I've heard at various times that the Mitzvah of Ahavat haGer (loving the stranger, cf. Devarim 10:19) refers to either (non-Jewish) resident aliens or converts. Is there any discussion about which of these (if not both) the mitzvah actually refers to?
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The Rambam is explicit that the mitzvah of Loving the Ger applies to a convert who has "entered under the wings of the Divine presence" ie. A Ger Tzedek who has converted to Judaism, and is considered a full fledged Jew.
- See the Rambam (דעות ו-ד) :
אַהֲבַת הַגֵּר שֶׁבָּא וְנִכְנָס תַּחַת כַּנְפֵי הַשְּׁכִינָה שְׁתֵּי מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה. אַחַת מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא בִּכְלַל רֵעִים וְאַחַת מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא גֵּר וְהַתּוֹרָה אָמְרָה (דברים י-יט) {וַאֲהַבְתֶּם אֶת הַגֵּר}. צִוָּה עַל אַהֲבַת הַגֵּר כְּמוֹ שֶׁצִּוָּה עַל אַהֲבַת עַצְמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים ו-ה) {וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ}. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַצְמוֹ אוֹהֵב גֵּרִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים י-יח) {וְאֹהֵב גֵּר}:
- The Rambam in Sefer Hamitzvos is also explicit that this mitzvah refers specifically to a Convert:
ואף על פי שהוא נכלל בעניין זה במה שכולל כל ישראל באומרו "ואהבת לרעך כמוך", לפי שהגר הזה הוא גר צדק
Although he [this convert] is included in the Mitzvah of 'Love Thy Neighbor like Yourself' for he is a righteous convert.
- See the Sefer Hachinuch in Parshat Eikev, who writes as well that this mitzvah is explicitly referring to a convert to Judaism and not a Ger Toshav:
תלא. מצות אהבת הגרים. [[שנצטוינו]] לאהב הגרים, כלומר, שנזהר שלא לצער אותם, בשום דבר, אבל נעשה להם טובה ונגמל אותם חסד כפי הראוי והיכלת, והגרים הם, כל מי שנתחבר אלינו משאר האמות שהניח דתו ונכנס בדתנו, ועליהם נאמר (דברים י יט) ואהבתם את הגר וגו'. ואף על פי שיכללהו כמו כן הצווי בישראל, שנאמר עליו ואהבת לרעך כמוך (מצוה רמג), שהרי גר צדק בגלל רעך הוא, הוסיף לנו השם בו מצוה מיחדת לו באהבתו
These Geirim are anyone from among the Nations who has connected to us (The Jewish People) and left their Religion and has joined ours, on them it scripture says "You Shall Love the Convert"
- However, the Chofetz Chaim in his compilation of the 613 Mitzvos (ספר המצוות הקצר מצוות עשה סא׳) writes that the Mitzvah to love the stranger applies to a Ger Toshav as well:
סא. מצות עשה לאהוב את הגר. שנאמר: "ואהבתם את הגר" (דברים י, יט). וזוהי מצוה נוספת על ואהבת לרעך כמוך (שהרי הגר הוא גם כן בכלל ישראל). והקב"ה אוהב את הגר דכתיב "ואוהב גר לתת לו לחם ושמלה" (דברים י, יח), ונאמר "ואתם ידעתם את נפש הגר" (שמות כג, ט), ופירוש גר כאן, הוא שבא מארץ אחרת ומעיר אחרת לגור אתנו, ומכל שכן גר שנתגייר. ונוהג בכל מקום ובכל זמן בזכרים ונקבות.
Shoel U'Meishiv
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Both of these sources leave something to be desired, add it could be argued that a ger toshav has also joined our dat and come under the wings if the shekhina. – mevaqesh Aug 24 '16 at 19:41
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@mevaqesh how do you translate correctly the chinuch saying "ונכנס בדתנו״? A Ger Toshav may have left idolatry. But he for sure does not enter into ours. – Shoel U'Meishiv Aug 24 '16 at 19:43
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That depends, of course on how broad the term dat is and how much one looks at the ger Toshiba as being a partial convert requiring a court to approve. – mevaqesh Aug 24 '16 at 19:46
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@mevaqesh דת means religion. Perhaps you have sources of reasons to doubt that translation? – Shoel U'Meishiv Aug 24 '16 at 19:47
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Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat. – Double AA Aug 24 '16 at 20:23
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Much improved IMHO. – mevaqesh Aug 28 '16 at 04:28
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Mefaresh, I feel that your answer would work somewhat better if it also brought sources which disagreed with the Rambam's assessment. – Noach MiFrankfurt Aug 28 '16 at 13:39
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@NoachMiFrankfurt I did the Chofetz Chaim – Shoel U'Meishiv Aug 28 '16 at 13:41
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But the Chofetz Chaim also agrees with the Rambam's interpretation. A fuller answer would also bring sources who hold that ahavas hager refers only to gerim toshvim IMO – Noach MiFrankfurt Aug 28 '16 at 14:53
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@NoachMiFrankfurt the Chofetz Chaim disagrees with the Rambam. The says it's referring only to a ger Tzedek. While the CC writes it applies to a ger toshav as well. Point being there is no one who holds that It only refers to ger toshav. The only disagreement is whether it also applies to a Toshav. – Shoel U'Meishiv Aug 28 '16 at 15:10
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Mefaresh, what I mean is that someone who holds that only a toshav is covered by the halacha would be what I'd need to accept this answer. – Noach MiFrankfurt Aug 28 '16 at 15:26
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1@NoachMiFrankfurt that opinion doesn't exist based off every I have seen imo – Shoel U'Meishiv Aug 28 '16 at 16:49
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I'm surprised. Usually, there's at least one da'at yachid who holds against every other makor – Noach MiFrankfurt Aug 28 '16 at 19:34
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1@NoachMiFrankfurt generally. But not always – Shoel U'Meishiv Aug 28 '16 at 21:01