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“Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw that there were three men standing above him.  He saw them and he ran to greet them from the entrance to his tent and he bowed down to the ground” (18:2).
 
“The two angels came to Sodom in the evening.  Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom.  And Lot saw them.  He arose to greet them and he bowed down to the ground” (19:1)
One time the great tzaddik, Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (1740-1809) traveled to Lviv.  When he arrived in the town he immediately went to the house of a wealthy man who was known for being especially hospitable to tzaddikim.  He asked to see the owner of the house.  Upon meeting him he begged to be permitted to sleep there for the night. 
The wealthy homeowner rebuffed his request.  He said, “I am not an inn that hosts day travelers.  Just go to a local inn and book a room.”
Reb Levi Yitzchak said, “I avoid staying in inns.  Can I please just bunk here for the night?” 
“Get away,” cried the owner.  “If you don’t want to go to an inn then I suggest going to the melamed down the block.  He takes in anyone who needs a bed to sleep on and he gives everyone food and drink.”
So Reb Levi Yitzchak departed and went to the melamed’s house.  On his way there, people began to recognize the great rabbi.  Soon word spread throughout the entire city that the great, Reb Levi Yitzchak was in Lviv!
Before too long, a crowd had gathered around the melamed’s house.  All were waiting to greet the tzaddik and to receive from him a blessing.
Amongst this crowd was the wealthy homeowner.  He fought his way to the front of the crowd and said, “May the holy master please forgive me and come to stay in my house!  I have prepared a beautiful room and fine food for you.  All my life I have opened my house to the great tzaddikim.  They always stay in my house when they visit Lviv.”
Reb Levi Yitzchak turned to him and explained:
 “What was the difference between our father Abraham and Lot?  Why is there a only a spirit of praise around Abraham’s hospitality in cooking and feeding his guests?  Did Lot not also bake for them and give them to eat?  Why such praise for Abraham inviting them into his tent?  Did Lot not also invite them into his house?”  Reb Levi Yitzchak said, “Here now the difference between them. 
In the case of Lot it is written that two angels came to Sodom.  The men who visited him looked angelic, refined and impressive.
But concerning Abraham it says: “And he lifted his eyes and saw three men standing before him.”
Lot was hospitable only to people who he perceived to be angels.  In contrast, Abraham saw three poor, dusty, travelers in need of food and rest. 
Reb Levi Yitzchak remained in the melamed’s house. (Buber, Tales of the Hasidim, 225.)

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