Home & Hospitality

Avot d’Rabbi Natan 7 — A man\'s house should be open wide to the north, to the south, to the east, and to the west like Job, who provided his houses with four doors.

Baba Batra 93b — In Jerusalem there was a custom of displaying a flag in front of the door, thereby indicating that the meal was ready and that guests might come in and eat. The removal of the flag was a sign that the meal was finished and that guests should cease from entering.

Babylonian Talmud, Ta’anit 11a — When the community is in trouble, a person should not say, \'I will go to my house and I will eat and drink and be at peace with myself.\'

Derech Eretz Rabbah Chapter 4 — You should always be pleasant on entering and leaving a house.

Derech Eretz Zuta — Be humble and affable to all persons, particularly to your household.

Derech Eretz Zuta 9 — It is the duty of the host to be cheerful during meals and thus make his guests feel at home and comfortable at the table.

Deuteronomy 22:8 — When you build a new house, you shall make a fence around your roof, that you bring not blood upon your house if anyone falls from it.

Ethics of the Fathers 1:5 — Let your house be open and wide and let the needy be members of your household.

Ethics of the Fathers 2:9 — Go out and see which is the straight path to which a person should adhere...Rabbi Yosi said: a good neighbor.

Genesis 18:2 — ...and when (Abraham) saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them...

Genesis 18:2 — ...and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door.

Genesis 2:18 — It is not good for a man to be alone.

Grace After Meals — May He send us abundant blessing to this house and upon this table at which we have eaten.

Jerusalem Talmud, Moed Katan 2:4 — It is a joy to live in one\'s own house.

Mechilta on Exodus 18:12 — To welcome a fellow man is to welcome the Divine Presence.

Megillat Ruth 1:16-17 — Wherever you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people are my people; your G-d is my G-d; where you die, I will die, and there I shall be buried.

Proverbs 18:9 — One who is slack in his work is like a brother to a vandal.

Proverbs 9:2 — She hath prepared her meat, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also furnished her table.

Psalm 84:5 — Fortunate are those who dwell in Your house.

Shabbat 127a — Hospitality to wayfarers is greater than welcoming the Shechina.

Talmud Shevuot 35b — Welcoming guests is greater than receiving the Divine Presence.