You Do Not Belong

This post is based upon a shmuz from Rabbi Yosef Elefant. 

The Gemorah in Yevamot (47a) says תנו רבנן גר שבא להתגייר בזמן הזה אומרים לו מה ראית שבאת להתגייר אי אתה יודע שישראל בזמן הזה דוויים דחופים סחופים ומטורפין ויסורין באין עליהם אם אומר יודע אני ואיני כדאי מקבלין אותו מיד.  The Sages taught in a baraita: With regard to a potential convert who comes to a court in order to convert, at the present time, when the Jews are in exile, the judges of the court say to him: What did you see that motivated you to come to convert? Don’t you know that the Jewish people at the present time are anguished, suppressed, despised, and harassed, and hardships are frequently visited upon them? If he says: I know, and although I am unworthy of joining the Jewish people and sharing in their sorrow, I nevertheless desire to do so, then the court accepts him immediately to begin the conversion process (translation from Sefaria which is Steinsaltz.)

Why must the convert wish to join in the sorrows of the Jews?  Even if he is not deterred by such knowledge why must he be encouraged by the promise of such suffering?  The Maharal in Netzach (Ch. 15) explains that suffering means that the person does not fit, is not comfortable in this world.  It means one does not belong.  The ger must recognize that he is joining a nation whose place is not in this world.  It is just a temporary trip one must travel through in this world.  

This is the recognition one must have of the golut.  The suffering of the golut is because we do not belong in the golut.  It is not state one is supposed to belong in.  Just as the Gemorah says the ger must realize what he is joining so too we must realize we do not belong in golut.  That may be why כל המתאבל על ירושלים זוכה ורואה בשמחתה (Taanit 30b.)  Just as the ger is only accepted when he is willing to part with belonging in this world, so too one can leave golut only when one is willing to give it up.