Raviv Zarch

Shabbat shalom.  My parsha, Mishpatim, which translated means, “laws”, goes into great detail about a number of Jewish laws. When I first read this parsha, I thought the most relevant component was the part about how to treat your ox and your neighbors. I can totally relate to this as there are many oxen that roam the streets of Boston these days. Don’t get me wrong, and this is very important, if you do hurt your neighbor's ox, you should be punished.  But the section of the parsha that I related with most was how we treat strangers, and why we should treat them fairly.  In the parsha, we hear twice about treating strangers.  

The two key verses in this portion that helped me are Exodus. 22 verse 20 where it is written, “Do not wrong and do not oppress a stranger, because you were strangers in the land of Egypt”  In Exodus 23 verse 9, it states,“Do not oppress a stranger because you know how it feels to be a stranger for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.”  This raises a question, why is this mentioned twice, and why does the second say we know how it feels. Let's dive into this.  Most people know, we should not oppress strangers.  What should motivate us not to hurt the stranger?  

What are some ways to be a stranger?  It could be an individual new to a community, someone you don’t know well, or even an outcast from a group.  it could also be someone you make a stranger, even if they were once in the group.  

What are some of the ways we could hurt a stranger without thinking about it? One of the smallest ways you could hurt someone without thinking about it is hurting someone new to your school. Maybe you’re not nice to them, like you pick on them or say bad stuff about them. Rather, you should invite them to play. Being new on the first day of school is hard. What about someone in your community that you don't necessarily know but you know that they’re having a hard time?  Like if someone recently lost someone they love, lost their job or has a hard life at home.   

The 11th century commentator, Rashi gives two reasons not to oppress the stranger and why the Torah says we should remember how it feels to be a stranger.  The first answer is saying that it doesn't matter if we remember how it feels, we should do it anyway. He says if you do harm them, they will harm you back, by saying “who are you to talk? You were strangers in Egypt. (meaning, you’re nobody)” That is, not everyone will think “I know how it feels, therefore I won’t oppress a stranger.  Rashi's second answer says, well maybe for some people it will be important to remember how it feels. Rashi says some Jewish people are enlightened enough and knowledgeable of Jewish history, to remember that we know how it feels to be strangers and therefore treat strangers with kindness. I don’t find this a useful argument.  Some people need to be reminded that they were strangers once, but Jews are reminded a lot.  We are reminded frequently, like on Passover, on Shabbat in the kiddush, and even Mi Chamocha which is said twice daily which tells us we were safe when we crossed the Red sea.  Rashi’s arguments don’t appeal to me because it isn’t about how we feel. 

Nechama Leibowitz immigrated to Israel in 1930 and she began studying Torah and taught at Tel Aviv University.  She is credited with rekindling interest in Bible study.  She agrees that not everyone who remembers what it feels like to be a stranger will then remember not to oppress someone. For example, people who are abused often abuse others, out of their own frustration. People do what they know. Sometimes people have bad habits and need to learn something new. I think this is true. How would you feel if you were in a new community and they kicked you out and treated you horribly? No one wants to have to feel that.  If new people come to your community, you don’t want to treat them the way you were treated. When I started Schechter in 2nd grade, everyone was so nice to me. That’s why when new people come to my school I do everything I can do to be kind to them. Leibowitz’s argument makes me realize we don’t know what people are dealing with at home or in their lives so you should be kind no matter what. 

Born in 1808, Samson Raphael Hirsch lived during an era when Jews were getting equal civil rights in Europe.  He says that treating strangers well is the highest goal. A society or country who treats the most vulnerable people with respect are judged well – because this isn’t easy or obvious and maybe reflects on his own experience and the ability to practice his religion freely.   When you help the stranger, that makes the place you are in a good place. In America, we are selective of foreign people who want to live here, but because of a crisis we’re letting the Afghanis into the country.  I feel like it’s fair for the Afghanis who need a good place to go, but it isn’t good for other people who need to get into the country.  Hirsch’s point that treating the most vulnerable in society well and with respect is the highest goal is a good one. 

I think the Torah has to tell us not to oppress the stranger to make sure people won’t do it.  Because it is mentioned twice it is really important. People know they shouldn’t but that doesn’t mean they won’t do it. You don’t ever want to hurt someone, and they’re someone you’ve never met, or don’t really know.  It’s even worse than hurting someone you do know. Not only are you a stranger to them, it is a bad first impression and it can make you lose friends or be hated. 

In Haiti there is a big problem where people can’t get a good education. I raised money to support a fund that will help people get an education in the native language that most people speak. French is used as the formal language and in school, but Creole is used at home. My friend, Dr. Marky Jean-Pierre runs an organization called Rive which is building a school that will teach in the language of Creole to make it easier for people to learn. The school will be based in a community in a rural area, where Dr. Marky grew up. In this area it is hard to get an education because they don’t have many schools in the area. This way students don’t have to leave home to go to school in a city. For my Bar Mitzvah project I hosted games in the park to raise money for RIVE. My goal, which I met, was to raise $500. This is enough to cover school fees and books for 5 students for a year.  

My bar mitzvah project exemplifies not oppressing the stranger because I’m helping a community in a land I’ve never been to, and don’t know much about.  But helping kids receive  an education will benefit them for the rest of their lives and I know how important having an excellent education can be for someone’s future.

I am so lucky to have learned at five amazing schools - Sunnyside, Goldsmith, Krieger Schechter, Lander Grinspoon and now for the past six years at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston. Each of my teachers has given me the gift of exploration. Thank you! 

One of my happy places is Camp Yavneh where I get to spend my summers making amazing memories with amazing friends. Yavneh is a place where all types of young Jews get to practice their Judaism together as one. I appreciate this because it gives you a sense of respect for all Jews. 

Thank you to my Mom and Abba for being such good parents and making my bar mitzvah possible. Thank you Danya for being my sister, my friend and my partner in adventures at the beach. Thank you to Papapa and Safta and to Nana and Grampa for taking me on such amazing trips and always being there for me.  Thank you to Rive for doing such good work in Haiti and teaching me to really value my education. Thank you to Rabbi Penzner for studying the Torah with me and thank you to my bar mitzvah tutor and 5th grade teacher, David Wolf for preparing me for today..  Thank you for all my teachers for helping me learn Hebrew and other skills that I need.  Thank you to all the people who had parts in the service, read Torah and had aliyot. This is such a crazy time that we  are living in and I am so thankful to all of you for coming to my Bar Mitzvah.

Shabbat shalom