The Convert Loved by God as Dearly as Israel Itself

"You shall not wrong a convert" (Exodus 22:20) with words; "nor oppress him" with money. And do not say to him, "Yesterday you were worshiping Bel, Koros, and Nebo, and until now there is pig's flesh between your teeth, and you stand and speak against me!" And from where do we learn that if you wronged him, he too can wrong you? As it is said, "For you were converts." Beloved are the converts, for in every place He warns concerning them: "You shall not wrong a convert," "You shall not oppress a convert" (Exodus 23:9), "You shall love the convert," "for you know the soul of the convert" (Exodus 23:9). Rabbi Eliezer says: A convert, since his inclination is prone to wrong, therefore He warns concerning him in many places. Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai says: Behold it says, "And those who love Him are like the sun going forth in its might." Now who is greater, one who loves the king or one whom the king loves? You must say, the one whom the king loves. And it says, "and He loves the convert, giving him" (Deuteronomy 10:18). Beloved are the converts, for in every place He calls them by the same names as Israel. Israel are called servants, as it is said, "For to Me the children of Israel are servants" (Leviticus 25:55), and the converts are called servants: "and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants." Israel are called ministers, as it is said, "And you shall be called the priests of the LORD, the ministers of our God," and the converts are called ministers: "and the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD to minister to Him" (Isaiah 56:6). Israel are called beloved, "But you, Israel, My servant," and the converts are called beloved, as it is said, "and He loves the convert, giving him bread and clothing." A covenant is stated regarding Israel, "And My covenant shall be in your flesh" (Genesis 17:13), and a covenant is stated regarding the converts, "and hold fast to My covenant." Acceptance is stated regarding Israel, "to be accepted for them" (Exodus 28:38), and acceptance is stated regarding the converts, "their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted" (Isaiah 56:7). Guarding is stated regarding Israel, "Behold, He who guards Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps," and guarding is stated regarding the converts, "The LORD guards the converts" (Psalms 146:9). Abraham called himself a convert, as it is said, "I am a convert and a resident among you" (Genesis 23:4). David called himself a convert, as it is said, "For I am a convert with You" (Psalms 39:13). Beloved are the converts: our father Abraham was not circumcised until he was ninety-nine years old, for had he been circumcised at thirty or twenty, a convert could only have converted up to the age of thirty. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, bore patiently with him until he reached ninety-nine years, so as not to lock the door before converts who would come, and to give reward for days and years, to increase the reward of those who do His will, to fulfill what is said, "The LORD desired for the sake of His righteousness." And so you find regarding four groups who ascend and declare before the One who spoke and the world came to be: "This one shall say, I am the LORD's" (Isaiah 44:5), "I am the LORD's," let no sin mingle in me; "And this one shall call himself by the name of Jacob," these are the righteous converts; "And this one shall write with his hand, To the LORD," these are the penitents; "and shall surname himself by the name of Israel," these are those who fear Heaven.