1. What does it mean to "oppress"? What does it mean to "wrong" a person? Why are we warned against both?
2. What is the punishment for these actions? Why?
3. What does this text teach us about the nature of oppression and punishment? Do you agree? Is this always true?
1. What is the difference between the mishna and gemara? How does the gemara elaborate?
2. Why do we support gentiles among Jews? What is the nature of the relationship?
3. What are the interests of peace and why was it important to the rabbis to preserve them?
1. Rabbi Eliezer seems to say that the reason we should be especially careful not to harm the stranger / convert is that they "have an inclination towards evil." What do you think this means? How do you react to this? If this means that we are afraid they will revert to their previous ways and leave the community, how does this affect your reaction?
2. Why does the text interpret wronging a stranger / convert to mean taunting them about their past?
3. What does R. Nathan mean when he says that the meaning of not oppressing the stranger is not to taunt someone about a blemish you yourself have? What is the blemish?