There was once a fabulously wealthy man who was famous for his amazing hachnasat orchim (hospitality). The wealthy man was not satisfied with setting up one table to feed his many guests. Rather, at each meal several tables were set out – each table with a completely different menu. Every guest would be seated at the table that served food appropriate to his station in life. This way every guest felt welcome and comfortable.
High-ranking ministers and affluent guests were seated at an elegant table fit for kings and princes, where gourmet dishes and rare delicacies were served. There one would find roasted duck and grilled pheasant, fine wines and extravagant deserts. Visitors with more plebian tastes were seated at a table filled with more popular fare - hotdogs and hamburgers, French fries and fried chicken - so that they could eat heartily of their favorite foods.
One day a finely dressed young man with noble features arrived. Sensing the guest's refined qualities, the host placed him at the finest table, where the greatest delicacies were served.
Surprisingly, the guest showed little interest in the exotic dishes placed before him. On the contrary, his appetite was only aroused when he spied the hotdogs served at the table for simpler guests. Stretching over the other guests, the young man speared a juicy hotdog with his fork, and happily began to chew away.
Then the guest spied a waiter carrying fried chicken to the far table. Once again he lashed out with his trusty fork, exuberantly stabbing a piece of chicken.
This time the host spoke up. "My friend, please leave the place where you are seated."
The young man's cheeks turned red. "Is it possible that you, so well-known for your gracious hospitality, would embarrass a guest, sending him away from your table?"
The host looked kindly at his guest. "Heaven forbid! I had no intention of embarrassing anyone. My only desire is that my guests should feel at home. I mistakenly thought that your place was here, at the head table with the finest dishes. But now I realize my mistake. If your preference is for the popular fair of hotdogs and hamburgers, please relocate yourself to that table. Then the foods that you enjoy so much will be close at hand."
“Follow Your Hearts”
It is written that "[God] stood and measured the land" (Habakkuk 3:6). What was this purpose of this measuring? The Midrash explains that the Holy One evaluated each land and each nation. He then apportioned the land best suited each nation. For example, some lands are well-suited for raising horses; others for vineyards and producing wines; while others have difficult terrain, suitable for rugged and independent peoples.
God noted the special traits of the Jewish people, and gave them the location most suitable to develop their unique talents - the Land of Israel and Jerusalem, a sacred place suitable for ruach hakodesh (holy inspiration) and prophecy.
But when God saw the Jewish people abandoning the Torah - when He saw them turning to Egypt for its horses, and imitating the crass behaviors and idolatrous culture of other lands - God said, "Why should you dwell in Jerusalem and have to reach out for the gifts of distant lands? Leave this place, and go live where your hearts desire!"
Adapted from Mishlei Yaakov, pp. 299-300.
