EXOD872 We favour kin over non-kin, friends over strangers, in-group over out-group. Without this, groups would not exist at all. And we need them, because we are social animals, not isolated individuals: "It is not good for man to be alone" (Gen. 2:18). Belonging to a group is essential to the sense of identity. On the other hand, a moral system that failed to acknowledge duties to strangers would simply generate endlessly warring tribes. Indeed, it seems to be implicit in the Torah that the Israelites experienced exile and enslavement in order to engrave this truth in collective memory: "You must not oppress strangers. You know what it feels like to be a stranger, for you yourselves were once strangers in the land of Egypt" [this verse]. [Continued at [[EXOD331]] Exodus 19:6 SACKS nation xxxi]

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EXOD871 See [[EXOD639]], [[EXOD640]], [[EXOD642]], [[EXOD643]], [[EXOD649]] Exodus 22:20 afflict TEMIMAH-EXOD 222

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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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