Parashas Naso & Shavuos - Would you ever steal from Mashiach's grandmother?

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In a couple of days, we will be reading the Book of Ruth over Shavuos. I will give a little background information on the introduction to the Megilla.

It's about a Moabite woman named Ruth, who left her family of idol-worshipers to convert to Judaism, in Israel. There was a family, Elimelech and Naomi, who moved to the land of Moav with their two sons, due to a famine that took place in Beit Lechem. After Elimelech's death, the two sons married Moabite women named Orpah and Ruth. About ten years later, the two sons died, leaving Naomi with two daughter-in-laws. She told them, "Leave, go back to your mother's house." After some convincing, Orpah returned to her 'idol-worshiping' house, while Ruth refused to leave her mother-in-law. Noami told her, "Follow your sister-in-law, for she has returned to her original home." But Ruth replied back, "Don't urge me to leave you. Wherever you go, I will follow. Your people are my people, and your G-d is my G-d!" When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped arguing.

From that Posuk: " When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped arguing" (1:18) the Gemara teaches that when a non-Jew wants to convert to Judaism, you should persuade him not to, but when you see he is very sincere, you should not dissuade him. [1]

There's a discussion whether the conversion of Orpah and Ruth were legitimate. Converting to Judaism is a process. One needs to know about Judaism and its laws, needs to go in front of a court (Beis Din) for validation, immersion in a kosher mikvah, etc...

According to Rav Meir, they had not converted. [2] The Zohar Chadash says they converted when they married the brothers, but since the parents of the brides arranged the marriages, they couldn't refuse. It was only later in the marriage they were able to prove if the conversions had been sincere. Orpah, who went back to her parent's house, showed that her conversion was never valid; whereas Ruth proved that she was a Jewess to the highest degree.

In Parashas Naso, the Torah says, "When a man or woman sins (steals) against man, acting against Hashem, and that person is guilty... If the man has no redeemer (relatives) to whom the debt may be returned, it belongs to Hashem."[3] The Sforno wants to explain that this posuk is talking about someone who stole from a convert. Harming him is like harming Hashem, because this person thought it would be ideal to convert to Judaism and get closer to Hashem. If someone cheats him financially, he might come to the conclusion that he might have made a mistake converting and that Judaism isn't what he thought it was. Hashem wants us to treat him like one of us. (Not to mention the huge Chillul Hashem it is- making a convert think that way!)

The Torah demonstrates how great Hashem's love is for those who have come under the wings of the Shechina. [4] Mistreating converts would mean you're doing something wrong to Hashem, chas v'shalom.

We see how we should act with love and kindness towards converts. After all, you never know who will descend from them. Ruth was merited to have Dovid Hamelech, Shlomo Hamelech, and the future Mashiach descend from her.

May we merit to live in the days of Ruth's grandchild, Mashiach!

Have a wonderful Shabbos and learn well over Shavuos,
Nisso


[1] Yevamos 47B
[2] Ruth Rabba 1:4
[3] Bamidbar 5:6-9
[4] Vayikra Rabba 8:4