The Cups of Elijah and Miriam

We now refill our wine glasses one last time. We open the front door to invite the prophet Elijah to join our seder.- we have a cup of wine for him. We call upon Miriam to join us and to lead us – we have a cup of water for her.

In the Bible, 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 bris and the Passover seder.

We learn that as Miriam wandered with the Israelites in the desert, a well of water moved with her. After her death the Torah tells us that well dried up. We look to her to lead us again in celebration and bring us to the waters of redemption.

אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא אֵלִיָּהוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּי

Eliyahu ha-navi, Eliyahu ha-Tishbi,

אֵלִיָּהוּ הַגִּלְעָדִי

Eliyahu (3x) ha-Giladi.

במְהֵרָה בְיָמֵנוּ יָבוא אֵלֵינוּ

Bimheirah v'yameinu, yavo ei-leinu

עִם מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד, עִם מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד

im Mashiach ben David (2x)

Elijah, the prophet; Elijiah, the Tishbite; Elijah, of Gilead! Come quickly in our days with the
Messiah from the line of David.



מִרַים הַנְבִעאה עז בְִזמְָרה בְָיָדה

Miriam ha-n'vi'ah oz v'zimrah b'yadah.

מִרִיַם תִרְקדֹ אִתָנוּ לְתַקֵן אֶת הֵעוֹלַם

Miriam tirkod itanu l'taken et ha-olam.

בִמְהֵרַה בְיָמֵנוּ הִיא תְבִיאֵנוּ

Bimheirah v'yameinu hi t'vi'einu

אֶל מֵי הַיְשוּעָה, אֶל מֵי הַיְשוּעָה

El mei ha-y'shuah; el mei ha-y'shuah!

Miriam the prophet, strength and song in her hand; Miriam, dance with us in order to increase the song of the world! Miriam, dance with us in order to repair the world. Soon she will bring us to the waters of redemption!


haggadah Section: Nirtzah