The Lord appeared to him [Abraham] by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot. Looking up, he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them and, bowing to the ground, he said, "My lords, if it please you, do not go on past your servant. Let a little water be brought; bathe your feet and recline under the tree. And let me fetch a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves; then go on - seeing that you have come your servant's way." They replied, "Do as you have said." [JPS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions
1. Why was Abraham sitting at the entrance of the tent? Did he know that the three men were approaching him?
2. In your role as board member, how can you sit at the entrance of the tent?
3. Why does the text specify that the day was hot?
4. How did Abraham greet the strangers?
5. What can we learn from this behavior about the value of welcoming guests? How can this inform your work as a board member?
After the ingathering from your threshing floor and your vat, you shall hold the Feast of Booths for seven days. You shall rejoice in your festival, with your son and daughter, your male and female slave, the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow in your communities. You shall hold a festival for the Lord your God seven days, in the place that the Lord will choose; for the Lord your God will bless all your crops and all your undertakings, and you shall have nothing but joy. [JPS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions
1. What is a key element of the Festival of Booths (Sukkot)? Who partakes in this activity?
2. Why does the verse emphasize the different groups who should all rejoice equally in the festival?
3. If you had to list the marginalized groups/people within our community, who would you include?
4. Who is this text speaking to? Who ensures that all of these different people are able to participate?
יְהִי בֵיתְךָ פָתוּחַ לִרְוָחָה, וְיִהְיוּ עֲנִיִּים בְּנֵי בֵיתֶךָ.
Let your house be open wide and let the needy be members of your household. [Translation by Areyvut]
Suggested Discussion Questions
1. What does it mean for your house to be "open wide"?
2. What kind of hospitality does this signify?
3. What does it mean to let the needy be members of your household? How is this different than having your house open?
4. How can you create a youth group that is "open wide"?
Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Quick, three seahs of choice flour! Knead and make cakes!" Then Abraham ran to the herd, took a calf, tender and choice, and gave it to a servant-boy, who hastened to prepare it. He took curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared and set these before them; and he waited on them under the tree as they ate. [JPS translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions
1. What did Abraham have prepared for the men? Why?
2. Why did Abraham wait for the guests as they ate?
3. What can we learn from this text about proper hospitality?