Welcome

Baruch haba literally means 'blessed is the one who comes,' elevating a simple welcome into a spiritual benediction. The phrase originates from Psalm 118:26 — 'Baruch haba b'shem Adonai' (Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord) — which was sung as pilgrims arrived at the Temple in Jerusalem. In Jewish tradition, welcoming guests (hachnasat orchim) is considered one of the highest mitzvot. Abraham is the paradigm of hospitality in the Torah, rushing to greet three strangers in the desert heat (Genesis 18). The Talmud states that welcoming guests is even greater than receiving the Divine Presence. By greeting someone with baruch haba, you are participating in this ancient tradition of sacred hospitality. The phrase adapts for gender and number: baruch haba for a man, brucha haba'ah for a woman, bruchim haba'im for a group of men or mixed group, and bruchot haba'ot for a group of women. In modern Israel, you will see bruchim haba'im on welcome signs at airports, hotels, and community centers. At Jewish weddings, baruch haba is sung as the groom approaches the chuppah (wedding canopy), connecting the joy of marriage to the ancient welcome of Temple pilgrims. The phrase transforms every threshold crossing — into a home, a synagogue, a celebration — into a moment of blessing.