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63 A Visit by Elijah the Prophet T O L D B Y S H A L O M M O S K O V I T Z T O M E N A H. E M B E N - A R Y E H A Jew from the Land of Israel recounted that once, in a village in Europe, on the day before Passover, a Jew came to one of the householders and asked to be put up for the holiday. The family agreed to perform the precept of hospitality and was glad to host him for the seder. When the householder filled Kos Eliyahu—the Cup of Elijah the Prophet—just before they recited “Pour outYour fury on the nations,”* the guest fell asleep. Suddenly, the door opened and a tall old man with a long white beard entered, came over to the table, picked up Elijah’s Cup, made the blessing over wine, drank, and went out again. Of course, a fuss broke out at once about how they had had the merit of seeing Elijah the Prophet. The guest, who had fallen asleep before they recited “Pour out Your fury,” woke up and asked what the commotion was all about. They told him that they had been granted the privilege of seeing Elijah—that a tall man had entered, drunk from the cup, and left. “Did you ask him for a blessing?” asked the guest. “When you had the merit of seeing Elijah the Prophet it was a propitious time to do so.” “We didn’t think of it,” they replied, “because we were taken by surprise .” The guest sighed. “What a shame! Had I not fallen asleep I would have known what to ask Elijah. It’s too bad that I fell asleep just then.” But, he advised them, “Since outside the Land of Israel you have two seders, perhaps Elijah will come again on the night of the second seder. So be alert and pay attention. When Elijah comes again, should you merit that, ask him for some boon.” The whole family waited for the second seder with bated breath. When night came they all sat down together with the guest, who took a place at the corner of the table. They conducted the seder with great joy and waited impatiently for Elijah. When they reached “Pour out Your fury on 446 * Psalm 79:6. the nations” and poured the cup of wine for Elijah, the householder rose with fear and trembling to go open the door in honor of the prophet. To their astonishment Elijah entered again. Again he came, tall and bearded, and, as before, made the blessing over the wine and drained the cup. As he turned to leave, the householder intercepted him and began entreating him, “If we have merited to have Elijah appear to us, we ask Your Honor to give us a blessing.” Elijah consented. Taking a handkerchief from his pocket he said, “Anyone who sniffs this handkerchief is guaranteed long life and everlasting success.” Of course everyone in the house stuck their noses out to smell the handkerchief. No sooner had they inhaled Elijah’s pleasant scent than they sank unconscious to the floor. Then the guest rose from the table. He and Elijah gathered up all the valuables in the house, jewels and whatever else there was. They went to the stable, led out the horse, hitched it to the wagon, piled their loot on it, and drove off. They had not gone far from the village, when the watchmen observed a wagon loaded with goods, traveling after midnight. They recognized that the cart and horse belonged to a certain person from the village, the man who was hosting “Elijah.” “Yankel,” they called, going up to the wagon, “where are you going at midnight on the holiday? What has happened to you?” But to their astonishment they saw strangers in the wagon. “Elijah” and his companion began stammering various excuses. The watchmen detained them and took them off to the judge. When their interrogation revealed what had happened, they [the watchmen] arrested them [the strangers]. Then they went to the house of the owner of the wagon, where they found him and his whole family asleep. When the family woke up, hours later, they told the story about Elijah and how he had them smell his handkerchief and they fell unconscious. “Elijah” was arrested and punished, and the householder got back his stolen goods. 63 / A...

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