The tragedy at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA yesterday took place just over an hours' drive from our home in Wheeling, WV. Pittsburgh is a common and frequent destination for many in the Upper Ohio Valley, and many Wheeling residents have friends and relatives who live in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. My wife and I attended the community service of remembrance for the victims that was held at Wheeling's Temple Shalom synagogue this afternoon; it was a profound and moving experience. The aspect that drew my attention the most was the singing and recitation of prayers in Hebrew...it was obvious to any listener that most of the synagogue community members were in the standing-room-only sections of the building entrances, where the service could not adequately be viewed and probably could not be easily heard. They chose to give the best seats to their guests/visitors. In a service in which they could have easily limited outside attendance for security reasons and turned inward in dealing with their shared grief, they chose to open their doors and practice hospitality...sacrificial hospitality. If I have ever witnessed a more pronounced and accurate example of Biblical hospitality, I cannot recall it. Grace and peace...and thank you...to Temple Shalom.
When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19.33-34 NIV
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