Hakhnasat orhim - Hospitality
March 20, 2009
Hakhnasat orhim, hospitality or welcoming guests, is a central value of Jewish tradition. Whether extending kindness to travelers—strangers in a strange land—or help to those who are in need, we recall that we were both strangers and slaves in the land of Egypt, and we treat others as we would have liked to be treated.
This is a value that we can practice at home and in our congregational home. You may notice this month some new welcome signs and banners around the Temple Emanu-El building, another step toward making visitors feel at home. These will be thanks to Mrs. Zabar’s fourth grade class and their families, who will learn about and act upon the mitzvah of hakhnasat orhim at their family education seminar on March 22. Students and parents will be encouraged to think about ways in which they can practice this mitzvah regularly at home, as well.
Hospitality is an especially important feature of the Passover season. At the Pesah Seder we retell the story of our redemption from Egypt, and we are commanded to open our door not only to Elijah the prophet, but also to any who are in need—of food, of companionship, of a place to make a Seder.
Learn about this and many other customs of Pesah (Passover) at our school-wide Passover program on Sunday, April 5th. Parents, plan to attend with your children at the usual scheduled time. In addition, our pre-school-aged children and their parents are invited to join us at 9:30 with their parents for some special pre-Passover fun, and to join the rest of us for family worship at 10:45.
Don’t have kids sixth grade or younger? Still want to brush up on Passover pointers and Seder skills? All are welcome! Contact me or Susan Weiner in the Temple office, and we’ll let you know how you can participate.
Meanwhile, you can start practicing hakhnasat orchim right away. When you see someone you’ve never seen before at the synagogue, introduce yourself. Offer a cup of wine if you’re at Kiddush, or directions to a newcomer who seems lost. Working together, we can make this a place where no-one’s a stranger.
