אבות דרבי נתן
אִם הָיְתָה נְטִיעָה בְּתוֹךְ יָדָךְ וְיֹאמְרוּ לָּךְ "הֲרֵי לָךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ", בּוֹא וּנְטַע אֶת הַנְטִיעָה וְאַחַר כָּךְ צֵא וְהַקְבִּילוֹ.
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]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
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?
Time Period: Medieval (Geonim through the 16th Century)