1. How does oppressing the poor blaspheme God?
2. Why is God honored by those who are gracious to the needy?
3. What is the relationship between our actions and God? Why is it important?
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| Rabbi Yohanan Ben Zakai used to say: "If you have a sapling in your hand and they tell you 'The Messiah is coming!' first plant the sapling and then go to greet him." [translation by Hazon] |
אִם הָיְתָה נְטִיעָה בְּתוֹךְ יָדָךְ וְיֹאמְרוּ לָּךְ "הֲרֵי לָךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ", בּוֹא וּנְטַע אֶת הַנְטִיעָה וְאַחַר כָּךְ צֵא וְהַקְבִּילוֹ.
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What values does planting the tree before going to greet the Messiah express?
How would you live your life differently if you understood "welcoming guests" to be a central religious obligation?
| Original |
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Dear Diary: My wife and I were walking through the cavernous Columbus Circle subway station and witnessed this scene, which requires no comment: A disabled subway performer was playing his guitar and harmonica, guitar case open at his feet to accept donations. An elderly, stooped man walked by him, dragging a huge sack of empty soda cans. The performer stopped playing, called out, "Sir!," pulled two dollar bills from the guitar case and gave it to the old man, who said, "Thanks," and walked on. Jack Levitt |
What is it about this story that is so powerful?
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 inform your work as a board member?
1. What does it mean to encourage someone with words?
2. How is this more important than giving someone money?
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?
R. Joshua b. Levi met Elijah standing by the entrance of R. Simeon b. Yohai's tomb. He asked him: “Have I a portion in the world to come?”
He replied, “If this Master desires it.”
...He then asked him, “When will the Messiah come?”
“Go and ask him himself,” was his reply.
“Where is he sitting?”
“At the entrance.”
“And by what sign may I recognize him?”
“He is sitting among the poor lepers: all of them untie [them] all at once, and re-bandage them together, whereas he unties and re-bandages each separately, [before treating the next], thinking, should I be wanted, [it being time for my appearance as the Messiah] I must not be delayed [through having to bandage a number of sores].”
So he went to him and greeted him, saying, “Peace upon you Master and Teacher.”
“Peace upon you, O son of Levi,” he replied.
“When will you come, Master?” he asked.
“Today,” was his answer.
On his returning to Elijah, the latter inquired, “What did he say to you?”
“Peace upon you, O son of Levi,” he answered.
Thereupon he (Elijah) observed, “He thereby assured you and your father of (a portion in) the world to come.”
“He spoke falsely to me,” he rejoined, “stating that he would come today, but has not.”
He (Elijah) answered him: “This is what he said to you. Today if you will hear his voice.” [Soncino translation]
1. What is the significance of the Messiah sitting with, and treating, the lepers?
2. What would it mean for R. Joshua B. Levi to "hear his voice?" What actions might he take to show that he has heard?
3. Whose voices do we ignore today? What messages that are lost as a result?
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?
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 wide open?
4. How can you create a youth group that is "open wide"?