Jewish tradition has a beautiful answer for that feeling, a welcoming embrace for those who choose to join the community. It's all about gerim, or proselytes – converts to Judaism. And the ancient rabbis, through stories and interpretations, went out of their way to show how precious these individuals are.

Vayikra Rabbah, a classic Midrashic text, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Leviticus, opens with a powerful message about gerim. Rabbi Abbahu starts us off with a verse from Hosea (14:8): “Those who dwell in His shade will return.” Now, who are these people dwelling in God's shade? According to Rabbi Abbahu, these are the proselytes, those who "come and take shelter in the shade of the Holy One, blessed be He." It’s a beautiful image, isn’t it? Finding refuge and belonging in the divine presence.

But it doesn't stop there. The verse continues, “They will give life to grain.” Now, this is where it gets really interesting. Rabbi Abbahu interprets this to mean that gerim become just as central and important as native-born Israelites. They become "primary," like the very grain that sustains life. He even brings in another verse from Zechariah (9:17) to emphasize this point: “There will be grain for the young men, and new wine will make the young women sing.” The Hebrew phrase degan baḥurim can even be understood as "the young men are grain," highlighting grain's role as a primary form of nourishment. The message is clear: proselytes are not secondary; they are essential.

And the imagery keeps flowing: “They will blossom like the vine.” Just as God brought the vine of Israel from Egypt and planted it in the Promised Land (Psalm 80:9), so too do proselytes blossom and flourish within the Jewish community.

But there's more to unpack in that phrase, "They will give life to grain." The Midrash offers another layer of understanding, connecting "grain" to the Talmud. Just as grain nourishes the body, the Talmud, with its complex discussions and interpretations of Jewish law, nourishes the soul. And "they will blossom like the vine" is linked to aggada, the storytelling, the legends, the parables that enrich our understanding of the tradition.

And then comes this beautiful line: “Its repute will be like the wine of Lebanon.” God Himself, blessed be He, declares that the names of proselytes are as dear to Him as the wine libations offered in the Temple. Think about that for a moment. Libations poured out in the most sacred place, offered directly to the Divine. That's how much God values those who choose to embrace Judaism.

Why Lebanon? Why is the Temple called Lebanon? The Midrash gives us several answers. Quoting Deuteronomy 3:25, it associates Lebanon with that "good mountain," the Temple itself. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai adds that it's called Lebanon because it "whitens [malbin] the iniquities of Israel like snow." It's a place of purification, of renewal. This idea echoes Isaiah 1:18: “If your sins will be like scarlet, they will be whitened as snow; if they will be reddened like crimson, they will be like wool.”

Rabbi Tavyomei offers another interpretation: Lebanon is where all hearts [levavot] rejoice. As Psalm 48:3 says, it is "Beautiful in its view, joy of the entire world..." And finally, the Rabbis say it is because God's eyes and heart [velibi] will be there always, as we find in I Kings 9:3.

So, what does all this tell us? It tells us that the Jewish tradition isn't just about bloodlines or birthright. It's about choice, about embracing a way of life, about finding refuge and purpose within a community. And it reminds us that those who choose to join us are not just welcome, but deeply cherished, their contributions as vital and precious as the wine offered in the Temple. It's a powerful message of inclusivity and acceptance that resonates even today.