At the beginning of this week's Parsha Hashem came to visit Avraham Avinu on the third day after his Bris Mila at the age of ninety nine.
During those moments of spiritual revelation, Avraham noticed three travelers passing. He stopped his visit from Hashem and ran to fulfill the Mitzva of Hachnosas Orchim.
Chazal learn from here that the Mitzva of Hachnosas Orchim is greater that Divine revelation.
We must point out that the peak level of spirituality is meriting Divine presence and revelation. At such a moment one is completely detached and disconnected from materialism. Chances are that if we were to merit such a moment we would be so blown away and we would be on such a high that we would be oblivious to anything going on around us.
But Avraham Avinu understood that there is something even greater than that; Hachnosas Orchim. So, even at such an amazing moment, Avraham noticed the three travelers passing by.
Chazal teach us three main parts of Hachnosas Orchim.
Achila - food, Shesiya - drink and levoya - to accompany the person when leaving. The first letters of these three things is Aleph, Shin, Lamed which makes the word Eshel. As the Passuk (Vayeira 21-33) writes that Avraham planted an Eshel in Beer Sheva. Rashi brings two explanations. Firstly, an orchid to provide fruit for his guests. Secondly, an inn to provide lodgings for the guests.
When someone knocks on our door or when we are welcoming our guests, we all understand the importance of giving food, drinks and even sleeping facilities. But what is the idea of accompanying them when they leave?
One of the original reasons was to help the traveler get on the right direction and shouldn't get lost. Although much of the time this isn't so applicable today, but one still has a Mitzva to accompany our guest when they leave us.
This is a Shemira (guard) for the traveler, but also the correct way of fulfilling Hachnosas Orchim to perfection.
