14. Escorting Guests Out

Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchot Bein Adam L’Chaveiro

1.   Escorting a guest out of the home upon the conclusion of his or her  visit is a key component of the mitzvah of hachnasat orchim (Rambam, Avel 14:1), just as Avraham escorted his guests (Bereishit 18:16). In the merit of being escorted, it is promised that neither the guest nor the host will suffer any harm the entire day (Semak, Mitzvah 11).

2.   In principle, one should escort a guest up to 1 mil from the home (approximately 1 km or .65 miles). However, it is customary today to escort a guest only to the front gate to the street or at least 4 amot (about 2 meters, or 6 feet). (Ahavat Chesed, vol.3, gloss to ch.2; see also here for further discussion). The mitzvah also includes giving a guest directions or guiding them in the right direction if necessary (Ahavat Chesed, ibid.). Although this may be less necessary today with cell phones, GPS, and the like, one should certainly still check if the guest knows how to get to their destination. It would seem that escorting guests might apply even to those who are not included in the halachic definition of guests (see above).