The Cup of Elijah

As we refill our wine glasses one last time and reflect on the seder, we also open the front door to invite the prophet Elijah to join our seder.

In the Torah, Elijah was a fierce defender of God to a disbelieving people. At the end of his life, rather than dying, he was whisked away to heaven. Tradition holds that he will return in advance of messianic days to herald a new era of peace, so we set a place for Elijah at many joyous, hopeful Jewish occasions, such as a baby’s naming and the Passover seder. We also add a cup of water for the prophet Miriam (Moses' sister), who sustained the Israelites during their years in the desert by calling forth a flowing well to quench their thirst. At this seder we are raising a cup of water as a symbol of the redemption that women have brought through the generations. We remember the women of the Passover story who often go unamed, Jocheved, Miriam, the Pharoh's daughter, and we remember the countless women who were written out of history.

We all sing  Eliahu HaNavi.  

אֵלִיָּֽהוּ הַנָּבִיא, אֵלִיָּֽהוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּיאֵלִיָּֽהוּ, אֵלִיָּֽהוּ,אֵלִיָּֽהוּ הַגִּלְעָדִי

בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵֽנוּ יָבוֹא אֵלֵֽינוּ

עִם מָשִֽׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד

עִם מָשִֽׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד

Eliyahu hanavi
Eliyahu hatishbi
Eliyahu, Eliyahu, Eliyahu hagiladi
Bimheirah b’yameinu, yavo eileinu
Im mashiach ben-David,
Im mashiach ben-David

Elijah the prophet, the returning, the man of Gilad:
return to us speedily,
in our days with the messiah,
son of David.


haggadah Section: Hallel