Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/144

126 Among our fathers the stranger was always welcome in every Jewish home, and the household felt itself honored when strangers accepted its hospitality. It was indeed a and miserable household which, especially on Friday night, when the Sabbath was ushered in with gladness and rejoicing and with an unusually excellent supper, did not have some stranger at the table to join in the gladness, and to share, and thereby enrich, the blessing of the Sabbath. Nor was the guest asked who he was. Some, too, will remember how at the Seder service, which ushers in every Pesach festival, the door is opened in the hope that the Prophet Elijah might enter and partake of the family hospitality.

But it is no wonder that, with the example of Father Abraham to inspire us, hospitality should have become a characteristic Jewish virtue. In commenting upon this act of Abraham, the rabbis told this beautiful story. A traveler was once journeying through the desert. He had wandered for many days, without meeting anyone, or finding a place where he could replenish his supply of food and water. At last these were exhausted and he wandered on despairingly, growing weaker and weaker. Suddenly he found himself lying beneath a magnificent palm tree, whose branches were laden with dates, and at whose foot bubbled a softly murmuring spring. The traveler ate and drank, and his strength returned. He filled his bottle and pouch and prepared to depart. But first he turned to the tree and said, "How can I reward thee for thy blessing? I can not wish for thee anything that thou hast not already. I can wish only that thy offspring may be like thee". So, in departing from Abraham, God said, "What can I offer thee for thy kindness, since already thou art rich and hast everything that thou dost want? I can grant only that thy descendants, the people of Israel, may be like thee". There upon He announced to Abraham and Sarah the birth of