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Abraham's Hospitality

Parshat Vayera: Genesis 18:1-22:24;
Kings 4:1-4:37.

T

his week's Torah portion,
Vayera, is filled with numer-
ous gems — stories that
many of us grew up hearing and with
commandments from God that teach
us how to follow the right path in life
and be good people.
We read about the
destruction of Sodom and
Gomorrah and about Lot's
wife turning into a pillar
of salt. We read about the
birth of our patriarch Isaac
and the expulsion of Hagar
and Ishmael. And we read
a story that we just read on
Yom Kippur of the sacrifice
or binding of Isaac.
However, it was the
opening story, while
Abraham is sitting in his
tent, when he sees three "men" off in
the distance and runs to greet them,
that reminded me of an experience
that I had in Israel and of one the
great lessons from these verses.
While mountain bike riding
through the Judean Hills on our way
toward Jerusalem, my tandem rid-
ing partner and I stopped to take a
picture near a Bedouin (a nomadic
people in Israel) tent. While taking
the picture, one of the young boys
inside the tent came running out and
asked us if we wanted some tea.
When I enthusiastically said "yes,"
his two brothers ran out and placed
pillows on the ground for us to sit on
as they treated us to some wonderful
Bedouin hospitality — a hot cup of
tea and conversation.
It was as if Abraham had been
transported into the future. These
Bedouin boys were treating us to des-
ert hospitality and were teaching us
the same lesson that Abraham exem-
plifies in this portion of hachnasat
orchim, of welcoming guests.
We're told that as soon as Abraham
saw the men, he ran out to welcome

them back to his tent to rest, bathe
their feet and eat. Our tradition
teaches us that Abraham's tent was
open on all four sides so that, no mat-
ter where travelers were coming from,
Abraham would be able to see them
and go out to greet them.
This is something that
has become foreign to
our culture as Americans.
From an early age, we're
taught the mantra that
"stranger" equals "danger"
and that we shouldn't talk
to strangers. And this
translates into us becom-
ing less trusting of our
friends and more afraid of
our neighbors.
Parshat Vayera teaches
us how to live a better
life. Like the Bedouin boys and like
Abraham before them, we are sup-
posed to invite others into our homes.
We are to bring them in, make them
feel welcome and show them gracious
hospitality. And while we do this with
a tad more caution today, it is still
something we can do.
And it doesn't just have to be in our
homes. We should extend it to other
places, too. We should strive to create
warm, welcoming environments in
our synagogues, in our schools and in
our workplaces.
As you think about your own home
or other places where you frequently
find yourself, think about how you ful-
fill the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim,
of welcoming guests. What more could
you do? Try brushing up on your
hachnasat orchim skills — bring a
friend, family member or new neigh-
bor into your home and treat them to
some wonderful hospitality — and,
as we enjoy some cool fall weather,
maybe even a hot cup of tea.

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BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER • TRAY CATERING

Daniel A. Schwartz is a rabbi at Temple
Shir Shalom in West Bloomfield.

JN

October 17 • 2013

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