Welcome to Klal Yisroel, Dvorah Rus bas Sarah!

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

Welcome to Klal Yisroel, Dvorah Rus!  We stand in awe of you.

Also known as Kassy Dillon, Dvorah Rus is a political commentator on Fox News, a documentary producer, and a media strategist.  And while attending a small women’s college in Western Massachusetts, she founded Lone Conservative, an online publication created to give a voice to conservative college students.

She frequently makes media appearances and writes on topics involving the Middle East, free speech, and cultural issues on college campuses. Her work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, on Fox News, The Hill, the Daily Wire, the Washington Examiner, and Campus Reform.

Someone recently commented, “You know Kassy Dillon is a true giores tzeddek because she was misgayeres before Pesach!”  But now, a few thoughts..

Everyone knows the famous dictum of Rabbi Akiva and the original verse in the Torah.  The Torah says, “Veahavta larayacha kamocha – love your neighbor as yourself.”  Rabbi Akiva adds –“zeh klal gadol baTorah – this is an important principle in the Torah.”  Rabbi Akiva, a light unto his people, adds that this is a fundamental point in the Torah.  Much of what we do, much of our divine service is predicated upon these three words.

THE RAMBAM

Rabbi Akiva lived from before the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash until the aftermath of the Bar Kochva revolt in 135 CE.  We now fast forward exactly one thousand years from the passing of Rabbi Akiva.  A new light to the people of Israel, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon also known as the Rambam, (1135- 1204) is born.

In the Rambam’s Mishna Torah (Hilchos Dayos 6:4), we read:  “He (Hashem) has commanded us in the Mitzvah of loving a Ger, a convert, like we love His own Name.” 

Wait.  What happened to the word, “kamocha – as yourself?”

Rabbi Avrohom Yonah Jewnin (1813-1848), author of the Nimukei Mahari, printed in the back of the Mishna Torah, points out this distinction. [Parenthetically, Rav Jewnin was a recognized world class scholar in Grodno who died tragically young]. He explains that the Rambam’s intent is that:

 there is no upper limit to the amount that we must love the convert.

We see clearly that, according to the Rambam, the Mitzvah of loving a Ger, by far exceeds the amount we must love our fellow brethren that are not geirim.  Now it is true that the Ramban states that the Mitzvah of loving a ger states that it is equal to kamocha – disagreeing with the Rambam, but it nonetheless is at least equal.

I would like to suggest that we take this Rambam to heart in a number of practical ways:  In social interactions, in Shabbos invitations, in business ventures, in tzedakah, and in our dating as well.

DOUBLE MITZVAH

The Mitzvah of v’ahavta layacha kamocha is one Mitzvah.  However, the Mitzvah of loving a Ger involves the fulfillment of two Mitzvos – Ahavas HaGer and Ahavas Yisroel!  If we love Hashem’s Mitzvos, then we should surely love a double Mitzvah!

AT ALL TIMES

The Mitzvah of loving a Ger is one that we can fulfill at all times.  We can do it in thought alone!  It is one of the “thought Mitzvos,” so to speak.  So the next time that we are standing in line without a sefer, or we are in a place where we cannot learn, for one reason or another, we can always contemplate the thought Mitzvos.

CONCLUSION

A Ger Tzedek is someone who left their entire background, their entire culture, out of love of Hashem.  This person is truly up our alley as it is exactly what Avrohom Avinu did when Hashem commanded him with lech lecha, meartzecha, memoladetcha, u’mibais avicha – from your land, from the place of your birth, and from the house of your father.  The commentaries explain that it was to give Avrohom Avinu more merit.  Certainly, we see the tremendous merit of a Ger Tzedek.  It is no wonder that the Mitzvah of loving gerim is mentioned in the Torah so many times.  It is also no wonder that Hashem loves geirim so much as well.  Let’s all take this to heart.

So welcome Dvorah Rus bas Sarah!

The author can be reached at [email protected]