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Post date: Jan 24, 2017 6:58:32 PM
In the book of Genesis we read that God has been revealed to Abraham, the Patriarch of the Jewish People. Abraham, not so young at this point, has always felt there was more to the cosmos than stone and clay idols. He did as he was instructed by the voice he knew to be the true God, “Get up and go to a land that I will show you.” And so Abraham did along with his wife Sarah, his Nephew Lot, and the rest of his gathered community. They all traveled to a strange land and were strangers within.
Abraham, always aware that he was not of the land of Canaan, learned to live with the rulers of the land. He was cautious and careful about using land for grazing, digging water wells, and when the time came, buying a burial plot of land for his wife, Sarah. The many rulers of the tribes in Canaan were respectful of Abraham and conscious of the fact that Abraham worshipped a different kind of God. They also realized that Abraham was blessed by this God.
Our books of Midrash offer us a greater understanding of the text by interpretation and reading between the lines. One Midrash tells us that at one time in his travels, Abraham pitched his own tent right on top of the well-traveled crossroads where he lived. This meant that anyone traveling north, south, east, or west, had to approach and pass through Abrahams tent, which we are told, was open on all four sides. This was intentional on his part because Abraham was known to be well-coming of guests. And this was so important to him that we see he cuts off a conversation with God (who was in the midst of telling Abraham that he was going to be the father of a great nation) to greet three oncoming travelers. (Genesis 18)
Abraham implores these three travelers to be his guests as he washes their feet, offer them shade under the tree to rest, and eat a hearty meal. He rushes (and give orders) to involve his whole community to prepare a feast!! We readers then go on to learn that these travelers were not ordinary men, but messengers of God…angels if you will.
Abraham’s tent offers of the image of how we view Jewish community. He saw the strangers and treated them as honored guests.
These acts of Abraham once again reflect how we as humans are created in God’s image. God is a giver and so, we too must learn to emulate God and give. It is not an innate behavior.
This mitzvah performed by our forefather has come down to us as one of our important values—Hachnasat Orachim- welcoming the guests. As another of our Holy Scriptures, the Talmud (Shabbat 127a) states:
"Just as the Holy One is merciful, so you be merciful. Just as the Holy one is kind, so you be kind." So important is the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orachim we read that the rewards are great both in this world and the world to come!
During the spring, in the Hebrew month of Nissan, we are constantly reminded of the verse in Exodus 23:9: “You shall not oppress a stranger, for you know the feelings of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.”
This is often repeated in our scriptures!! Even our Passover Seder opens with the call to those in need; "Let all who are hungry, come and eat; all who are needy come and celebrate Passover." During this spiritual journey of the Seder we are reminded to be sensitive, welcoming and even empathetic towards the stranger who comes to live among us as it is written in the commentary Mishnah Pesachim 10:5 (and from the Haggadah):
In every generation, a person is obligated to see him or herself as though s/he came forth from Egypt.
(Roberta, you may choose to print out a few copies of the following so people can read along with you)
More Teachings from the Torah on Immigrants
1. You shall not wrong nor oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 22:20)
2. You shall not pick your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger; I the Eternal am your God. (Leviticus 19:10)
3. When strangers reside with you in your land, you shall not wrong them. The strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I the Eternal am your God. (Leviticus 19:33-34)
4. You too must befriend (love) the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:19)
5. You shall not abhor an Edomite, for such is your kin. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, for you were a stranger in that land. (Deuteronomy 23:8)
6. You shall not subvert the rights of the stranger or the fatherless; you shall not take a widow’s garment in pawn. Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and that your Eternal God redeemed you there; therefore do I enjoin you to observe this commandment. (Deuteronomy 24:17-18)
7. Cursed be the one who subverts the rights of the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow. And all the people shall say, Amen. (Deuteronomy 27:19)
http://www.aish.com/atr/Welcoming_Guests.html
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