Imbibing Faith
On Seder Night, when we reached the section in the Haggadah, “Pour Your wrath over the nations” (Tehillim 79), Father, zy”a, would open the door, inviting in Eliyahu Hanavi, as is the custom of Jews everywhere.
One year, I asked my father, “Where is Eliyahu Hanavi? Did you see him enter?”
“Did you not see him?” Father retorted, in surprise.
I replied, “No, I did not notice Eliyahu Hanavi come into our home.”
To which Father answered, “When you will be older, you will yet see him.”
As is the Jewish custom, we poured wine into Eliyahu’s cup before retiring. I still remember how, upon arising the next morning, we would rush in anticipation to see whether he had drunk from this wine. One year, I was a wise guy. I drank about a third of the cup myself, before scampering off to bed. The next morning, Father asked, “Who drank from Eliyahu’s cup?”
“Surely Eliyahu himself drank from the cup,” I answered in feigned innocence. But Father saw right through me. He said it was impossible that Eliyahu drank so much wine. Eliyahu had to visit thousands of homes; he would get drunk if he drank so much at each house. Obviously, Father was joking. But he was trying to teach us never to lie.
As I matured, I began to understand my father’s wisdom. He did not want to shake our faith. Therefore, when we asked if he had seen Eliyahu, he didn’t say yes, but he didn’t say no. By stating that we would see him when we grew up, he assured us that Eliyahu did, indeed, come to our home, but only great people merit seeing him.
Father was concerned that we should never, chalilah, ridicule holy practices and that our faith should always remain intact.
The same held true regarding Eliyahu’s cup. Father never said that Eliyahu does not actually drink the wine. We understood, from his words, that Eliyahu takes a sip in each home. This sat well with us. When we grew older, we understood these concepts more deeply, in the merit of the pure, simple faith which Father instilled within us as children.
From the distance of years, as I look back on my childhood, I cannot but be amazed at Father’s tremendous wisdom. He responded to our questions with great sensitivity, affirming our faith, so essential in these formative years.
