[Avodah] Treatment of ger toshav

[Michael Makovi]

In Rav Kook's Ein Ayah, commentary to Ein Yaakov (as well as
homiletical commentaries to a few halachic sugyot besides), in
Bikkurim chap 3, translated in R' Bezalel Naor "Of Societies Perfect
and Imperfect", s.v. "come in peace, brothers of a certain place", Rav
Kook first speaks in general terms about universal love versus
particular love, but he then makes a tangent into the ger toshav:

He says that Vayikra 25:35 "ger v'toshav" refers to two aspects of the
ger toshav:
ger - foreigner, = has former ethnic and national allegiances
toshav - resident, = lives with us, has joined our people

Rav Kook says, as long as the ger toshav has decided to be a toshav
and follow the Noachide laws, we CANNOT expect him to drop the ger
aspect and give up his former allegiances. He will retain sentimental
feelings and allegiance to his former home and people, and we cannot
expect him to drop these. We cannot expect him to be a toshav only; we
must accept that he will be a ger too.

It seems to me that this is in contrast with the ger tzedek; Ruth said
"your people will be my people"; she dropped her Moabite loyalties
completely. But a ger toshav is not required to go this far. Perhaps
it is davka going this far that makes him a ger tzedek.

Mikha'el Makovi