[Leica] Elijah's plate explained.

[lrzeitlin at aol.com]

 Richard Man asked for the explanation of Elijah's plate.


There is a custom amongst Jews celebrating a Passover Seder to pour a cup of wine, open the front door of the home, and beseech the prophet Elijah to enter. In the bible Elijah is described as protected the Jews from the final plague which killed all the Egyptian firstborn. His presence at the Seder is assumed to similarly protect the household. There is also an open question in the Talmud about whether Jews are required to drink four or five cups of wine on the night of Passover. The issue was never resolved (I favor five cups) so a fifth cup is poured and offered to Elijah. This fifth cup, whose status is in doubt, is dubbed “Elijah’s Cup, Naturally a good host would offer a visitor a meal. A plate is set at the table for Elijah if he should actually show up in person and not just in spirit. Traditionally a similar courtesy is offered to anyone who shows up at the front door during the Seder.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Larry+Z/Elijah_s+plate+1_001.jpg.htmlLarry Z