Elijah is the most enigmatic of Jewish figures. Maybe he died ... maybe he did not. Is he a zealot, or a model of compassion? And why does he show up at so many key moments in Jewish life - at the end of Shabbat at havdalah, when a child is brought into the brit (the covenant), alluded to the end of Yom Kippur, and - of course - at the seder? We will also discuss who the cup of Elijah may really be for, and a custom you may wish to add at your seder table that reminds us, even in hard times, how we can not only emulate, but embody, Elijah's enduring message.
Elijah the Zealot
(כ) וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח אַחְאָ֖ב בְּכׇל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּקְבֹּ֥ץ אֶת־הַנְּבִיאִ֖ים אֶל־הַ֥ר הַכַּרְמֶֽל׃ (כא) וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ אֵלִיָּ֜הוּ אֶל־כׇּל־הָעָ֗ם וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ עַד־מָתַ֞י אַתֶּ֣ם פֹּסְחִים֮ עַל־שְׁתֵּ֣י הַסְּעִפִּים֒ אִם־ה׳ הָאֱלֹקִים֙ לְכ֣וּ אַחֲרָ֔יו וְאִם־הַבַּ֖עַל לְכ֣וּ אַחֲרָ֑יו וְלֹא־עָנ֥וּ הָעָ֛ם אֹת֖וֹ דָּבָֽר׃ (כב) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־הָעָ֔ם אֲנִ֞י נוֹתַ֧רְתִּי נָבִ֛יא לַה׳ לְבַדִּ֑י וּנְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֔עַל אַרְבַּע־מֵא֥וֹת וַחֲמִשִּׁ֖ים אִֽישׁ׃ ...
(לו) וַיְהִ֣י ׀ בַּעֲל֣וֹת הַמִּנְחָ֗ה וַיִּגַּ֞שׁ אֵלִיָּ֣הוּ הַנָּבִיא֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ ה׳ אֱלֹקֵי֙ אַבְרָהָם֙ יִצְחָ֣ק וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַיּ֣וֹם יִוָּדַ֗ע כִּֽי־אַתָּ֧ה אֱלֹקִ֛ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וַאֲנִ֣י עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ (ובדבריך) [וּבִדְבָרְךָ֣] עָשִׂ֔יתִי אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ (לז) עֲנֵ֤נִי ה׳ עֲנֵ֔נִי וְיֵֽדְעוּ֙ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה כִּֽי־אַתָּ֥ה ה׳ הָאֱלֹקִ֑ים וְאַתָּ֛ה הֲסִבֹּ֥תָ אֶת־לִבָּ֖ם אֲחֹרַנִּֽית׃ (לח) וַתִּפֹּ֣ל אֵשׁ־ה׳ וַתֹּ֤אכַל אֶת־הָעֹלָה֙ וְאֶת־הָֽעֵצִ֔ים וְאֶת־הָאֲבָנִ֖ים וְאֶת־הֶֽעָפָ֑ר וְאֶת־הַמַּ֥יִם אֲשֶׁר־בַּתְּעָלָ֖ה לִחֵֽכָה׃ (לט) וַיַּרְא֙ כׇּל־הָעָ֔ם וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ ה׳ ה֣וּא הָאֱלֹקִ֔ים ה׳ ה֥וּא הָאֱלֹקִֽים׃ (מ) וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ אֵלִיָּ֨הוּ לָהֶ֜ם תִּפְשׂ֣וּ ׀ אֶת־נְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֗עַל אִ֛ישׁ אַל־יִמָּלֵ֥ט מֵהֶ֖ם וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂ֑וּם וַיּוֹרִדֵ֤ם אֵלִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־נַ֣חַל קִישׁ֔וֹן וַיִּשְׁחָטֵ֖ם שָֽׁם׃ (מא) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלִיָּ֙הוּ֙ לְאַחְאָ֔ב עֲלֵ֖ה אֱכֹ֣ל וּשְׁתֵ֑ה כִּי־ק֖וֹל הֲמ֥וֹן הַגָּֽשֶׁם׃
(20) Ahab sent orders to all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. (21) Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you keep hopping between two opinions? If the ETERNAL is God, then follow [ the ETERNAL ]; and if Baal, follow [Baal]!” But the people answered him not a word. (22) Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only prophet of GOD left, while the prophets of Baal number four hundred and fifty ...
(36) When it was time to present the grain offering, the prophet Elijah came forward and said, “O ETERNAL One, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel! Let it be known today that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your bidding. (37) Answer me, O ETERNAL One, answer me, that this people may know that You, O ETERNAL One, are God; for You have turned their hearts backward.” (38) Then fire from GOD descended and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the earth; and it licked up the water that was in the trench. (39) When they saw this, all the people flung themselves on their faces and cried out: “the ETERNAL One alone is God, the ETERNAL One alone is God!” (40) Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal, let not a single one of them get away.” They seized them, and Elijah took them down to the Wadi Kishon and slaughtered them there. (41) Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a rumbling of [approaching] rain,”
(כג) הִנֵּ֤ה אָֽנֹכִי֙ שֹׁלֵ֣חַ לָכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת אֵלִיָּ֣ה הַנָּבִ֑יא לִפְנֵ֗י בּ֚וֹא י֣וֹם ה׳ הַגָּד֖וֹל וְהַנּוֹרָֽא׃ (כד) וְהֵשִׁ֤יב לֵב־אָבוֹת֙ עַל־בָּנִ֔ים וְלֵ֥ב בָּנִ֖ים עַל־אֲבוֹתָ֑ם פֶּן־אָב֕וֹא וְהִכֵּיתִ֥י אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ חֵֽרֶם׃[הנה אנכי שלח לכם את אליה הנביא לפני בוא יום ה׳ הגדול והנורא]
(23) Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of God. (24) He shall reconcile parents with children and children with their parents, so that, when I come, I do not strike the whole land with utter destruction. Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of God.
Discussion: How does his name allude to the fervency of Elijah?
Elijah The Compassionate Sage
אמר ליה אימת אתי משיח אמר ליה זיל שייליה לדידיה והיכא יתיב אפיתחא דקרתא ומאי סימניה יתיב ביני עניי סובלי חלאים וכולן שרו ואסירי בחד זימנא איהו שרי חד ואסיר חד אמר דילמא מבעינא דלא איעכב אזל לגביה אמר ליה שלום עליך רבי ומורי אמר ליה שלום עליך בר ליואי א"ל לאימת אתי מר א"ל היום אתא לגבי אליהו א"ל מאי אמר לך א"ל שלום עליך בר ליואי א"ל אבטחך לך ולאבוך לעלמא דאתי א"ל שקורי קא שקר בי דאמר לי היום אתינא ולא אתא א"ל הכי אמר לך (תהלים צה, ז) היום אם בקולו תשמעו
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said to Elijah: When will the Messiah come? Elijah said to him: Go ask him. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asked: And where is he sitting? Elijah said to him: At the entrance of the city of Rome. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi asked him: And what is his identifying sign by means of which I can recognize him? Elijah answered: He sits among the poor who suffer from illnesses. And all of them untie their bandages and tie them all at once, but the Messiah unties one bandage and ties one at a time. He says: Perhaps I will be needed to serve to bring about the redemption. Therefore, I will never tie more than one bandage, so that I will not be delayed. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi went to the Messiah. He said to the Messiah: Greetings to you, my rabbi and my teacher. The Messiah said to him: Greetings to you, bar Leva’i. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said to him: When will the Master come? The Messiah said to him: Today. Sometime later, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi came to Elijah. Elijah said to him: What did the Messiah say to you? He said to Elijah that the Messiah said: Greetings [shalom] to you, bar Leva’i. Elijah said to him: He thereby guaranteed that you and your father will enter the World-to-Come, as he greeted you with shalom. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said to Elijah: The Messiah lied to me, as he said to me: I am coming today, and he did not come. Elijah said to him that this is what he said to you: He said that he will come “today, if you will listen to his voice” (Psalms 95:7).
Elijah The Herald and Symbol of Compromise
(כג) הִנֵּ֤ה אָנֹכִי֙ שֹׁלֵ֣חַ לָכֶ֔ם אֵ֖ת אֵלִיָּ֣ה הַנָּבִ֑יא לִפְנֵ֗י בּ֚וֹא י֣וֹם יְהֹוָ֔ה הַגָּד֖וֹל וְהַנּוֹרָֽא׃ (כד) וְהֵשִׁ֤יב לֵב־אָבוֹת֙ עַל־בָּנִ֔ים וְלֵ֥ב בָּנִ֖ים עַל־אֲבוֹתָ֑ם פֶּן־אָב֕וֹא וְהִכֵּיתִ֥י אֶת־הָאָ֖רֶץ חֵֽרֶם׃
(23) Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of GOD. (24) He shall reconcile parents with children and children with their parents, so that, when I come, I do not strike the whole land with utter destruction.Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of GOD.
When the Talmud asks a question for which no satisfactory answer is evident, it uses the word תיקו teiku as a way of indicating that we'll have to wait for the coming of Elijah - messianic times - to receive the correct answer. This became an acronym for תשבי יתרץ קושיות ובעיות "Elijah will resolve our questions and difficulties".
Discussion: why is it that Elijah comes to us at the seder and not Moses?
Option One: He Remains "Alive" with Us
(יא) וַיְהִ֗י הֵ֣מָּה הֹלְכִ֤ים הָלוֹךְ֙ וְדַבֵּ֔ר וְהִנֵּ֤ה רֶֽכֶב־אֵשׁ֙ וְס֣וּסֵי אֵ֔שׁ וַיַּפְרִ֖דוּ בֵּ֣ין שְׁנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיַּ֙עַל֙ אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ בַּֽסְעָרָ֖ה הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ (יב) וֶאֱלִישָׁ֣ע רֹאֶ֗ה וְה֤וּא מְצַעֵק֙ אָבִ֣י ׀ אָבִ֗י רֶ֤כֶב יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וּפָ֣רָשָׁ֔יו וְלֹ֥א רָאָ֖הוּ ע֑וֹד וַֽיַּחֲזֵק֙ בִּבְגָדָ֔יו וַיִּקְרָעֵ֖ם לִשְׁנַ֥יִם קְרָעִֽים׃
(11) As they kept on walking and talking, a fiery chariot with fiery horses suddenly appeared and separated one from the other; and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. (12) Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “Oh, father, father! Israel’s chariots and riders!” When he could no longer see him, he tore his garments and rent them in two.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: שִׁבְעָה קִפְּלוּ אֶת כָּל הָעוֹלָם כּוּלּוֹ – מְתוּשֶׁלַח רָאָה אָדָם, שֵׁם רָאָה מְתוּשֶׁלַח, יַעֲקֹב רָאָה אֶת שֵׁם, עַמְרָם רָאָה אֶת יַעֲקֹב, אֲחִיָּה הַשִּׁילוֹנִי רָאָה אֶת עַמְרָם, אֵלִיָּהוּ רָאָה אֶת אֲחִיָּה הַשִּׁילוֹנִי – וַעֲדַיִין קַיָּים.
The Sages taught: Seven people spanned in their lifetimes the whole world in its entirety, i.e., their lives have spanned all of human history. Methuselah saw Adam in his lifetime; Shem saw Methuselah; Jacob saw Shem; Amram saw Jacob; Ahijah the Shilonite saw Amram; Elijah saw Ahijah the Shilonite; and Elijah is still alive.
ויעל אליהו בסערה ... ואליהו נעשה רוחני והגוף כלה באש העליוני ושב כל יסוד אל יסודו.
And Elijah went up in a whirlwind ... Elijah became spiritual and the body was consumed in the upper fire and each element returned to its element and Elisha saw it rise from the earth and when it became air he saw the likeness of a chariot of fire.
Elisha believes he died, but our Sages say he is still alive as an angel who visits to carry out missions, in essences remaining touch with humanity. Thus, Elijah comes to the seder, is at the Brit Milah and Brit Bat, is the one who is the "shape shifter" who appears at the door as one who is poor and in need seeking help. Thus, we bring our questions to him, and not to Moses.
The Talmud, as well as later Jewish tradition, contains literally hundreds of stories of Elijah visiting great rabbis (many on a regular basis) or disguising himself as an ordinary human (such as a palace guard) and using his assumed identity to intercede with non-Jewish authorities and the like. (e.g. Talmud Brachot 3a, 29b, Shabbat 33b, Yoma 19b, Ta’anit 22a, etc.) Occasionally Elijah would bring other righteous people with him on visits to Heaven (Baba Metziah 85b, 114a).
Daniel C. Matt, "Becoming Elijah" Interview
Moses Cordovero writes this about Elijah: “His mystery is really the mystery of divinity spreading. Divine energy clothes itself in him, extending to the world. . . Elijah never appears in the world without the mystery of divinity revealing itself through him. The mystery of God on earth is the mystery of Elijah . . . The closest that divinity can possibly come to humanity is the mystery of Elijah.”
Cordovero’s remarkable statement may strike some readers as more Christian than Jewish, with Elijah functioning as an intermediary between God and humanity. Well, Elijah is unique, and he frequently mediates between heaven and earth. He is a virtuoso of the in-between, communicating heavenly teachings to earth and inspiring the Kabbalists with new insights and revelations.
Option Two: He is the Ultimate Loner
We know nothing about Elijah's personal life. Furthermore, it is unclear if this name is his given name or more a pseudonym that reflects his fervor and faith (a reflection of the passage where the people of Israel reject the priests of Baal and declare ה׳ הוא האלקים - the ultimate words said on Yom Kippur).
(יג) וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ אֵלִיָּ֗הוּ וַיָּ֤לֶט פָּנָיו֙ בְּאַדַּרְתּ֔וֹ וַיֵּצֵ֕א וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖ד פֶּ֣תַח הַמְּעָרָ֑ה וְהִנֵּ֤ה אֵלָיו֙ ק֔וֹל וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מַה־לְּךָ֥ פֹ֖ה אֵֽלִיָּֽהוּ׃ (יד) וַיֹּ֩אמֶר֩ קַנֹּ֨א קִנֵּ֜אתִי לַה׳ ׀ אֱלֹקֵ֣י צְבָא֗וֹת כִּֽי־עָזְב֤וּ בְרִֽיתְךָ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתֶ֣יךָ הָרָ֔סוּ וְאֶת־נְבִיאֶ֖יךָ הָרְג֣וּ בֶחָ֑רֶב וָאִוָּתֵ֤ר אֲנִי֙ לְבַדִּ֔י וַיְבַקְשׁ֥וּ אֶת־נַפְשִׁ֖י לְקַחְתָּֽהּ׃ {ס} (טו) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר ה׳ אֵלָ֔יו לֵ֛ךְ שׁ֥וּב לְדַרְכְּךָ֖ מִדְבַּ֣רָה דַמָּ֑שֶׂק וּבָ֗אתָ וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֧ אֶת־חֲזָאֵ֛ל לְמֶ֖לֶךְ עַל־אֲרָֽם׃
(13) When Elijah heard [God's voice] he wrapped his mantle about his face and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then the voice addressed him: “Why are you here, Elijah?” (14) He answered, “I am moved by zeal for the Holy One, the God of Hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and have put Your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they are out to take my life.” (15) The Holy One said to him, “Go back by the way you came, [and] on to the wilderness of Damascus. When you get there. . . anoint Elisha son of Shaphat to succeed you as prophet.
Existentialism offers that each of us is alone in the world, and so it may be - of all the Biblical characters - Elijah is most like us, most in tune with our own individual needs, fears, challenges and hopes.
We are Elijah
In Jewish tradition, as well as in Christianity (hence, the monastic order Carmelites for Elijah on Mt. Carmel) and Islam ( ), Elijah becomes the symbol of spiritual
Daniel Matt, "Becoming Elijah", Jewish Lives Podcast (April 16, 2024)
Hasidism speaks about bechinat Eliyahu. The Hebrew word bechina (here) ... means an "aspect" or a "quality". So Hasidism teaches that each of us has a spark of Elijah, each of us has an aspect of Elijah that is waiting to be developed. What is that? It is a passion for truth. Its a desire to uplift other people. Its a yearning for God. It's a possibility for inspiration. That's an "Elijah element". We have to take that spark and fan it into a flame, and in that sense become Elijah.
Discussion: Why the connection with the seder? Why might we open the door - and specifically have a cup of Elijah?
One possibility is that it is because Pesach is a "night of protection" (leil shimorim ליל שמורים), and we feel we can open ourselves to the world. An alternative explanation is that this is a sign of inviting "all who are hungry to come and eat, all in need to celebrate Pesach." A third way of understanding, suggested by Rabbi Nissim Gaon, 11th century, is that "when Elijah comes we will rush out to meet him" (that is, Pesach is a symbol of the fulfillment of the messianic). A fourth possible reason is that this was to show gentiles who accused Jews of the blood libel that we had nothing to hide, and what is happening within is innocent. A final understanding, from the Vilna Gaon, teaches that Elijah will resolve the halachic debate about whether we drink five or four cups (related to the promises of Exodus 6:6-7) about God's redemption.
(ו) לָכֵ֞ן אֱמֹ֥ר לִבְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָה֒ וְהוֹצֵאתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֗ם מִתַּ֙חַת֙ סִבְלֹ֣ת מִצְרַ֔יִם וְהִצַּלְתִּ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם מֵעֲבֹדָתָ֑ם וְגָאַלְתִּ֤י אֶתְכֶם֙ בִּזְר֣וֹעַ נְטוּיָ֔ה וּבִשְׁפָטִ֖ים גְּדֹלִֽים׃ (ז) וְלָקַחְתִּ֨י אֶתְכֶ֥ם לִי֙ לְעָ֔ם וְהָיִ֥יתִי לָכֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וִֽידַעְתֶּ֗ם כִּ֣י אֲנִ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹ֣הֵיכֶ֔ם הַמּוֹצִ֣יא אֶתְכֶ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת סִבְל֥וֹת מִצְרָֽיִם׃
(6) Say, therefore, to the Israelite people: I am יהוה. I will free you from the labors of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and through extraordinary chastisements. (7) And I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God. And you shall know that I, יהוה, am your God who freed you from the labors of the Egyptians.
Wendy Zierler
When we welcome Elijah to the Seder it helps to think of him not only as an emissary of rage and revenge, but as an ambassador of understanding and reconciliation, as a meshiv kushot, "answerer of questions," and a meshiv lev avot al banim, "a reconciler of parents and children.
Valley Beth Shalom Haggadah
According to Hasidic custom begun at the table of the master Rabbi Naftali of Ropschutz, we pass Elijah's cup from person to person at the table, each person pouring a little wine into Elijah's cup from our own cups, until it is filled. In this way we recognize that we must act together, each contributing our best talents and energies, to bring Elijah's promise to the world. Only through the efforts of our hands will the world be redeemed. We open the door, we stand, and we sing of the Jewish dream of freedom.