Deuteronomy 10:18-19

 

דברים י:יח-יט

Original Text:

עֹשֶׂה מִשְׁפַּט יָתוֹם וְאַלְמָנָה וְאֹהֵב גֵּר לָתֶת לוֹ לֶחֶם וְשִׂמְלָה: וַאֲהַבְתֶּם אֶת הַגֵּר כִּי גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם:

Translation:

[God] upholds the cause of the orphan and the widow, and befriends the stranger, providing him/her with food and clothing. -- You too must befriend the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.
[JPS translation edited for gender-neutrality]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways does this text suggest that we mimic God?
2. What is God's responsibility to us and what is our responsibility to others? What are the different sources of these responsibilities?
3. This text reminds the reader of Israelite slavery. In what ways is a history of slavery connected to doing justice and loving the stranger?

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Related Sourcesheets:Walking in God's Ways, Bearing Witness, What Does This Have To Do With Me?, Building Community Through Service, Texts on Social Change v. Social Action, Jewish Ethics on Advocacy, The Social Justice Imperative, Solar Sweets, Koach Lunch and Learn-Maryland Hillel, How Are We Obligated to Feed the Hungry?, Chanukah Development, Globalization and the Miracle of the Maccabees, Purim: Trafficking, Sex Work and Power in Megillat Esther, Why is it a mitzvah to feed the hungry?, An Introduction to Social Action and Jewish Responsibility, Sparking Some Elements of the Discussion: What do these texts mean? , Exploring Definitions of Justice, Before Working at the Food Warehouse, Judaism and Justice: A Teaching for The First Church of Christ, Congregational (Suffield, CT)., J Serve: A Reflection On Our Day of Service , Hunger Research sheet , The Jewish Response to Poverty, Feeding the Poor in a Dignifying Way, Can We Create a Socially Just World Using God's Compassion as a Model?, Biblical references to tzedakah, Occupy Atlanta- "Do not harden your heart and shut your hand", AJWS Hunger Shabbat - Friday Evening Text Study, Our Obligation to Feed and Help those in Need

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