Rabbi's Musings

Every year at Passover we welcome Elijah

1. Who was Elijah?

2. What is the significance of welcoming him at Passover?

3. I have been told from my childhood that one day he will come. What is the significance of that and what does it mean to us as Jews?

In the Bible, Elijah is not the sort of person you would wish to invite to your dinner party. He is a fanatic, literally unable to tolerate the imperfections of others. In later literature, however, he becomes a beloved bridge between people and God. He appears at the brit milah ceremony, having a special chair. He is invited to our seders because he symbolizes the renewal of our hope in a better tomorrow. We invoke his name at the end of the sabbath.

 Since, according to the ancient rabbis, he never died, he, therefore, can tell us what is going on in heaven. When he ushers in an age of everlasting peace, symbolized by the messiah, he will also answer all the questions we could not agree upon. One such question is the number of cups of wine to drink on Passover. Some say four; others say five. The cup of Elijah represents the compromise. We drink four but speak of five. When Elijah brings the messiah, we can ask him who is correct.

Elijah coming to bring the messiah at the end of days gave Jews hope in times of great distress. Fortunately, these days we live much better lives and we summon Elijah at the seder, or the end of the sabbath, or at a bris, out of a deep love of hope but not necessarily any sped up time-table.

For me, the coming of Elijah is symbolic – it means that we are committed to making the world a better place, without waiting for any help from Heaven. As one book title puts it: “There is no Messiah, and you are it!”