A Hospitality 'How–To' Printed with permission from "The Chesed Boomerang" by Jack Doueck www.judaicapress.com Jewish tradition spells out how to perform the mitzvah of hospitality: Many of these procedures are derived from the Torah's story of Abraham's three guests (Genesis, Chapter 18). Seek opportunities to be hospitable. Abraham, in physical pain following his Berit Milah at an advanced age, sat at the entrance of his tent, looking for guests. Say a little, and do much (Avot, 1:15). Abraham offered the guests very little, (“and I will fetch a morsel of bread”). Yet, after he convinced them to stay, he prepared a full meal for them. Hospitality is performed with washing facilities in addition to food and drink. Abraham ordered that water be brought for the travelers to wash their feet. It is part of the mitzvah of hospitality to give guests a place to relax and refresh themselves from the fatigue of their travels. Abraham invited his guests to rest from their journey under the refreshing shade of a tree. Jewish tradition requires that we receive guests cordially. It instructs the host to immediately place food before the visitors (in case they are too ashamed to ask). When serving them, the host should be gracious and not irritable. His conversation should be comforting to them, helpful and encouraging. He should not disclose his own troubles or worries to them, and he should appear to regret that he can't provide them with more. The host should slice bread for his guests to prevent them from becoming ashamed or embarrassed. The host should not look at his guests while they are eating. If the guest sleeps over, the host should give him the best bed available. The host must escort his guest out. The Rambam (Hilchot Avel 14:2-3) writes that it is actually more important to escort the guests out than it is to invite the guests in. The Talmud (Sotah 46b) declares that, if one does not escort the guest, it is as if he spilled blood! Furthermore, the Zohar (Vayera 104:1) writes: “A man should escort his guests out because the entire mitzvah of hospitality (hachnasat orhim) is dependent upon it.” Return to 'How To' Menu