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The Torah portion of Behar contains 24 mitzvot, many of which relate to the Land of Israel. In fact, it is in the merit of observing Shmittah that the Jewish people are not exiled from the land. This is a good segue to talk about Ruth, the righteous convert and matriarch of the Davidic dynasty who loved the Land of Israel and gave up wealth and comfort to move there and join the Jewish people (see below).
The Book of Ruth, which is read on Shavuot in many communities, recounts the story of Elimelech and his family moving to Moav due to a famine in the Land of Israel. After Elimelech and his two sons died, his widow Naomi decided to return to the Land of Israel. Her two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah, said that they will return with her. Naomi tried to dissuade them by saying that they would likely not find men to marry among the Jewish people and that they should return to their families. Orpah agreed, kissed her mother-in-law, and turned back, while Ruth “clung to her [mother-in-law].”
Ruth’s Declaration
When Naomi told Ruth that she should return with her sister-in-law, Ruth responded with one of the most eloquent verses in the Tanach:
“Do not urge me to leave you, to turn back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your G-d, my G-d. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus and more may the L-rd do to me if anything but death parts me from you.”
This article will focus on the meaning of Ruth’s words as explained by the commentaries as well as the laws of conversion which the sages extrapolate from them.
“Do not urge me to leave you.”
According to Jewish law, although one is supposed to discourage gentiles from converting, one should not reject them completely. Rather, one should dissuade them in the beginning in order to test their seriousness but should encourage them on their path once their sincerity is established. As such, Ruth was telling Naomi that she should not discourage her to the point that she abandons her plan to convert since she was sincere in her desire.
According to Tractate Geirim, when the convert comes to convert, he should be discouraged and told: “Why do you want to become a convert? Do you not see that this people are debased, oppressed, and degraded more than all other peoples? [Do you not see] that illness and suffering come upon them, that they bury their children and grandchildren, that they are killed for observing the mitzvah of circumcision, for immersion in a mikvah, and for other mitzvot of the Torah and that they cannot hold up their heads like other peoples?”
The Code of Jewish Law says that, although one must inform the convert of the serious and ordinary mitzvot and some of the punishments of the Torah, one should not overdo the discussion about the punishments. In the words of Rabbi Yoel Sirkish, “One should not speak extensively about the details and stringencies in the laws of forbidden fats and Shabbat because he may be converting with good intentions [and one shouldn’t scare him off].”
The Conversion Dialogue
According to the Talmud, Naomi and Ruth were involved in a discussion about the mitzvot which Ruth would have to accept in order to become part of the Jewish people.
- Techum Shabbat – “Where you go, I will go”
Specifically, Naomi said, “It is forbidden for us to walk past the Techum on Shabbat (boundary of 2,000 amot outside of a city),” to which Ruth replied, “Where you go, I will go.” According to the Midrash, Naomi (and Ruth) traveled back to Israel on Yom Tov (the first day of Pesach), arriving there on the first day of Chol HaMoed Pesach, just in time for the beginning of the barley harvest. Naomi did this because she was so poor that she may have otherwise starved to death. She therefore wanted to emphasize to Ruth that, under normal circumstances, this kind of travel is not acceptable.
Accepting Rabbinic Law
Although some say that it is forbidden by Torah law to walk more that 12 mil (approximately 7.5) outside of a city on Shabbat and holidays, the boundary of 2,000 amot (.7 of a mile) is definitely of Rabbinic origin. Targum Yonatan writes that Naomi specified to Ruth about the Shabbat boundary of 2,000 amot, which means that she made sure that Ruth was willing to accept the Rabbinic laws in addition to the Torah laws.
- Yichud – “Where you sleep, I will sleep”
Naomi said, “It is forbidden for us to be secluded (with a member of the opposite sex to whom we aren’t married or closely related [This is called yichud]).” Ruth replied “Where you sleep, I will sleep.” It has been suggested that Naomi specified the laws of yichud as she was aware (through Divine inspiration) that she was going to instruct Ruth to be secluded with Boaz for one night. She therefore emphasized this law so that Ruth realize that, such behavior is generally forbidden and would only be allowed on that night on a temporary basis. - All of the Mitzvot – “Your nation is my nation”
Naomi said “We are commanded to observe all of the 613 mitzvot,” to which Ruth responded, “Your nation is my nation.” - No Idol Worship – “Your G-d is my G-d”
Naomi said “We are commanded not to serve any idols.” Ruth responded by saying, “Your [one] G-d is my G-d.” - Capital Punishment – “Where you die, I will die.”
Naomi said “There are four types of capital punishment meted out by the court.” Ruth accepted this by saying, “Where you die, I will die.” - Burial Sites – “There I will be buried”
Naomi said “Those executed by the courts are buried in two separate cemeteries (depending on the severity of the crimes).” Ruth acknowledged this by saying, “There I will be buried.”
Accepting the Customs
According to the Midrash, Naomi and Ruth were also discussing the Jewish customs. Specifically, Naomi said, “‘My daughter, it is not the way of Israelite women to go to theaters and circuses of the gentiles.” Ruth said to her, “Where you go, I will go.” Naomi specifically chose a matter that isn’t an explicit law but is rather based on Jewish custom as these customs are an expression of our desire to serve G-d in an exemplary manner and are considered essential to our observance.
Naomi continued and said, “‘My daughter, it is not the way of Israel to reside in a house where there is no Mezuzah.” Ruth said to her, “And where you sleep (lodge), I will sleep (lodge).” Based on this Midrash, some say that it is best not to sleep in a Jewish house on which a Mezuzah isn’t affixed even if it’s not possible to get a Mezuzah at that time.
Accepting the Core Beliefs
The Malbim writes that the dialogue between Naomi and Ruth was about accepting the core beliefs of Judaism. Specifically, Ruth said,
- “Where you go, I will go” – Just like you (Naomi) are going to Israel in order to fulfill the mitzvot of the land, I, too, am going for the same reason. In addition, I will walk in the path of the righteous by following the ways of the Torah.
- “Where you lodge, I will lodge” – I will lodge like a guest in this world just as the tzadikim treat this world like a temporary guest house.
- “Your people are my people and your G-d is my G-d” – I have already accepted the belief in the one and only G-d, the Torah of your G-d, and the customs of your nation, making me like a member of your people.
- My main goal is, “Where you die, I will die” – I wish to die the death of the righteous as you will, so that my soul return to the bond of (eternal) life.
- And that “I will be buried there” – I wish to be buried in the Holy Land in the grave of the righteous people who will rise up in the resurrection.
- “So G-d should do to me” – She made a vow to emphasize her sincerity.
- “If death separates between us” – Although I have been connected to you during this life, If I do not convert, death will create a huge gap between us as you will cleave to the G-d of the souls while I will be sent to the chambers of the pagan worshipers. I therefore ask that you accept me as a convert so that death does not part us.
As such, Ruth was accepting the belief in one G-d, His Torah and mitzvot, reward and punishment, and the concept of the eternity of the soul.
May we merit once again to accept all of these beliefs as we prepare to reaccept the Torah!
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom Umevorach!
Copyright 2024 by Rabbi Aryeh Citron
