In Hebrew or in English, ‘Barukh haba’ – blessed be the comer or ‘well come’ – may your coming be good, are terms traditionally said by the host to the guest or visitor. The words are not just an offering but imply a request. Why a request? Isn’t the host offering enough with his hospitality? It’s my contention that the ‘wel-coming’ of someone is hoping that their arrival will be a good thing for all concerned, not least the host. The offer of hospitality is done freely, hopefully, and also recognizes the ideal reciprocity of the exchange: I will offer you hospitality. You will bring me blessing.
This idea reaches back to the earliest days of the Jewish people. God tells Abram, a nomad and an immigrant, “Through you will the nations of the world be blessed.” At its simplest, this means that God will be nice to those who are nice to us. But I think it carries a richer imperative, one still aimed directly at us. As perennial, and often involuntary, visitors/immigrants, we know more than most that it is our responsibility to make sure that we are a blessing to those who host us.
Nowadays, we are getting increasingly uneasy about population shift. The western world, more affluent than at any time in human history, is starting to argue that it doesn’t have enough to share with migrants and immigrants, enough to share with refugees and asylum seekers. Welcoming brings in blessing. Absorbing others, sharing what we have enriches our world, domestic and national. We should lobby for the lowering of barriers and borders and for increased immigration.
And on the local level, let us go out and at least bring new folks into our homes so we will receive the blessing that visitors bring.
