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Exodus 22:20-23

 

שמות כב:כ-כג

Original Text:

וְגֵר לֹא תוֹנֶה וְלֹא תִלְחָצֶנּוּ כִּי גֵרִים הֱיִיתֶם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם: כָּל אַלְמָנָה וְיָתוֹם לֹא תְעַנּוּן: אִם עַנֵּה תְעַנֶּה אֹתוֹ כִּי אִם צָעֹק יִצְעַק אֵלַי שָׁמֹעַ אֶשְׁמַע צַעֲקָתוֹ: וְחָרָה אַפִּי וְהָרַגְתִּי אֶתְכֶם בֶּחָרֶב וְהָיוּ נְשֵׁיכֶם אַלְמָנוֹת וּבְנֵיכֶם יְתֹמִים:

Translation:

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 your own wives shall become widows and your children orphans.
[JPS translation. Edited for gender neutrality]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to "oppress"? What does it mean to "wrong" a person? Why are we warned against both?
2. What is the punishment for these actions? Why?
3. What does this text teach us about the nature of oppression and punishment? Do you agree? Is this always true?

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Related Texts:
Exodus 22:20-23
Related Sourcesheets:Jewish Lenses on Disabilities, Rabbi Dianne Cohler-Esses, Judaism's Traditional View of Women, Welcoming the Stranger, The Other in our Midst

Submitted By

Sarah Margles

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