GEN896 “Hospitality is even greater than receiving the divine presence” Shabbat 127a.  [See also Shevuot 35b – AJL]. Rabbi Judah, the author of this teaching, derived this conclusion from the behavior of Abraham, who was visited by God, but who immediately broke away when he saw needy travelers in the distance.   The Talmud Taanit 20b records that Rabbi Huna, when making a meal, would open the door of his home and announce, “Let whoever is in need come in and eat.”   This behavior might not be feasible for most of us today, but what we can do is volunteer at a soup kitchen where all who are hungry are invited to a meal.  TELVOL 2:49

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GEN900 Jewish tradition derives several still-binding principles of hospitality and good manners from Abraham’s behavior:   Receive your guests warmly and enthusiastically.   … By displaying such enthusiasm, Abraham made his guests feel welcome.  Think first of what your guests most need. [water, food, rest, etc.]   …  Deliver more than you promise. … The Talmud Baba Metzia 87a infers from Abraham’s behavior that one of the “distinguishing characteristics of righteous people” is that “they say little but do a lot.”   [See, also, Avot 1:15 – AJL] In addition, by telling guests that you are preparing only a little, they’ll feel less self-conscious about accepting the invitation.  Personally attend to your guest’s needs.  Abraham had a large staff Genesis 14:14, but he waited on his guests himself Genesis 18:8. We learn from this that even if you have maids and other employees, make sure to do some of the work for your guests with your own hands.   TELVOL 2:44-45

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GEN904 What is signified by: “And he saw, and he ran”?   In the beginning, they came and stood over him. When they saw that this pained him, they said: ‘It is not proper to sand here like this’” [and when they left, he ran after them] Baba Metzia 86b   TEMIMAH-GEN 79-80

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GEN905 The sages extolled the mitzvah of hospitality. “Extending hospitality to wayfarers is greater even than receiving the Divine Presence, as we see from Avraham who interrupted his conversation with Hashem and ran after three passersby, begging them to accept his hospitality” [this verse]. Shabbos 127a; see also Ahavas Chesed Part 3, Ch. 1, for discussion of the importance of this mitzvah and sources. EHRMAN 508

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GEN909 Taking care of the needs of guests is greater than prayer. … It is inspiring to study Abraham’s attitude toward guests.   He considered that guests were doing him a favor by consenting to visit him and partake of his food.  He therefore bowed down to them (verse 2) and pleaded with them to visit him.   A host must greet his guest in a friendly manner and accord him honor.  And, a person should be careful not to contradict or correct his guest unnecessarily, for that may cause him anguish. Chesed L’Avraham 8:15, 17   PLYN 62-3

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GEN907 R. Elazar said: “Come and see that the attributes of man are not like those of the Holy One blessed be He.   A lesser man cannot tell a greater one: ‘Wait for me until I come to you,’ whereas with respect to the Holy One Blessed be He it is written: ‘And he said, “My Lord … do not depart’” Shabbath 127a   TEMIMAH-GEN 80

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GEN908 R. Yehudah said in the name of Rav: “Accommodating guests is greater than receiving the Shechinah [the Divine Presence], as it is written: ‘And he said: “My Lord, if I have found favor in Your eyes, do not depart”’” [while I attend to the angers] Shabbath 127a   TEMIMAH-GEN 80

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GEN910 What is signified by “Do not depart”?   He saw the Holy One Blessed be He standing in the doorway, and when the Holy One Blessed be He saw him tying and untying his bandages, He said: “It is not proper to stand here like this.”   And in this regard it is written: “Do not depart from your servant” Baba Metzia 86b TEMIMAH-GEN 80

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GEN906 Perhaps the most elemental obligation of hachnassas orchim is to make a guest feel good about accepting the hospitality offered to him.   He should be made to understand that he is the real benefactor – he enables the host to merit in the fulfillment of the mitzvah.  Ralbag writes that this may be inferred from [this verse].   In addition, the Midrash Leviticus Rabbah 34:10 says, “More than the host benefits the poor person, the poor person benefits the host.”   WAGS 177-8

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GEN911 It was taught in the forum of R. Yismael: “As a reward for three things, they merited three things: as a reward for ‘butter and milk,’ they merited the manna; as a reward for “And he stood over them,’ they merited the pillar of cloud; as a reward for ‘Let there be taken, I beg you, a little water’ they merited Miriam’s well” Baba Metzia 86b TEMIMAH-GEN 81

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