(2) and [Abraham] lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood over against him; and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed down to the earth...
(19) Love ye therefore the stranger; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
(15) They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count me for a stranger; I am become an alien in their sight.
(ב) נותנין מים על גבי השמרים בשביל שיצלו, ומסננין את היין בסודרין ובכפיפה מצרית, ונותנין ביצה במסננת של חרדל, ועושין אנומלין בשבת.רבי יהודה אומר, בשבת, בכוס, ביום טוב, בלגין, ובמועד, בחבית.רבי צדוק אומר, הכל לפי האורחין.
(2) They may pour water on lees, in order to render them thinner; and also strain wine through a cloth or an Egyptian hamper; and pass an egg [that has been cracked] through a mustard-strainer. They may also make [mix] honey-wine on the Sabbath. R. Jehudah saith, "On the Sabbath [they may mix it] in a goblet; on the festival, in a basin; and on the middle-days, in a cask;" but R. Zadock saith, "At all times [a sufficient quantity may be mixed], according to [the number] of guests [to be provided for]."
(1) A man may move even four or five kupoth [a certain amount] 1 of straw or grain [to make room] for guests, or to enable disciples to obtain instruction in the law; but [he must] not [move] an entire store.
Talmud Shabbat 127a
R. Judah said in the name of Rav's name: Welcoming guests is greater than welcoming the presence of Shechinah (God)....There are six things, the fruit of which humans eat in this world, while the principal remains for them in the world to come: welcoming guests, visiting the sick, meditation in prayer, early attendance for study, rearing one's children to the study of Torah, and judging one's neighbor in the scale of merit.
Discussion questions:
1) Why do you think hachnasat orchim, "welcoming guests" is so important as a Jew?
2) When you first entered this community (or even the Jewish community) who welcomed you?
3) Have you ever been in a situation where you did not feel welcome or felt like a stranger and no one reached out to you?
4) How are we like guests in God's home? How is that related to asking for forgiveness of our sins on Yom Kippur?