Turning Hospitality into a Family Business: Lessons from Avraham in Parshat Vayera
By: Mindy Pollak, Upper School Judaic Studies Teacher
PIRKEI AVOT; (Ch.1:5) states: “Yossi, the son of Yochanan, leader of Jerusalem says:
“Yehi Beitcha Patu-ach Lirvacha” -which means - “Let your house be open wide”. Some translate the word - ”Lirvacha” to mean for a profit, as in a money making business. But how could the Rabbis be telling us to take this important mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim (welcoming guests) and turning it into a profit? Well, we can learn this from Avraham Avinu in this week’s Torah Portion of Vayera.
For a dedicated Jew, Torah Observance is his true and only business. The Midrash tells us how upset Avraham was when no guests showed up at his tent. Hashem was trying to make it easier for him by making it extra hot that day (Rashi-18:1) so no one would venture outside and disturb him. Yet, Avraham was unhappy that “business was so bad that day”. Therefore, Hashem sent him three customers, three messengers, guests so Avraham could take care of them. When he saw them, he ran towards them, as it states “VaYaratz Likratam” and, immediately, started to offer them various things; although he had just gone through a painful circumcision 3 days earlier.
Now we can understand Rabbi Yossi’s teaching. He’s telling us that we must approach the mitzvah of hospitality with the same energy, excitement, and dedication with which we do our own business. And, it is not just the parents, the heads of the household who should involve themselves with this special Mitzvah. Avraham did ask Sarah, his wife to knead the bread for the guests and he also included “haNa-ar”, the lad, his son, Yishmael, by asking him to prepare the calf for the three men.
This way, Avraham and Sarah’s hospitality became a family project. This too teaches us a valuable lesson on how to perform Hashem’s Mitzvot and good deeds. We should try to turn any Mitzvah we do, especially Hachnassat Orchim into the family business - something the entire household is involved in and does together with a spirit of care, love and dedication.
Avraham had 318 servants, yet he did everything himself for the guests. This shows us how important he considered it to do a good deed. This teaches us that even if a person could get others to do a Mitzvah for him, it is better to do it himself and still include otters with him. From this we learn that a person should never consider himself above others when it comes to doing something good and this is true of all good deeds.
The essence of hospitality is in the attention paid to it and Avraham excelled in that, too. Each of our Avot, Patriarchs, represent a certain middah, an attribute. Avraham excelled in Chesed, loving kindness - why? Because Chesed involves moving away from one’s self to help others;
All this is described in Parshat Vayera and includes many scenarios and incidents of interaction with different people. Avraham certainly shone, as the Role Model, in this way, as well.
Shabbat Shalom!