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When I reflect on the mitzvah of hospitality (hochnasat orchim), what arises are memories of my time travelling in Himalayan hills of Nepal.  On trails off the beaten path, far from the nearest roads, every home I walked passed doubled as a ‘tea house,’ a guest house ready with a warm welcome, a hot chai tea, and a cozy cot.  I suppose today we’d call them "thin-air BnB’s" with no advance on-line reservations required.  Simply knock on the door, and await a friendly face to open wide the door and home to neighbors and strangers alike.  The culture of hospitality surely was a byproduct of life in the mountains where everyone traveled on foot and rapid changes in the weather conditions might require a sojourner to seek shelter fast.

In the mountainous terrain here in Evergreen, there is likewise a history of hospitality.  One prominent example is the guest housing space (now the Lariat Lodge).  That space was built by the 19^th century ‘power couple,’ Dr. Josepha “Jo” Williams and her husband, Reverend Canon Douglas.  In it they provided room and board to musicians and encourage their art.  Their hospitality was the catalyst for the ‘artist colony’ atmosphere the greater Evergreen community enjoys today.

This winter, we at CBE will be building upon that noble tradition, promoting a culture of good, honest artistry with generous hospitality.  Help welcome artist-in-residence and acclaimed author of “The Book of Qualities,” J. Ruth Gendler, visiting us (and her cousin, Amy) in early February.  Ruth’s amazing aforementioned book has been a staple in our household for decades, and it’s been delight studying her playful, poignant, and profound personifications (in words and sketches) of qualities of character in our mussar classes this past year.   Join us in welcoming this wise and gentle talent February 5-8, for our annual Ellen Diesenhof scholar-in-residence week.

And wait, there’s more, more guest teachers and friends to welcome!  In January, we’ll be training more volunteers for the Evergreen Shelter Program (ESP), which we host monthly all winter long.  And on Friday January 10, we’ll feature an ALL NEW MUSIC SERVICE with a new trio of harmonic voices and our house band playing the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (CSNY).  Also there will be two bright, creative lights becoming bat and bar mitzvah, respectively, Sydney on Jan 18, and Ryan on February 15.  And at the end of February, we’ll have the opportunity to host friend and teacher from Denver, Rabbi Sandra Cohen, initiating an open, honest, courageous, and overdue conversation about mental health, bringing traditional Jewish insights to bear on modern mental health challenges on February 28 – March 1.

In these sometimes chilling times, it is good indeed to enjoy access to the support and enrichment, the hospitality and honest artistic expressions, that this community has to offer.  It’s a blessing to be part of Beth Evergreen.