Avraham Avinu: The First Ushpizin and the Power of Chesed

According to the Sephardic custom and the teachings of the Arizal, Avraham Avinu, the father of the Jewish people, comes to visit our sukkah as the first of the Ushpizin on the first day of Sukkot.

Getting to Know Avraham Avinu

Avraham Avinu, the first guest welcomed into our sukkah, is regarded as the father of the Jewish people and the founder of faith in one God. His spiritual journey began when Hashem called on him to leave his land and family and travel to the land of Canaan. He went on to become a central figure not only in Judaism, but also in Christianity and Islam.

Avraham is especially known for his extraordinary generosity and unwavering commitment to hospitality, as seen in the story of the three angels who visited him at the plains of Mamre.

His Defining Trait: Kindness and Giving

One of Avraham Avinu’s most outstanding qualities is chesed, loving-kindness, expressed most famously through his hospitality.

In Genesis 18, three angels arrive while Avraham is recovering from his brit milah on an extremely hot day. Despite his discomfort, he immediately hurries to welcome them and asks Sarah to prepare food quickly.

Jewish tradition views Avraham as the ultimate model of unconditional hospitality. Midrashic sources describe how he opened his tent to all travelers and took care of both their physical and spiritual needs.

He did not merely give them food and drink, but he also brought them closer to belief in one God. In this way, his hospitality became deeply connected to spreading faith and love of Hashem.

Bringing Avraham’s Example Into Daily Life

Hospitality can take many forms, even if we are not able to invite people into our homes every day. We can apply Avraham’s values by opening both our hearts and our homes to others.

We can invite someone for a meal, even if only occasionally, and make sure that person feels truly welcome. We can also perform small acts of kindness throughout the day, whether at work, in the street, or in the community, through encouragement, practical help, or a kind word.

Like Avraham, we can make time for others even when we are tired or busy. Sometimes simply listening carefully to another person’s needs and offering support can itself be an act of chesed.

Hospitality also means sharing what we have. That might include offering food to someone who needs it, giving away items we no longer use, or sharing our knowledge and skills to help someone else.

A Lesson for Sukkot

Avraham Avinu is a model of hospitality, generosity, and wholehearted giving. These qualities are deeply connected to the spirit of Sukkot and to the way we live throughout the year.

By reflecting on Avraham’s example, we can learn to open our hearts to others and enrich our own lives through kindness, generosity, and concern for those around us.