We discussed the prohibition on oppressing the stranger or sojourner (ger) for you know the feelings (nefesh) of the stranger since you were strangers in the land of Egypt (Exodus 23:9). We noted that oppressing the stranger was prohibited also at Exodus 22:20. We discussed R. Myra’s idea that a ger is someone Jewish adjacent (thus bringing the ancient concept into a modern formulation), for example, someone living with you for a short time, someone who lives in your area but is not an Israelite, etc. We discussed the word translated as “soul” or “feelings,” namely, nefesh. Its early meaning is life, breath, that is, the part of/type of soul associated with life and living. It can extend to mean “feelings” since feelings and emotions are responses we have to our lived experience (and our sensory experience).
