Hospitality Opens the Way to the Shechinah
Shabbos 127a (on Bereishis 18:3)
אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: גְּדוֹלָה הַכְנָסַת אוֹרְחִין מֵהַקְבָּלַת פְּנֵי שְׁכִינָה, דִּכְתִיב: וַיֹּאמַר אֲדֹנָי אִם נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ אַל נָא תַעֲבֹר מֵעַל עַבְדֶּךָ
Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: Hospitality to guests is greater than receiving the face of the Shechinah [the Divine Presence], as it is written: "And he said: My Lord, if I have found favor in Your eyes, please do not pass away from Your servant" [Bereishis 18:3; i.e., Avraham asked Hashem to wait while he ran to welcome the wayfarers]. (The print quotes the Gemara as "מקבלת פני שכינה", a known variant reading.)
1In the same vein as what we said above, we can understand Chazal's words (Shabbos 127a): “Rav Yehudah said: Welcoming guests is greater than receiving the Shechinah.” To receive the Shechinah, a person first needs a very great preparation, readying himself to become a throne on which the Shechinah can rest. And that is extremely difficult. But someone who brings in all the guests who come to him and welcomes them warmly, even though they are not worthy or deserving, and has compassion on them, awakens the same measure toward himself. Even though he is not worthy or deserving, he merits to rise to the highest, most exalted levels and to behold the pleasant radiance of the light of the King's face.
[יב] ובסגנון דברינו הנ"ל מובן דברי חז"ל (שבת קכ"ז) אר"י גדולה הכנסת אורחים מקבלת פני שכינה. היינו דלקבל פני השכינה נחוץ מאד מקודם הכנה דרבה להכין א"ע להיות כסא להשראת השכינה. אבל דבר זה קשה הוא עד מאד. אבל זה שמכניס ומקבל בספ"י כל האורחים הבאים אליו. אף שאינם כדאים והגונים. ומרחם עליהם. זוכה לעורר מדה כנגד מדה אף שאינו כדאי והגון. לעלות לרום המעלות ולמדרגות גדולות רמות ונשגבות. ולחזות את נועם זיו אור פני מלך חיים:
In shortReceiving the Shechinah demands a very hard preparation, but one who warmly welcomes even undeserving guests is himself received, measure for measure, and raised to behold the light of the King's face.
Takeaway
Making oneself a fitting vessel for the Shechinah is extremely hard, but there is a shorter road: welcome every guest warmly and with compassion, even those who do not seem to deserve it. Measure for measure, Hashem then receives us the same way, unworthy as we may be, and raises us to behold His presence.
Learn this in the merit of Rav Yerachmiel Yisrael Yitzchok Dancyger. His yahrzeit and life ›
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