Comments on: Hospitality http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2008/11/hospitality/ A potpourri of: Highland Park; Jewish topics; Central New Jersey; art, Twitter, WordPress, health, web design, gardening ... Sat, 13 Mar 2010 05:35:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mimi http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2008/11/hospitality/#comment-5304 Mimi Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:36:19 +0000 http://www.leoraw.com/blog/?p=3667#comment-5304 I had thought of inviting a homeless man who lives on a street bench close by. He's harmless and tidy, and not an alcoholic. But he does smell, and there is a strange look in his eyes - I suppose I might smell and acquire a strange look too, if I lived the way he does (chas ve'shalom). If it were just my husband and myself, I'd invite him, but it would freak my mother and daughter right out. I think someone larger-spirited than I must take him in sometimes. Every so often he's wearing clean clothes. I've spoken to him: his name is Alexander, he's Russian, and speaks only broken Hebrew. He managed to tell me that he doesn't want to work, although he's been offered menial jobs. (I don't see what's wrong with menial; I supported my kids doing housework for a while, back when I was a single mom. And I'm *still* doing menial work, in my own house.) Other folks on the street also speak to Alexander, I've seen. The social services know all about him, apparently, but he refuses any help from them. I really wouldn't mind inviting him (and offering to wash his clothes and let him take a shower)- but again, he would bewilder and frighten my family. I had thought of inviting a homeless man who lives on a street bench close by. He’s harmless and tidy, and not an alcoholic. But he does smell, and there is a strange look in his eyes – I suppose I might smell and acquire a strange look too, if I lived the way he does (chas ve’shalom). If it were just my husband and myself, I’d invite him, but it would freak my mother and daughter right out.

I think someone larger-spirited than I must take him in sometimes. Every so often he’s wearing clean clothes. I’ve spoken to him: his name is Alexander, he’s Russian, and speaks only broken Hebrew. He managed to tell me that he doesn’t want to work, although he’s been offered menial jobs. (I don’t see what’s wrong with menial; I supported my kids doing housework for a while, back when I was a single mom. And I’m *still* doing menial work, in my own house.)

Other folks on the street also speak to Alexander, I’ve seen. The social services know all about him, apparently, but he refuses any help from them. I really wouldn’t mind inviting him (and offering to wash his clothes and let him take a shower)- but again, he would bewilder and frighten my family.

]]> By: The Jewish Side http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2008/11/hospitality/#comment-5280 The Jewish Side Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:11:55 +0000 http://www.leoraw.com/blog/?p=3667#comment-5280 Great Watercolor you made! I remember learning all those difference between Avraham and Lot. It's great to be refreshed. That's great that you have guests over and that your daughter enjoys it. We actually barely have guests over, maybe one time we did, and I would love to have it more, it makes shabbos so much more enjoyable, everyone would stay at the table and there would be interesting conversation. Actually this Friday night, my family got invited over to one of the families I babysit for, for the meal, they also go to our shul, and every week they have somebody else over. But yea, I wouldn't have anyone over, some people can deal with homeless strangers, but I wouldn't think it's the norm, especially if there are kids in the house. Great Watercolor you made!

I remember learning all those difference between Avraham and Lot.

It’s great to be refreshed.

That’s great that you have guests over and that your daughter enjoys it. We actually barely have guests over, maybe one time we did, and I would love to have it more, it makes shabbos so much more enjoyable, everyone would stay at the table and there would be interesting conversation.

Actually this Friday night, my family got invited over to one of the families I babysit for, for the meal, they also go to our shul, and every week they have somebody else over.

But yea, I wouldn’t have anyone over, some people can deal with homeless strangers, but I wouldn’t think it’s the norm, especially if there are kids in the house.

]]> By: Havel-Havalim, The “Mama Rachel” Edition « West Bank Mama http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2008/11/hospitality/#comment-5165 Havel-Havalim, The “Mama Rachel” Edition « West Bank Mama Sun, 16 Nov 2008 05:09:31 +0000 http://www.leoraw.com/blog/?p=3667#comment-5165 [...] Shorty writes about Lech-Lecha and bike racing…. and Leora writes about Vayera and hospitality. [...] [...] Shorty writes about Lech-Lecha and bike racing…. and Leora writes about Vayera and hospitality. [...]

]]> By: Lion of Zion http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2008/11/hospitality/#comment-5126 Lion of Zion Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:15:52 +0000 http://www.leoraw.com/blog/?p=3667#comment-5126 i grew up a block away from mrs. lfd and our families were good friends. some of my earliest memories are of her family i grew up a block away from mrs. lfd and our families were good friends.
some of my earliest memories are of her family

]]> By: Leora http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2008/11/hospitality/#comment-5123 Leora Thu, 13 Nov 2008 09:55:24 +0000 http://www.leoraw.com/blog/?p=3667#comment-5123 triLcat, it sounds like your father meant well! But we do need to be careful. LoZ, Lakewood Falling Down does like mentioning you and your family on their blog. MiI, most of the time my "guests" are my kids' friends. I enjoy having them; they liven up the table, and I don't have to entertain them. Baila, if I were working full-time, I don't know if I would ever have the energy to entertain. I rarely work on Fridays. Shimshonit, I'm glad you enyoy your guests! triLcat, it sounds like your father meant well! But we do need to be careful.

LoZ, Lakewood Falling Down does like mentioning you and your family on their blog.

MiI, most of the time my “guests” are my kids’ friends. I enjoy having them; they liven up the table, and I don’t have to entertain them.

Baila, if I were working full-time, I don’t know if I would ever have the energy to entertain. I rarely work on Fridays.

Shimshonit, I’m glad you enyoy your guests!

]]> By: Shimshonit http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2008/11/hospitality/#comment-5122 Shimshonit Thu, 13 Nov 2008 06:15:46 +0000 http://www.leoraw.com/blog/?p=3667#comment-5122 If I lived in Sdom when Lot did, I'd feel a lot better about having angels in, especially since hachnasat orchim was shunned there. Tough neighborhood. My kids always prefer having guests, so we invite guests most Shabbatot (unless we're going out). As an at-home mom, I enjoy the adult conversation and company once a week, and the kids appreciate the play dates, especially in the summer when Saturdays are so long. It's not cheap and it's not hassle-free, but for us it's usually worth it. If I lived in Sdom when Lot did, I’d feel a lot better about having angels in, especially since hachnasat orchim was shunned there. Tough neighborhood.

My kids always prefer having guests, so we invite guests most Shabbatot (unless we’re going out). As an at-home mom, I enjoy the adult conversation and company once a week, and the kids appreciate the play dates, especially in the summer when Saturdays are so long. It’s not cheap and it’s not hassle-free, but for us it’s usually worth it.

]]> By: baila http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2008/11/hospitality/#comment-5114 baila Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:30:56 +0000 http://www.leoraw.com/blog/?p=3667#comment-5114 I know people who have company every Shabbat, and cook up a storm. Or people who could spontaneously invite a family on the spot and have enough food for all. Not I. I find entertaining expensive and exhausting. MII is right, it's usually worth it, but I am TIRED! I should post about this topic, I have lots to say... I know people who have company every Shabbat, and cook up a storm. Or people who could spontaneously invite a family on the spot and have enough food for all. Not I. I find entertaining expensive and exhausting. MII is right, it’s usually worth it, but I am TIRED!

I should post about this topic, I have lots to say…

]]> By: mother in israel http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2008/11/hospitality/#comment-5108 mother in israel Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:32:28 +0000 http://www.leoraw.com/blog/?p=3667#comment-5108 I also don't have as many guests as I thought I would. But I'm usually glad I went to the trouble. My kids act much nicer when guests are around! I also don’t have as many guests as I thought I would. But I’m usually glad I went to the trouble. My kids act much nicer when guests are around!

]]> By: Sacrifice your Son? « Ilana-Davita http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2008/11/hospitality/#comment-5106 Sacrifice your Son? « Ilana-Davita Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:31:19 +0000 http://www.leoraw.com/blog/?p=3667#comment-5106 [...] has written a parshah post on hospitality, complete with a watercolor of Abraham’s tent. Possibly related posts: [...] [...] has written a parshah post on hospitality, complete with a watercolor of Abraham’s tent. Possibly related posts: [...]

]]> By: Lion of Zion http://www.leoraw.com/blog/2008/11/hospitality/#comment-5105 Lion of Zion Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:06:01 +0000 http://www.leoraw.com/blog/?p=3667#comment-5105 one view (e.g., radak) is that the entire encounter with the angles was a nevu'ah in the form of a dream. i guess can you can argue that avraham was so imbued with a passion for hachnasat orechim that he even dreamed about it. we used to invite guests all the time until jr came around. now it's very rare. it's amazing that some people have so much energy for hachnasat orecheim--it really does require energy--even with so many other things going in their lives. the bloggers "lakewood falling down" (mr and mrs) are very good about it (we've been the beneficiaries). one view (e.g., radak) is that the entire encounter with the angles was a nevu’ah in the form of a dream. i guess can you can argue that avraham was so imbued with a passion for hachnasat orechim that he even dreamed about it.

we used to invite guests all the time until jr came around. now it’s very rare. it’s amazing that some people have so much energy for hachnasat orecheim–it really does require energy–even with so many other things going in their lives.

the bloggers “lakewood falling down” (mr and mrs) are very good about it (we’ve been the beneficiaries).

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