, addresses immigration.
"When strangers sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do them wrong. The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt" (Leviticus 19:33-34).
Just as the Israelites were treated harshly by the Egyptians when they lived there, Jews are taught not to do the same to aliens . From a Judaic perspective, immigrants to this country should have the same rights citizens.
Over the centuries, Jews have known the predicament of being "strangers in strange lands." From the patriarchs' and matriarchs' sojourns in foreign lands to our seminal experience as strangers in Egypt, the plight of the non-citizen resonates for Jews.
The Torah also talks about doing justice for the widow, orphan , and stranger ''that lives among you.'' (Exodus 22: 20-23) . Circa 3300 years ago, Hebrews knew that some among them may not treat immigrants well, so laws were instituted to protect aliens.
Further, when we look at the book of Ruth, we see that Ruth was a Moabite. She is invited into Jewish society with full rights as any other Jew. Her kinsman Boaz protects her from Hebrews that might attempt to treat her as an unwanted foreigner and ''molest'' her. (Ruth 2:8-9) Ruth becomes the great grandmother of King David (ibid 4:22), and the matriarch of Jesus. (Matt 1:17). Ruth , the alien, is also the matriarch of the Jewish Messiah! [Talmud Bavli Tractate Bava Batra 75b].
Because many of us have prejudices, the Torah teaches us to not be prejudicial. Christians use the Jewish Bible as the basis of their religion. Rabbi Jesus taught about treating all with love , kindness and mercy, the major tenet of Talmudic Rabbinic Judaism.
One of the reasons why there is the story of Adam and Eve is to remind us that we all have one set of human parents, and one Divine Parent. [ Talmud Bavli Tractate Rosh Ha Shana 10b-11a]. We are all brothers and sisters who need to treat each other with love and kindness. There's only one race, the human race.
Rabbi Dr. Arthur Segal's love of Judaism and love of his fellows, led him on his personal quest for Jewish Spiritual Renewal, beginning his studies after retirement from a successful oral medicine practice. Rabbi Segal is the author of many Talmudic essays, and ''The Handbook to Jewish Spiritual Renewal: A Path of Transformation for the Modern Jew'' ,''A Spiritual and Ethical Compendium to the Torah and Talmud ,'' and ''The Path and Wisdom for Living in Peace with Others: A Modern Commentary on Talmud Bavli Tractates Derek Eretz Zuta and Rabbah." WWW.JewishSpiritualRenewal.com
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