Two Kinds of Converts: Understanding the “Ger Tzedek” and “Ger Toshav” in Jewish Law

This week’s Torah portion commands the laws of shechitah (ritual slaughter) for “any man of the house of Israel and of the stranger who dwells among them.”

Our Sages explain that the Torah refers here to two kinds of converts (gerim) — each with a distinct status and spiritual standing.

Two Types of Converts: Ger Tzedek and Ger Toshav

1. Ger Tzedek — a Righteous Convert
   This is the person who fully joins the Jewish people, just as Ruth the Moabite did when she declared: “Your people are my people, and your God is my God.” (Ruth 1:16) Such a convert accepts the entire Torah, becomes part of the Jewish nation, and is bound by all 613 mitzvot.

2. Ger Toshav — a Resident Alien
   The Torah also recognizes another category: a non-Jew who resides among the Jewish people without fully converting. The Hebrew verb “lagur” (to dwell) implies temporary residence — as in the Haggadah’s phrase “vayagar sham,” “he sojourned there,” meaning he did not settle permanently. The Ger Toshav lives peacefully among Israel, accepts basic moral laws, but is not obligated in all the commandments.

The Seven Obligations of a Ger Toshav

In addition to the universal Seven Noahide Laws, the Ger Toshav is bound by seven additional mitzvot that reflect his special status living in the Land of Israel:

1. He may not eat chametz (leavened bread) on Passover.

2. He may not eat blood.

3. He contracts ritual impurity through contact with a corpse (unlike a non-Jew, who does not).

4. He must fast on Yom Kippur.

5. He may not worship idols.

6. He may not desecrate God’s Name.

7. He must refrain from forbidden sexual relations.

The Seven Rights of a Ger Toshav

Just as the Ger Toshav has obligations, the Torah grants him seven special rights within the Jewish community:

1. He may bring offerings to the Temple if he is circumcised.

2. He is entitled to fair judgment in court.

3. He has the right to asylum from his pursuers.

4. He may not be forced to work on Shabbat.

5. He is eligible to receive charity.

6. He has property rights.

7. He may be given the carcass or non-kosher meat (nevelah and terefah) that Jews cannot eat.

The Conditional Convert

There is also a third, more complex category — the conditional convert. This refers to a case where a non-Jewish woman marries a Jewish man and formally accepts the mitzvot, but her acceptance is only superficial. If, after conversion, she continues to practice idolatry or live immorally, the rabbinical court (beit din) can determine that her conversion was never genuine, and she remains a gentile in status.

Maimonides (Rambam) explains that this was the case with Shlomo Hamelech's wives. Although he converted them before marriage, they eventually returned to idolatrous practices, and Shlomo, in his old age, lacked the strength to prevent it. Therefore, their conversion was annulled retroactively and they were not considered Jewish.