The Dalled Amos Project
Ramba"m, Mishneh Torah, Book 14 – Shoftim, Chapter 14
A. It is a positive mitzvah ("a'seh") of Chaza"l to visit the sick; and to comfort the mourner; and to take the deceased out (of the house); and to provide for a bride; and to escort guests; and to deal with all needs of burial; and to carry the coffin on one's shoulder; and to walk ahead of the coffin and to eulogize and to dig the grave and to bury; and also to cheer up the bride and groom; and to support them in all their needs. And these are personal acts of kindness that have no measure. Even though all of these mitzvot are from the words of Chaza"l, they are all included in "Love your fellow person as yourself" ("Ve'ahavta le're'acha kamocha"). All the things that you wish others would do for you, do yourself for your fellow in Torah and mitzvot (i.e., fellow Jew).
B. The reward for escorting is greater than for everything else. And this is the law which Avraham Avinu instated and the way of kindness in which he acted. He would feed wayfarers and give them drink and escort them. And providing hospitality to guests is considered greater than welcoming the Shechinah. As it is said, "And he saw and here were three men." And escorting them is even greater than hosting them. Our sages said, anyone who does not escort it is as if he is causing bloodshed (as we can learn from Eglah Arufah, where the city elders proclaim, "Our hands did not cause this bloodshed.").
C. We coerce a person to escort the same way we coerce him to give tzedakah. And the beit din used to appoint emissaries to escort a person passing from place to place. And if they were lax in this matter then they can be considered as if they caused bloodshed. Even a person who escorts his fellow four amot merits a great reward. And what is the measure of escorting which a person is obligated to do? A teacher to his pupil – up to the edge of town; and a man to his fellow man – up to techum Shabbat (2,000 amot from the last house of the town); and the pupil to his master – up to one parsah (8,000 amot); and if it is his significant teacher – up to three parsahs. [The Radba"z quotes from the Braita in chapter Eglah Arufah of tractate Sotah, "R' Yochanan said in the name of R' Meir, 'Anyone who does not escort and accompany is as if he causes bloodshed, since had the people of Jericho escorted Elisha he wouldn't have sent the bears against the kids who had teased him.'"]
A. It is a positive mitzvah ("a'seh") of Chaza"l to visit the sick; and to comfort the mourner; and to take the deceased out (of the house); and to provide for a bride; and to escort guests; and to deal with all needs of burial; and to carry the coffin on one's shoulder; and to walk ahead of the coffin and to eulogize and to dig the grave and to bury; and also to cheer up the bride and groom; and to support them in all their needs. And these are personal acts of kindness that have no measure. Even though all of these mitzvot are from the words of Chaza"l, they are all included in "Love your fellow person as yourself" ("Ve'ahavta le're'acha kamocha"). All the things that you wish others would do for you, do yourself for your fellow in Torah and mitzvot (i.e., fellow Jew).
B. The reward for escorting is greater than for everything else. And this is the law which Avraham Avinu instated and the way of kindness in which he acted. He would feed wayfarers and give them drink and escort them. And providing hospitality to guests is considered greater than welcoming the Shechinah. As it is said, "And he saw and here were three men." And escorting them is even greater than hosting them. Our sages said, anyone who does not escort it is as if he is causing bloodshed (as we can learn from Eglah Arufah, where the city elders proclaim, "Our hands did not cause this bloodshed.").
C. We coerce a person to escort the same way we coerce him to give tzedakah. And the beit din used to appoint emissaries to escort a person passing from place to place. And if they were lax in this matter then they can be considered as if they caused bloodshed. Even a person who escorts his fellow four amot merits a great reward. And what is the measure of escorting which a person is obligated to do? A teacher to his pupil – up to the edge of town; and a man to his fellow man – up to techum Shabbat (2,000 amot from the last house of the town); and the pupil to his master – up to one parsah (8,000 amot); and if it is his significant teacher – up to three parsahs. [The Radba"z quotes from the Braita in chapter Eglah Arufah of tractate Sotah, "R' Yochanan said in the name of R' Meir, 'Anyone who does not escort and accompany is as if he causes bloodshed, since had the people of Jericho escorted Elisha he wouldn't have sent the bears against the kids who had teased him.'"]
Rabbi Pesach Krohn on The Dalled Amos Project - escourting you guests:
