הכנסת אורחים

One who does not take in guests, by this (he) strengthens the hand of evildoers, that they will not return in repentance. A city that does not practice hospitality comes to sexual immorality, and through sexual immorality there comes upon them (mass) killing.

Hospitality gives merit to a woman to have sons. Receiving guests is comparable to receiving Shabbos. One who hosts a Torah scholar in his home, the Scripture considers it as if he had offered the daily burnt offerings (see Likutay Moharan 28:3).

Receiving guests is greater than coming early to the house of (Torah) study and/or welcoming the countenance of the Divine Presence. Through practicing hospitality, fear of G-d rests upon all beings. A segulah (-propitious, charm) for returning a woman to her fertility cycle, is through hosting guests.

Also one need not prolong time in the bathroom, because it is very harmful to the health of the body and many illnesses come from this. Particularly in our bathrooms where one must hang — and hanging in the bathroom is very, very harmful. Particularly the well-known illness (what they call "moiridin" — hemorrhoids) comes greatly from this, may the Merciful One save us. Therefore one must be very careful not to prolong in the bathroom. And one should not look for stringencies[59] and depression about this, as it is not at all applicable in these generations.

And he himself was also previously in this error, and would do very strange things for the sake of cleanliness, and he nearly came to danger because of this, and did not escape illnesses either, may the Merciful One save us. And now he knows and says that it is all madness, and G-d forbid to waste precious time on this.

And in truth it is impossible in any manner for the body to be completely clean and have nothing remain inside. Because even someone who fasts from Shabbos to Shabbos still needs to relieve himself at the end of the week — even though he did not eat for several days — because inevitably something remains in the body.

And he said that it is a great thing for him that he spoke of this matter, because a very great thing emerges from it — namely, not to waste time for this and not to prolong there. And even if sometimes one is forced to prolong, it is better to go out and come back rather than to sit there long.[60]

Since the rabbis are not found regularly by them, they are comparable to Cuthites (-people who denied the validity of the Oral Torah which is entirely based on the rulings and exegesis of the true Sages). It is fitting to hasten to pray always early in the morning, as early as possible.[61] Because given the great magnitude of the importance of prayer, whose value is very, very precious — who knows if one will merit afterwards to pray? Therefore, whatever one can do to arise early, it is fitting for him to hasten and arise very early. Through the sanctification of G-d's name blessed He, the eminence of the heads of the generation is in force with might; and through this, the mitzvah (-commandment) of hospitality is important in the eyes of all, and through this the scholars merit that the halacha (-Jewish law) is like them.