Sudanese+Refugee+Dilemma


 * The Sudanese Refugee Dilemma:**

1) What does international law and practice say about our responsibilities towards illegal immigrants? Immigrant looking for a better life-

Immigrant seeking asylum-

2) What does the Torah say about illegal immigrants?

= Reason to ask them to leave  =

**__ שמות פרק יב __**  (לח) וגם ערב רב עלה אתם וצאן ובקר מקנה כבד מאד:  And also a mixture of nations went out (of Egypt) with them and a large herd of sheep and cattle **__ שמות פרק לב __**  וידבר יקוק אל משה לך רד כי שחת עמך אשר העלית מארץ מצרים:  And Gd said to Moshe go down (from Har Sinai) for your nation that you brought out of Egypt has become corrupt (with idolatry) **__ רש"י שמות פרק לב פסוק ז __**  שחת עמך - שחת העם לא נאמר אלא עמך, ערב רב שקבלת מעצמך וגיירתם ולא נמלכת בי, ואמרת טוב שידבקו גרים בשכינה, הם שחתו והשחיתו:   
 * Your nation has become corrupt **- It does not say “the nation” but rather “your nation”. It is referring to the “Erev Rav” that you (Moshe) accepted on your own and you converted them, and you did not consult me (Gd), and you reasoned that it would be good for these people to come close to Gd. They corrupted (by worshipping idolatry) and they corrupted others.

**__ אבן עזרא שמות פרק יב פסוק לח __**  (לח) וגם ערב רב מאנשי מצרים שהתערבו עמהם, והם האספסוף שנאספו עליהם:  <span style="direction: rtl; display: block; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none; unicode-bidi: embed;">**__ מכילתא דרבי ישמעאל בא - מסכתא דפסחא פרשה יד __** <span style="direction: rtl; display: block; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"> וגם ערב רב וגו' מאה ועשרים רבוא דברי רבי ישמעאל. רבי עקיבא אומר מאתים וארבעים רבוא. ר' נתן אומר שלש מאות וששים רבוא: <span style="direction: rtl; display: block; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: left; text-autospace: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"> **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif;">And also a mixture of nations- **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif;"> 1,200,000 –that is the opinion of Rav Yishmael. Rav Akiva says, 2,400,000. Rav Natan says 3,600,000
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif;">And also a mixture of nations **<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif;">- They were Egyptians who mixed in with them (the Jewish people), and they were the “rabble rousers” (who ignited the rebellion about the lack of food- mentioned in Bamidbar Chap. 12)

= Reasons to let them stay = = =

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif;">1)There is a concept in Halacha of a “Ger Toshav”-meaning one who accepts upon himself the 7 Noachite Laws. Such a person is allowed to live in Eretz Yisrael

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif;">2)

<span style="direction: rtl; display: block; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none; unicode-bidi: embed;">**__ דברים פרק כג __** <span style="direction: rtl; display: block; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"> <span style="direction: rtl; display: block; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"> (טז) לא תסגיר עבד אל אדניו אשר ינצל אליך מעם אדניו: <span style="direction: rtl; display: block; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"> (יז) עמך ישב בקרבך במקום אשר יבחר באחד שעריך בטוב לו לא תוננו: ס <span style="direction: rtl; display: block; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: right; text-autospace: none; unicode-bidi: embed;"> .  You shall not deliver a slave to his master if he seeks refuge with you from his master. Rather,] he shall [be allowed to] reside among you, wherever he chooses within any of your cities, where it is good for him. You shall not oppress him.