Question: Why is There a Cup of Wine for Elijah at the Passover Seder?
Dear Rabbi,
I am having a Passover Seder for my grandchildren. Why is there a cup of wine for Elijah? And where can I find interesting material about the Pesach holiday?
Thank you, Carole
Answer: Dear Carole,
First of all, you can find interesting and helpful information about Passover and for the Passover Seder in my Jewish Freeware Site, including a great deal of information about the cup of Elijah.
The cup of Elijah derives from a problem in Talmudic Law. The problem is not knowing exactly how many cups of wine to drink at the Seder, four or five. The number of cups is based on the four expressions of deliverance, but there is actually a fifth expression of deliverance.
So, the rabbis came up with the perfect Jewish compromise. We fill the fifth cup, but we don't drink from it. And since Elijah will proceed the Messiah, who will be able to tell us whether four or five cups are correct, we make the fifth cup of wine Elijah's cup.
In some Seder services, each person at the Seder contributes some wine to the fifth cup, symbolizing everyone sharing in the messianic hope. At other Seder services, wine from the cup of Elijah is mixed with the fourth cup.
Others point out historically, and in my opinion correctly, that the door is opened to show everyone outside that Jews do not in any way use the blood of Christians for Passover, often called the "blood libel." To "cover" this ritual, we send children to the door to open it for Elijah the prophet. In general, Sefardim do not open the door for Elijah.
I hope that this gives you some helpful background.
Best wishes,
Rabbi Dov
First of all, you can find interesting and helpful information about Passover and for the Passover Seder in my Jewish Freeware Site, including a great deal of information about the cup of Elijah.
The cup of Elijah derives from a problem in Talmudic Law. The problem is not knowing exactly how many cups of wine to drink at the Seder, four or five. The number of cups is based on the four expressions of deliverance, but there is actually a fifth expression of deliverance.
So, the rabbis came up with the perfect Jewish compromise. We fill the fifth cup, but we don't drink from it. And since Elijah will proceed the Messiah, who will be able to tell us whether four or five cups are correct, we make the fifth cup of wine Elijah's cup.
In some Seder services, each person at the Seder contributes some wine to the fifth cup, symbolizing everyone sharing in the messianic hope. At other Seder services, wine from the cup of Elijah is mixed with the fourth cup.
Others point out historically, and in my opinion correctly, that the door is opened to show everyone outside that Jews do not in any way use the blood of Christians for Passover, often called the "blood libel." To "cover" this ritual, we send children to the door to open it for Elijah the prophet. In general, Sefardim do not open the door for Elijah.
I hope that this gives you some helpful background.
Best wishes,
Rabbi Dov
