“Let all who are hungry come and eat.” We associate those words with the Passover seder. They express an imperative that applies all year long: Jewish tradition encourages us to open our arms, our homes, and our hearts. The first environment in creation is a garden. As God has provided for us, so too must we provide for others.
These short essays are not only about welcoming; they are themselves a kind of welcome. Each jewel coaxes us to join the ancient dialogue. Each is a kind of embrace. Through stories and lessons we gradually feel our own arms opening, preparing to welcome others into our lives. You were strangers, the Torah reminds us again and again. When you see the stranger, understand how beautiful it is to bring him into your life and into your home. The world is filled with friends you have not yet made. Shalom Aleichem. Welcome.
