The Mystery of Eliyahu HaNavi

(15) The Lord in my midst has rejected All my heroes; He has proclaimed a festival to crush my young men..

(4) People don't say Tachanun [or slichot] on Tisha b'Av, and they don't fall on their faces, because it's called a festival.

(23) Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of the LORD.

Rabba bar Avuh found Elijah standing in a graveyard of gentiles... Rabbah said to him: Is not the Master a priest? What is the reason that the Master is standing in a cemetery? Elijah said to him: Has the Master not studied Teharot? As it is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says that the graves of gentiles do not render one impure, as it is stated: “And you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, are man” (Ezekiel 34:31), which teaches that you are called “man,” but not gentiles.

How did Rabbah know Eliyahu was a Kohen?!

(1) by the hand of him whom Thou art accustomed to send; viz., Aaron (Exodus Rabbah 3:16). Another explanation is: by the hand of some other person whom Thou wilt be pleased to send — for in the end “I” shall not bring them into the land of Israel nor shall “I” become their deliverer in the future — and You have many messengers!

(1) את בריתי שלום. Peace with the angel of death...Losses occur only as a result of confrontations by opposites. We find that as a result of this שלום, “peace, or armistice” with the angel of death Pinchas enjoyed an exceedingly long life on earth, more so than any other member of his generation. In fact, he was still serving as priest in the Tabernacle at Shiloh during the civil war between Binyamin and the other tribes. This occurred many years after the death of Joshua and the elders who were Joshua’s assistants. If, as is indicated by the Talmud, Pinchas was still alive in the days of Yiphtach (Judges 11,26) he must have been 300 years old by that time. And for sure if Pinchas was Eliyahu as he is still alive!

(12) Swearing by My Name, I say to him, Behold, I decree to him My covenant of peace, and will make him an angel of the covenant, that he may ever live, to announce the Redemption at the end of the days.

Our custom is to mention Eliyahu HaNavi every Motzei Shabbat...

Why do we have this custom?

It has already been promised to the Jewish people that Elijah will not come either on the eve of Shabbat or on the eve of a Festival, due to the trouble.

Wait, why can Eliyahu not come on Shabbat or Yom Tov?!

...Rav Ḥananya raised a dilemma: Does the prohibition of Shabbat limits apply above ten handbreadths from the ground, or perhaps does the prohibition of Shabbat limits not apply above ten handbreadths? In other words, does the Shabbat limit apply only close to the ground, in which case walking ten handbreadths above the ground would be permitted?... Alternatively, the case is one where he advances by way of a leap in the air above ten handbreadths off the ground.

If we mention Eliyahu on Motzei Shabbat (because he cannot come on Shabbat or Yom Tov), then why do we not mention him on Motzei Yom Tov?!

First approach...

ולכן אנו מפיגים בתקוות הגאולה, ומניחים סימנים טובים בפסוקי ברכה ושלום וגאולה, ובהזכרת אליהו הנביא שמסר נפשו על התורה ועל קנאת ד' צבאות, וכשנזכירו יגן זכותו עלינו לילך בדרכיו ואורחותיו.

One of the "props" needed for Havdallah...

Why do we have spices for Havdallah...