You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings [soul] of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.

(43) The stranger in your midst shall rise above you higher and higher, while you sink lower and lower: (44) he shall be your creditor, but you shall not be his; he shall be the head and you the tail.

But both with those who are standing here with us this day before the LORD our God and with those who are not with us here this day.

(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.

The reward for escorting a stranger is greater than any reward. It is a practice introduced by our father Abraham, a way of kindness which was habitual with him. He served food and drink to wayfarers and escorted them. Hospitality to wayfarers is greater than welcoming the Divine Presence, as it is written: "He saw three men … he ran to meet them" (Genesis 18:2). Escorting them is even greater than receiving them. The sages have declared: "Anyone who does not escort his guests is almost guilty of bloodshed" (Sotah 46b).

...From where do I derive that the subsequent generations, and the converts who will convert in the future, were also included? The verse states: “And also with he who is not here with us this day” (Deuteronomy 29:14).

But Ruth replied, “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 God my God.

Naomi said to her: On Shabbat, it is prohibited for us to go beyond the Shabbat limit. Ruth responded: “Where you go, I shall go” (Ruth 1:16), and no further. Naomi said to her: It is forbidden for us to be alone together with a man Ruth responded: “Where you lodge, I shall lodge” (Ruth 1:16) Naomi said to her: We are commanded to observe six hundred and thirteen mitzvot. Ruth responded: “Your people are my people” (Ruth 1:16). Naomi said to her: Idolatrous worship is forbidden to us. Ruth responded: “Your God is my God” (Ruth 1:16). Naomi said to her: Four types of capital punishment were handed over to a court with which to punish those who transgress the mitzvot. Ruth responded: “Where you die, I shall die” (Ruth 1:17). Naomi said to her: Two burial grounds were handed over to the court, one for those executed for more severe crimes and another for those executed for less severe crimes. Ruth responded: “And there I shall be buried” (Ruth 1:17).