Ahavat HaGer is not just an idea; it's about connecting real Jews with one another.
§ The Sages taught in a baraita: With regard to a potential convert who comes to a court in order to convert, at the present time, when the Jews are in exile, the judges of the court say to him: What did you see that motivated you to come to convert? Don’t you know that the Jewish people at the present time are anguished, suppressed, despised, and harassed, and hardships are frequently visited upon them? If he says: I know, and although I am unworthy of joining the Jewish people and sharing in their sorrow, I nevertheless desire to do so, then the court accepts him immediately to begin the conversion process.
As the text in Yevamot 47a illustrates (and might serve as a reminder to many converts), the conversion process is full of excitement, fervor and dedication. But after the meeting with the Beit Din and trip to the Mikva, what's next? Ahavat HaGer can help fill the void after the formal conversion felt by some converts with personal mentors matching.
שְׂכַר הַלְּוָיָה מְרֻבֶּה מִן הַכּל. וְהוּא הַחֹק שֶׁחֲקָקוֹ אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ וְדֶרֶךְ הַחֶסֶד שֶׁנָּהַג בָּהּ. מַאֲכִיל עוֹבְרֵי דְּרָכִים וּמַשְׁקֶה אוֹתָן וּמְלַוֶּה אוֹתָן. וּגְדוֹלָה הַכְנָסַת אוֹרְחִים מֵהַקְבָּלַת פְּנֵי שְׁכִינָה. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יח ב) "וַיַּרְא וְהִנֵּה שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲנָשִׁים". וְלִוּוּיָם יוֹתֵר מֵהַכְנָסָתָן. אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים כָּל שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְלַוֶּה כְּאִלּוּ שׁוֹפֵךְ דָּמִים:
Mentors for Ahavat HaGer are doing Holy Work! The act of spiritual accompaniment, mentorship, or "being with" is what Ahavat HaGer is all about. Accompanying a fellow Jew through their journey is like Abraham showing hospitality to G-d's angels!
וְגֵ֖ר לֹ֣א תִלְחָ֑ץ וְאַתֶּ֗ם יְדַעְתֶּם֙ אֶת־נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַגֵּ֔ר כִּֽי־גֵרִ֥ים הֱיִיתֶ֖ם בְּאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃
You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings [soul] of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.
Even if you don't think you have much to offer or much to benefit from participating in Ahavat haGer as a mentor or recent convert, remember that every Jew's soul is at its heart a ger. That's right, a convert! Whether a slave in Egypt, a born-Jew, or a "New Jew", our souls ALL stood at Sinai together!
(א) שלא להונות הגר בדברים - שנמנענו מלהונות הגר אפילו בדברים, והוא אחד מן האמות שנתגיר ונכנס בדתנו, שאסור לו לבזותו אפילו בדברים, שנאמר (שמות כא ב) וגר לא תונה. ואף על פי שאנו מזהרים בזה בישראל וזה כיון שנכנס בדתינו הרי הוא כישראל, הוסיף הכתוב לנו אזהרה בו, וגם נכפלה האזהרה עליו דכתיב (ויקרא יט לג) ''לא תונו'' פעם אחרת, לפי שענין ההונאה אליו קרובה יותר מבישראל
(ב) משרשי המצוה, מלבד מה שכתבנו, כדי לכף את יצרנו לעולם לבל נעשה כל אשר נמצא בכחינו לעשות לרעה, על כן הזהירתנו בזה האיש שהוא בינינו בלי עוזר וסומך ויש כח ביד כל אחד ואחד ממנו עם אוהביו עליו לבל נעביר עליו את הדרך כלל אפילו בדברים כאלו הוא כאחד ממנו, ומתוך גדרים כאלו נקנה נפש יקרה ומסלסלת ומעטרת המדות הראויה לקבלת הטוב, וישלם בנו חפץ השם יתברך שחפץ להטיב.
(1) To not oppress the convert with words: That we have been prevented from oppressing converts, even with words - and that is one who converted and entered our religion - such that is forbidden to disgrace him even with words, as it is stated (Exodus 22:20), "and you shall not oppress a convert." And even though we are warned about this with Jews and since the one that entered our religion is like any other Jew, Scripture added a warning to us and also redoubled the prohibition for him, as it is written (Leviticus 19:33), "do not oppress" another time; because the issue of oppression is more relevant to a convert than it is to another Jew, as another Jew has redeemers who will redress his insult...
(2) Aside from what we have already written, it is from the roots of the commandment that it is in order to permanently train our negative inclination not to do whatever evil is in our power to do. Therefore we are warned regarding this person who is among us without a full support system, and over whom each and every one of us - with his friends - can exert some power; that we not exclude him from the general sensitivity that we show to everyone among us. And through boundaries such as these we will acquire a soul of higher worth - raised-up and crowned with positive characteristics and worthy of receiving good. And we will fulfill in ourselves the desire of God, may He be blessed, who desires to give benefit.
Jews by Choice in our communities don't always have advocates on their side. Ahavat HaGer's mentorship program helps create meaningful connections within our communities so that our participants don't feel like they are tackling tough issues that may arise on their own. Further, some say that "ahavat hager" itself is rewarded mightily by G-d in the world to come, as discussed in this passage in Sefer HaChinuch.
As Jews, it's our job to make our communities welcoming. As Ruth reached to Naomi for connection, we must make sure all Jews have a place to find a welcoming ear, an open heart, and a word of advice. Let Ahavat HaGer match you with a partner today!