Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Abraham's Journey
The Almighty is the great makhnis orchim. His hospitality made it possible for humanity to exist, for the world to come into being. "To be" means to share in the infinite being of the Almighty. The Almightly, like Abraham, invites people to partake of His boundless existence. Creation is an act of hakhnasat orchim. ... We are just strangers whom the Almighty has invited into his "tent," which is the universe. How beautiful is the doctrine of tzimtzum, of contraction....What is hakhnasat orchim if not withdrawal by the master from a part of his home so that a stranger can occupy the empty part he vacates?
The Gemara continues analyzing the same passage. It is written: “And I will fetch a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves” (Gen. 18:5), and it is written: “And Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and choice” (Gen. 18:7). Rabbi Elazar said: From here we learn that the righteous say little and do much, while the wicked say much and do not do even a little.
One should search for guests, and accept them into one’s home with as much affection as one would have toward a wealthy person from whom one expects to receive a large sum of money.
Chofetz Chaim, "Ahavat Chesed" 3:2
Rabbi Yochanan and Reish Lakish both said: At the time that the Temple stood, it atoned for people. Now, a person's table atones for him.
א. מצוה לכניס אורחים לבית, והיא בכלל "ואבהת לרעך כמוך" ולעולם ישתדל אדם בהכנסת אורחים, שאין לך צדקה מזו. והיא מן המצוות אמנם כן, מצינו שכופים בני העיר זה את זה להכניס אורחים.
יב. נכנס האורח לבית, יש לאפשר לו תחילה מנוחה, למען יירגע מעמל הדרך זאת, בטרם מושיבים אותו לסעוד. רצוי להראות לאורח, בסמוך לכניסתו, את מקום השרותים והאמבטיה, שמא מתבייש הוא לשאול.
טו. יש לשמור על אוירה נעימה בעת האירוח, על כן אין לתנות בפני האורח את הבעיות שבבית ולא לשחפו בדאגות ובדברים מצערים, כדי שירגיש בנח. אין צריך לומר, שאין לספר לאורח כמה טרחות טרחו עבורו או לדבר בנוכחותו אודות יוקר הוצאות הכיבוד.
טז. אין לשאול אורח בדברי תורה או הלכה, אלא אם כן מכירים בו שידע להשיב, כדי שלא לביישו. כמו כן, אין לדבר בנוכחות האורח בשפה שאינה מובנת לו. בני הבית, יימנעו אף מלדבר ביניהם בלחישה או ברמיזה, מפני שהדבר עלול לפגוע באורחים.
Halichot Ben Adam L’Chavero, Ch. 8 1. It is a mitzvah to welcome guests into your home, and it falls under the commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself.” One should always try to do this mitzvah, because there is no greater act of tzedakah than this. 12. When a person comes into one's home, one should first allow them to rest, as they came on a long journey. It is also advisable to immediately show them the restroom, because perhaps they are embarrassed to ask. 15. One should make sure that there is a pleasant atmosphere during the time of hospitality. One should not complain in front of the guest or tell them all of one's worries, so the guest will feel comfortable. And it should go without saying that one should not suggest that the hospitality was some kind of burden. 16. One should not ask the guest to share words of Torah, unless one knows for a fact that they are knowledgeable, so as not to embarrass them. Additionally, one should not speak languages that the guest does not understand. And members of the family should not speak in hushed tones, because that might cause the guest discomfort. |