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According to Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner, the Elijah Cup is the fifth cup of wine, the necessity of which is ambiguous according to a reading of the Talmud, to be used at the Jewish celebration of the Seder. The wine in this cup may be by mixed contribution from everybody in the family. The story goes that when the messiah comes, Elijah will precede him. Elijah will be able to say which reading of the Talmud is correct - four cups for the Seder or five cups.

The Seder is what Christians might call the Passover - the actual meal that commemorates the exodus from Egypt. Orthodox and Conservative Jews outside of Israel celebrate the Passover for eight days with the Seder meal on the first and second nights. Reform Jews and Jews in Israel celebrate the Passover for seven days with the Seder meal on the first night of the Passover.

The prophet Elijah in the Hebrew Scriptures was prophesied to return at the end of the book of Malachi. "See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction." According to Matthew 11:10, the messenger of Malachi 3:1 and the Elijah of Malachi 4 are one and the same - John the Baptiser, which is ironic seeing as the John the Baptiser was known for being a teetotaller. A similar wording is found at Isaiah 59:20, 21 which says: "'The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,' declares the Lord. "As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the Lord. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the Lord.

Elijah's Cup stays untouched on the table. It is a vivid reminder of the waiting attitude for the messiah. Just to make sure the Jews aren't accused of putting Christian blood in there, the children are invited to go to the door and open it for the prophet Elijah and then watch the cup for any signs of ripples indicating a visitation by the prophet. When the prophet does return, he will announce the messiah and liberation for all mankind.

Learn more about this author, Katie Savinger.
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