Biblical Hebrew Forum

[peter_kirk AT sil.org]

No analogies are perfect, but I think this is a better one than you 
are saying. One of the problems that Turks face in Germany is I think 
opposition from Germans who resent the full extent of rights (short of 
full citizenship) granted to the Turks. Also many Turks may stay long 
term in Germany, but many also return to Turkey. Maybe the word 
"migrant" is not quite right, but not "immigrant" which tends to imply 
a grant of citizenship. Perhaps we could use "guest"? But then that 
has other connotations which do not fit.

Peter


______________________________ Reply Separator 
_________________________________
Subject: Re[3]: Meaning of ger
Author:  lbr AT sprynet.com at internet
Date:    08/07/1999 21:13


On 8 Jul 99, at 22:37, Peter JKirk wrote:

> I would think that the nearest modern equivalent may well be
> migrant workers such as the Turks in Germany. Or can anyone suggest 
> any better analogies?

Sounds like a good analogy as to situation, except that the Turkish 
workers in Germany, to the best of my knowledge,  aren't migrants - 
they're settled for the long term but barred from full rights of 
citizenship.  I think the term used is *gastarbeiter* - guest worker.

Even so, the analogy is imperfect, as the gastarbeiter is specifically 
barred from full rights of citizenship, whereas the Torah's legislation 
regarding the ger emphasizes granting a fuller array of rights than 
might normally be expected.

Lewis Reich
lbr AT sprynet.com

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