[Leica] Elijah's plate explained.

[lrzeitlin at aol.com (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