Seder Thoughts

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I shared these ideas as the Dvar Torah at my shul, Minyan Ohr Chadash, in Seattle, last Shabbat. 

Happy Passover!  

 

I have a strong childhood memory of opening the door for Eliyahu at my family Seder.  After we did our job, I would scrutinized Eliyahu’s cup to see if there was any wine missing.  I always believed that a sip had been taken and that Eliyahu had visited.  As a young child, I thought of Eliyahu as the magical and kind gentleman of the many stories I had heard, who would come to the home of a poor family and give them money to prepare for Shabbat or Pesach.  He would, somehow, always come and save the day.

I was then, shocked to learn as a student at SHA, that the real Eliyahu was not such a nice guy.   He was a bitter zealot.  He challenged the prophets of Baal to a duel with G-d – kind of a korban slam. G-d wins hands down.  Then, G-d informs Eliyahu, who lacks empathy for the Jewish people, that it was time to pass the baton to Elisha.  Finally, Eliyahu is taken, alive, in a fiery chariot up to heaven. 

It is over time that Eliyahu’s image morphs.   In our Haftora, found in Malachi we read:  “Henie anochi sholeach lachem, et Eliyahu Hanavi, lifnei vo yom Hashem hagadol v’hanorah.”   “Behold, I send to you, Elijah the Prophet, he will come before the great and awesome day of Hashem.” Then Malachi continues -what will be Eliyahu’s job  – “V’heishiv lev avot al banim, the lev banim al avotam”  – to return the hearts of the parents to the children and the hearts of the children to the parents.”    Eliyahu is transformed into G-d’s messenger to turn the hearts of family members back to each other and to announce the coming of the messianic era of peace and tranquility.   

Then, as time passes, we see in the Talmud and through centuries of Jewish story-telling, that Eliyahu’s transformation is complete.  He appears at times of trouble or when something difficult must be done. This zealous prophet who lacked empathy – is now an empathetic savior, of individuals, families, and even the Jewish people. 

So, what is the Kos Shel Eliyahu that we have on our Seder Table – does it represent the kindly old man or the zealous prophet?  How are we to understand the mixture of Eliyahu the prophet, the glass of wine that sits upon our table, the opening of the door and the saying of Shfoch Chamatcha al Hagoyim – Pour out your Wrath on the nations? 

The four cups of wine that we drink at the Seder – reflect four expressions Geula – of redemptive feedom- found in Shmot – Exodus –

V’hotzeiti – I will extract you out from the suffering of Egypt.

V’hitzalti – I will deliver you from bondage

V’galti – I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and great judgements

V’lakachti – I will take you to myself as a nation

But there is a fifth lashon of geula – V’heiveiti – I will bring you to the land.   

Because there are 5 expressions of Geula, the Rabbis of the Talmud cannot agree – should we drink 4 or 5 cups of wine at the Seder?   It’s a Teku (Tishbi Yitaretz Hakushiot V’Sheelot – The Tishbi [Elihyahu] will answer the difficulties and questions). Four of the statements have come to pass, but the fifth has not.  The Rabbis were unable to resolved the question – so the practice is to pour the 5th cup, but not to drink it.   We call it Kos Shel Eliyahu because we must await the coming of Eliyahu to resolve all outstanding Halachik questions, including whether to drink 4 or 5 cups of wine at the Seder.

Then we open the door – why? 

One explanation is that the evening of the Exodus is referred to Liel Shimurim – a guarded night – during which G-d protected the Jewish people as the angel of death did not visit their homes.  Opening the door is a physical expression in our belief that G-d will protect us.    Eliyahu is invited in – he is our attorney in heaven – testifying that the Jewish people deserve continued protection and redemption – he testifies that he has personally attends all Brit Milah ceremonies – and can tell G-d that we have been a faithful nation.

So there we are – cup of wine poured, but not drunk, the door is open, exposing the family to the dangers outside and we invite Eliyahu, our attorney and now empathetic savior to join us and bring us good news. 

Then we recite some harsh verses pouring out wrath upon the nations – These verses were added to the Hagadah during the middle ages – when the Jews suffered great persecution – from the beginning of the crusades in 1096 and the first Blood Libel in Norwich in 1144.  It was added as a response to the persecution that spread all over Europe.    Rabbi Saks suggests that this prayer is not a call for humans to take revenge on our enemies, but rather a plea for diving justice and a hope that our lives will one day be lived in peace.

So how can we put this all together?

As we open the door for Eliyahu, it’s a magical moment with a powerful message.  We have the opportunity, as we sit at the ultimate family dinner, with our children —  with our parents, satiated and maybe a bit tipsy.  We can allow our hearts to warm and to return.  It’s a chance to appreciate each other in a new way.  If our hearts are in the right place, then the door can open – it can open to a meaningful relationship between parents and children.  It can be open for Eliyahu to enter our lives to help us take the necessary steps, as partners with G-d Almighty, to create a world in which peace can flourish – where we will see justice and empathy all around us.  

This is the perfect spot for Eliyahu to appear.  We the Jewish people, need him to bring his empathy and kindness to the world — so desperate for both.  But Eliyahu the Zealot is also with us as we still say Shfoch Chamatcha Al Hagoyim – Pour Out Your Wrath onto the Nations.  We recognize that we still live in a world with enemies who wish to do us harm.   The contradiction of Eliyahu’s character is not resolved – we will await his return to solve this one too.