It is customary to fill a cup of wine for Elijah the Prophet, and open our door to welcome him to our Passover seder. 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.

At our seder, we have two cups in the center - one for Elijah, and one for Moses's sister Miriam. It is said that a well followed the Jews as they wandered through the desert until the time of Miriam's death, a gift from God for her optimism. Miriam's cup is filled with water to honor her, as well as the often overlooked contributions of other women in the Torah and Jewish history.

As we open the door for Elijah, we sing together:

אֵלִיָּֽהוּ הַנָּבִיא, אֵלִיָּֽהוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּי,

אֵלִיָּֽהוּ, 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