Michal the problem is not that Yaakov Katz is reading a different Torah, the problem is that you've chosen to read the Torah how you want to. The Torah doesn't say you must love the "stranger" inyour midst, it says the "ger" which means convert. You must love the sincere convert to judaism. Its the meaning of the word ger, and its also what the rabbis of the talmud tell us. Learn a little before you make inane articles like this one on ynet.

Despite the article's title, no its not a mitzvah to save darfur refugees. In fact its a sin. Dont believe me? just look at last weeks parsha, "Ve'Ethanan." There is taught the negative commandment "Lo tehonem" which includes the prohibition of saving non-jews who have not gone to a beit din to formally accept upon themselves the status of "Ger Toshav" and the 7 mitzvot thereof. Look it up in the "progressive" Rambam, hilchot akum, chapter 10, first halacha.

While you write that the majority of these refugees want to eventually return to their homeland, we know very well that they will not. They will stay here. I agree that we have to accept some, but it has to be a limited number. If not, we will very soon find ourselves a non-Jewish state. Israel was re-established to be a haven for the Jewish People in their own ancestral homeland. We cannot solve the whole world's problems. There are plenty of other countries who must help here.

Perhaps it's time to start looking for a 21st century solution to solve a 21st century problem.

Dumping thousands of refugees into Israel is a solution? The "21st century solution" is to build a 21st century security fence along Israel's border with egypt to keep these people out.

Well, in fact, accepting the refugees is an act of kindness and ultimately Israel is saving their lives and that goes in line with Torah principles. It comes to my mind Abraham offering food to the travelers at home. Throughout this deed Israel is giving an example to the world.. It is likely that many of them, perhaps, result genetically linked to the Ethiopian Jews and then they are not strangers in the land anymore, just colored Jews returning to Israel. They have to get a Jewish education just as any children born in a Jewish family

What a chillul Hashem!!! The hatred of "the other," expressed in these comments, the trashing of the torah, the behavior of the Israelis towards refugees from genocide, as well as gov't treatment of Holocaust survivors is reprehensible. How many Holocausts and dead Jews do Israelis need before they realize their attitudes are anathema to Judaism? How do you expect decent people to support Zionism when they read these despicable comments? We are disgusting. Especially when we Jews show the world our worst--bet. Madoff and money-laundering and selling body parts, and the way we treat our own women (battering them and chaining them as agunot) we have proven that Hashem will never grant us peace. We don't deserve it because we have no decent leadership. As we sow, shall we reap. Ugh.

We cannot even solve the plight of the Palestinian refugees who have lived among us for 42 years what makes us think we can solve the Darfur refugee problem?

I pray for those of you whose comments reflect no compassion; no respect; and no humanity. Our world rises and falls together, thus until you learn how to love one another, our world will always know suffering.

If you're so concerned about them so perhaps you'd like to welcome them into your home, so that we dont have to deal with them. Since when does our world rise and fall together? Thats just ivory tower emotion meant to make you feel good. I dont care about YOUR ideas of what compassion, respect, and humanity are, because they are different from mine (and the Torah's), and you're attacks on people who dont agree with you are just proof of your desire to impose your beliefs and opinions on morality on others. Shame on you!

There was a time when I would never have believed that Jews could be racists. However since I have lived in Israel I have become very disillusioned with "real Jews".

There was a time when I would never have believed that Jews could be complete idiots. However, after reading your post I have become disillusioned with "fake jews."

Charity starts at home and not in africa pesia or asia. First and foremost the Jewish people and the State of Israel should always come first. Thse with the shortest memories forget that almost every country turned its back on Jews during WW2 and previous to WW2 the world has always had disregard and disrespect of Jewish people because of their own christian/islamic ignorance and racist beliefs that G-ds chosen people (Jews) would rather live peacefully and faithfully in any country they chose to call home rahter than demeen themselves in barbaric ways christians and moslems have always adhered to. Refugees are NOT WANTED in the Land o fJudea nd Samaria. KEEP OUT!!!!

I am an Atheist, so religion means nothing to me, but I know that it serves as a guide to others. It is moments such as these that I can appreciate the beauty and fine moral code that can be found in Judaism, and not see only the conservative dogma that is often projected. It is our moral duty, and important for the consistency of our political arguments, that we accept refugees and that we treat them well. They do not need to be a burden on our society either. Most people have their pride and will want to work to provide for their family. Some of this work can be for their own benefit, by building the infrastructure to sustain them. Some of this work can be for the benefit of our own society too. The injection of an alien culture is only an opportunity. Here's a simple idea, get the Arab Israelis more involved. After all the refugees speak Arabic. A project involving both Arabs and Jews can only help bridge this growing rift in our society. Not only that when the refugees do return to their home, fond memories of Israel can only be good for diplomacy.