The passage from Leviticus instructs on the treatment of strangers, urging that they be treated with the same respect and love as native-born individuals. Various Rabbis interpret this message, emphasizing its broad and timeless applicability.
Rabbi Leighton says that this passage applies to a life at Creighton Prep because we all come from different places and we may not know everyone we see. On the first day of school we were all aliens when we first came here but as we went through the years we bacame more welcoming and friendlier to people. This is why we are such a good school and known throughout the community because we have the brotherhood no one else has.
When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:33-34)
Rabbi Manninger says that this passage descirbes our everyday life. Wether we are at school, our work, or just out in public we should treat new people as if we have been friends for a longtime. At Prep students follow this passage by greeting themselves to new students and being friendly, because at some point in our life we will all be aliens and we hope that people will treat us friendly when we get there.
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Rabbi Marasco says that this passage describes every single person who ever lived. All people have been strangers in different environments including teams, schools, or different groups of friends. Everyone should be open to welcoming new people.
Rabbi Muff says this applies to the student at Creighton Prep because we ensure that everyone no matter their race, height, weight, etc. (aliens), are all included and feel like a part of the prep community. It shows we still care for everyone and llove every individual as if they are family.
Rabbi Jaksich agrees with Rabbi Muff. The passage refers to the saying "love your neighbor as yourself". By living by this principle Creighton Prep students can bond, forming a comminity. This lets every student know that they have friends that are looking after them, much like a family.
Subtopic (Secondary Response) Rabbi Mulhall agrees with the philosophy of Rabbi Muff. Just as God showed the Israelites compassion while they were in their confines in Egypt, we must show eachother the same value of compassion and respect here in our own community. Only that way will we be able to come together into communion with the Lord and stand before him on judgement day.
Rabbi Mann says this applies to the students at Creighton Prep because each upperclassman was at one time an alien to the school. This is the purpose and strength of the Big Brother program. Alien freshmen are welcomed as brothers, loved, and respected as they interact and learn the routine and traditions of the native students.
Rabbi Marasco agrees with Rabbi Mann on this one. Big Brothers are what they are so that the freshmen, or the aliens, feel comfortable in their new surroundings. Through this program big brothers are to treat their little brothers as if they have been friends forever. Big Brothers is one of the greatest examples of this passage.
Rabbi Muelleman agrees that the Big Brother program is a great example of living out this teaching. Through Big Brothers seniors seek to bring aliens in to a new community safely and as comfortably as possible. Upperclassman are meant to share experience and wisdom not to give wedgies and swirlies.
Rabbi MacBride says that this applies to student life at Creighton Prep because everyone at prep starts out as an alien. The students at Prep look out for these new aliens because they were at one time an alien, and a "local" Prep student showed them kindness and cared for them as a fellow brother. The strength that the Prep community has is its unity among its students. If the students did not care for each other as a "native" then our community would fall apart
Rabbi Muff agrees with Rabbi MacBride because when freshman start out it seems as if they are aliens because they don't really know what to expect and really don't know that many people to start out with. But with the help of their big brothers and other uperclassmen we treat them with respect and help them around the school and any other questions they have. I think this shows us treating all people with respect and not making fun of anyone because they are new.
Rabbi Jaksich says that this passage applies to life at Creighton Prep because we strive to make the school a communty. No matter how different that person may be from you, Creighton Prep calls the students to be loving and open to growth. They should embrace the "alien" and accept them and their ideas.
I agree with Rabbi Jaksich because if we were not open to new people that come to our school every year, they would not be able to integrate and contribute to the prep comunnity. -Mike Madsen
Rabbi Mulhall says this passage is still prevelent in our world and society today through the smallest actions. The act of simply paying attention to a student's opinion or position on a topic shows them the respect they deserve. No matter how far off or revolutionary their ideas may seem, they still have the right to their own thoughts, and they deserve our love and compassion.
Rabbi Lehrman feels Rabbi Mullhall makes a key observation. Even the little things, which, may go overlooked, play a major part in showing love and respect for an alien. However, the term "alien" may have differant meaning to Rabbi Mullhall than to Rabbi Lehrman, or any other Rabbi for that matter.
Rabbi Germer asks, but who is the alien among us? We dont' have very many immigrants at Creighton Prep. Does this verse just mean to treat immigrants in our midst well or can it be construed more broadly?
Rabbi Mann comments that Rabbi Mulhall and Rabbi Germer share wise words. All of mankind-- including the brothers at Prep-- are equally native and alien. Students should welcome all in the spirit of the Lord.
Rabbi Lawson says this applies to students at Creighton Prep because it is very similar to the beginning of each new year with freshman and their Big Brothers. Even though they are not quite part of the Prep community we see them as future members so we include them in activities and treat them as if they have always been in school with us.
Rabbi Muelleman feels a little bit weird referring to himself by Rabbi and in the third person in general. Apart from that he says that this passage is one of the most important lessons one can learn. All people in the world are children of God and therefore all people are interrelated in some way. Therefore, the word "alien" is a label that should be done away with at Prep and in all of society. People that are "different" are simply given genes (gifts, appearances, etc.) from the same Almighty Father. Rather than picking apart differences, look at the similiarties that bound our student body together you must.
Rabbi Lawson agrees with Rabbi Muelleman with the fact that it is a little uncomfortable referring to himself in the third person. But I also agree that everyone is somehow, someway, related. Therefore we must treat others with the dignity and respect every human being, whether they look like you, act like you, or talk like you, deserves because there are similarities that connect all of us together.
Rabbi Lehrman says that this passage should be treated as very important, and is universally applicable to all people, even the students of Prep. We should not exclude an alien unless we ourselves wish to be excluded. Also, since anyone could be an alien, in the sense that anyone could be "differant," everone among us should be treated with love.
Rabbi MacBride agrees with Rabbi Lehrman. We must not exclude others. This is how hatred forms. The golden rule is treat others as you wish to be treated. If we want to be accepted among new people we must accept others. Even if an "alien" may seem weird. We may appear to be weird to them. If we both accept each other than no one will be an alien.
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Rabbi Kelly says that this applies to student life at Creighton Prep becasue very few of us at the start of freshman year actually knew who we were. It took kindness and openneess for us to find our group at Prep. At Prep you soon find out that it is different than most schools in that there is a certain brother hood. Students care for eachother and look out for eachother which is something special.
Rabbi Kelly says that this passage should apply to everyone in the whole world. Every one deserves to be treated equally no matter what nation you are from. We are all brothers and sisters of God and only he has the power to choose if someone deserves to be punished. Thats why Rabbi Kelly agrees with Rabbi Madsen.
i agree with this statement because it can apply to all Americans. We are all aliens to this country, even if we were born here. Our ansectors came from all over the world, they were "aliens". we must respect one another weather or not we were born here or not because in the eyes of God, there are no nations only people. -Mike Madsen
