Avraham's Tent in South Dakota

Last week, we launched our Capital Campaign for the Chabad Jewish Community Center, and I have been deeply moved by the outpouring of support we have received so far. Building a place dedicated to the service of G-d, where the community can gather, share a meal, feel at home, socialize, and learn, has been part of the mission of the Jewish people from the very beginning.
Perhaps the first Jewish community center of this kind was Avraham’s tent. 
This week’s Torah portion tells us how Abraham planted an eshel in Beersheba and proclaimed the name of G-d there. The commentaries explain that eshel can mean either an orchard, providing fruit for people to eat, or an inn with the word eshel being an acronym for achilah, shetiyah, leviyah — food, drink, and companionship, a place where travelers could rest, be nourished, and be accompanied on their way.
Everything our ancestor Abraham did serves as a guide for us. Like him, we must build a place where everyone feels welcome, where the values of G-d can be shared with all, where people can come in, enjoy warmth and refreshment, engage in conversation, and learn something new.
We are told that Abraham’s tent had doors on all four sides, showing that from whichever direction a person came, they were wanted and welcomed. There was always a place for them, a seat at the table, because they belonged.
This mission of Abraham is true both for the individual and for the community. On a personal level, each of us can strive to be welcoming to others and proud to share G-dly values within our own circles. As a community, it means creating a space that reflects those same teachings and ideals that Abraham shared.
This, I believe, captures the essence of what Chabad is all about. Like Abraham and Sarah, that is what we are building together.