EXOD877 See [[EXOD647]] Exodus 22:20 stranger AMEMEI 282

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EXOD873 It is a positive commandment to bear affection for a ger (stranger, convert, proselyte) as Scripture says, You shall therefore love the ger (stranger)" (D'varim 10:19). This is a religious duty in addition to the precept, you shall love your fellow as yourself (Va-yirkra 19:18) (since, plainly, a ger is also included in general Jewry). The Holy One, blessed be He, loves the ger, since it is written, He loves the stranger, in giving him food and clothing (D'varim 10:18); and it says, and you know the heart of a stranger [this verse]. The meaning of ger here is one who has come from another land or another city to live with us (Sefer haHinnuch, §431 (the precept of love for converts) seems to present this not as an actual mitzvah, but rather as a good mode of behavior which is learned from the mitzvah [Ed.]), and all the more certainly a proselyte who has converted to Judaism.

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EXOD875 See [[EXOD226]] Exodus 15:21 sing LEHRMAN 39-40

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EXOD874 See [[DEUT163]] Deuteronomy 5:15 remember OXFORD 39

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EXOD876 See [[LEV395]] Leviticus 19:34 love OXFORD 46-7

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EXOD878 See [[EXOD667]] Exodus 22:21 you SACKS 112-3

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EXOD879 Bibical consideration for animals was the basis for the following laws: … Animals must be permitted to forage for food in fields and farms which lie fallow in a sabbatical year [this verse].

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EXOD880 The Kli Yakar, a biblical commentary, comments on this verse. [Exodus 23:11] that “the purpose of the law is to teach us not to regard man as absolute lord over the produce of the land, and that one is required to have faith in God that he will provide adequate crops in the sixth year, not only for that and the seventh year, but also for the eighth, until the new harvest is gathered.” Kil Yakar. This idea of trust in God to provide adequately for all of man's needs permeates many mitzvot, such as the free loan requirement, the allocation of time for studying Torah, and the extensive obligations of charity. The Sefer Hachinuch, explaining the same verse, adds “This teaches us the attribute of voluntary renunciation of property and the resultant generosity which flows from this attribute. [since in the sabbatical year the land was ownerless and its fruit public property]. Man learns from this mitzvah that there is an owner to the earth who produces his fruits, and at His will they become ownerless. Furthermore, this renunciation of the fruit of the land teaches us faith and trust in God. A man who, at the Divine commandment regularly relinquishes his ownership over his land for this year will never lack for trust in the bounty of God. Sefer Hachinuch.

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EXOD881 See [[EXOD1030]] Exodus 34:6 compassion BLOCH 57-8

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EXOD882 Let the land rest during the sabbatical year. Disown all that grows on your land during the seventh year, whether fruits, grains or vegetables, and allow all to take of the produce freely. Key concept: To strongly fix in our hearts and minds that Hashem created the world. The mitzvah serves to uproot the false notion that the world always existed. All who espouse such heresy about the world seek only to live their lives without any bounds or restrictions, ignoring the walls of the Torah. Accordingly, the Torah commands, “You may work your land for six years but it must rest on the seventh.” In addition, Jewish landowners must disavow ownership of all that grows from their land in the seventh year. By doing so, we are reminded that although the land yields produce year after year, it is not because the land has this power. Rather, the Creator of the Universe causes the land to give forth produce. As the land’s Creator, He is also its true owner, so He commands us to relinquish our ownership of the land’s produce every seventh year for the entire year. Another benefit from the mitzvah: We acquire the ability to forgo our rights for the sake of others, for he who gives up one of his possessions with no hope of payment is a true benefactor. In addition, the mitzvah helps to greatly strengthen faith and trust in Hashem. A person becomes used to eating the fruits of his land year after year, and when every seven years, for a whole year, he behaves as if his produce is not his and allows others to freely take it, his faith in Hashem grows tremendously. He will never acquire the trait of miserliness or suffer lack of trust in Him.

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