“Love ye therefore the stranger” (Deut. 10:19). We are enjoined to love the individual who enters under the wings of the Divine Glory¹ in order to fulfill all the commandments of the Torah. In thirty-six places the Torah cautioned us concerning love for the proselyte, not to wrong them² either monetarily or through words. Greater is their love and more precious are they before God than His love for Israel.³ ed. Horeb, Numbers, Chapter VIII, p. 43; also Mid-rash Tanhuma, ed. Horeb, Lech L’cho, p. 52. It is a parable of two people, one man loves the king and the other, the king loves him. Who is worthier? Surely, he whom the king loves. And thus is it comparable, Israel loves the Holy One, blessed be He, and the Holy One, blessed be He, loves the proselyte, for it is written, “And loveth the stranger, giving him food and raiment” (Deut. 10:18). For this reason it is incumbent upon us to love those whom the kings loves, and it is therefore written, “Love ye therefore the proselyte.”

footnotes: ¹ The proselyte. ² Baba Metzia 59b. ³ Midrash Rabbah,