WELCOMING GUESTS

Rav Jeremy Borovitz
Hillel Deutschland e.V.

Many of my strongest memories from my childhood involve my grandmother, who was named Tsila but whom everyone called ‘Teedy.’ My grandmother was a mighty woman, who, despite being barely 1.5 meters, was able to take charge of any room. 

Growing up, we used to go out for dinner in San Diego, where she lived with my grandfather, and she would invariably know at least 2 or 3 people at the restaurant, not to mention the waiter and the manager. She knew everyone’s name and whether or not they were single, and if they were, she would try and set them up on a date. 

My grandma was also the ultimate hostess. She loved throwing parties, and would walk around the room making a bit of time for everyone. And whenever she would see a new guest come into the room, she would always, always, rush towards the door. 

Years later, I’m sitting in Yeshiva, reading Genesis 18, and Avraham is sitting in his tent, recovering from his circumcision, when he suddenly sees three travellers coming towards him. What does he do? Despite his difficult physical situation the text tells us that he ran to greet them. 

My Grandma didn’t spend years in Yeshiva, but she knew that to be a Jew meant that we must make our guests feel welcomed. And Jewish hospitality means to always meet your guests where they are. 

Everyone knows the feeling of walking into a party, and everyone seems to be having a good time, and you can’t see anyone you know, and no one comes to you to say hi. It’s a moment filled with anxiety and fear and maybe sadness and loneliness. 

But when you enter a space and suddenly someone comes up to you to say hi, you have a completely different experience. You feel relaxed, and less anxious, and perhaps even deeply happy. 

As a Jewish community, are we meeting our guests at the door? Are we waiting for them on the virtual and metaphorical and literal entrance, welcoming them as they enter? 

It is a scary time in the world, and maybe a scary time to be a Jew. But our job is to overcome that fear, to push back against our instinct to hide and instead we are standing on the street, as we are, letting our fellow Jews know that they are welcome.