Torah Lesson 7 Elijah: Who Was He? Who Is He?

INTRODUCTION

The prophet Elijah is very interesting and very different from any other prophet we will meet in the Bible. Not only does he have special abilities, but he also seems to continue to exist, at least in spirit, even to this very day. As stated by Barbara Diamond Goldin:

Part of the appeal of Elijah the Prophet as a figure in religion and folklore is that he is a symbol of hope, a figure who stands for what is just and good in the world. He is a helper and friend to those in need, a teacher of lessons, a master of disguises and surprises. He is immortal, able to appear at any time, in any place, to any person.1

In The Haftarah Commentary, W. Gunther Plaut writes:

He appears in the book of Kings quite suddenly and without introduction; there is only a brief note in 17:1, which gives us not even the name of his progenitor but a mere (and unclear) indi- cation where he came from. . . . The vagueness of these references, his sudden appearances and disappearances, added to the mystique that surrounded him, and legends were spun about his deeds and miracles. His assumption into heaven on a fiery chariot convinced the people that he would return to earth, and the final words of the prophet Malachi stamped him as a forerunner of the day of judgment. . . . [What distinguished him] was not even his purist loyalty to One God, to whom he committed his life. What distinguished him above all was his unequaled courage to stand up to a king and queen who sought his life. . . . Elijah was in every way a war- rior for the common folk.2

In the biblical accounts that we find of Elijah, he, like many others, is seen as a threat. He stands up to kings and queens, stands firm in his belief in Adonai, and has special powers, given by God, to help others. Throughout our history, Elijah has continued to be a special personality who we look toward for comfort and for peace.

During this lesson the students will study texts that show various aspects and characteristics of Elijah. By looking at biblical text, liturgy, midrash, and modern stories they will see that Elijah continues to be a part of our lives. Hopefully, this will help them begin to think about what the prophets said and how they continue to impact us today.

1Barbara Diamond Goldin, Journeys with Elijah: Eight Tales of the Prophet (San Diego and New York: Gulliver Books, 1999), p. x. 2W. Gunther Plaut, The Haftarah Commentary (New York: UAHC Press, 1996), p. 211.

75 76 Torah Lesson 7 CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life

This lesson contains a full range of texts that depict the prophet Elijah. Some of the texts can be quite challenging for some students, so to be sure that your class receives maximum benefit from your study of Elijah, you may want to consider selecting the approach that is most appropriate for your situation:

• Teach the lesson in the way that it is written, making minor modifications where necessary.

• Teach the lesson as written, but give each group of students one text instead of two. If they finish the first text, you can distribute a second.

• Choose one text from each genre (Bible, midrash, liturgy), study these together as a class, then have the students create the Snapshot of Elijah, based on their impressions. (Students can work in small groups on the Snapshot.) If this option is selected, do not put a copy of any specific text on the poster board for the Snapshot of Elijah.

• Select one text and read it together as a class, helping the students understand it as you go along. This will give them the idea of how to approach this kind of text study. Then break the students into small- er groups and assign three texts to each: one from the Bible, one from midrash, and one from the liturgy. Have the students complete the Snapshot of Elijah poster for their group.

ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS • Torah is an ongoing dialogue between the text and its students.

• Torah is real in our daily lives: It goes with us wherever we are.

• Developing the skills to study Torah is essential to integrating Torah into our lives.

• The prophets were focused on reminding the Jewish people how God wants us to live, and their messages are at the heart of Reform Judaism.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS 1. What does the Torah have to say to me and my world?

2. How can Torah study help me in my everyday life?

3. Why is the Torah different from other books?

4. What is prophecy?

5. What is a prophet?

6. In what ways do the prophets and what they said (prophecy) remind us how God wants us to live?

7. How can I as a Reform Jew understand how God wants me to live through the writings of the prophets?

QUESTIONS TO BE ADDRESSED 1. Who is the prophet Elijah? CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life Elijah: Who Was He? Who Is He? 77

2. What are Elijah’s unique characteristics?

3. How and why is Elijah important to us today?

EVIDENCE OF UNDERSTANDING • Through text study, students will document the different characteristics of Elijah.

• Students will consider how Elijah’s messages and the themes of the Elijah stories have the potential to influence our own behavior toward others today.

LESSON OVERVIEW • Set Induction (10 minutes)

• Chevruta Text Study and Snapshot of Elijah (45 minutes)

• Conclusion (15 minutes)

MATERIALS NEEDED • Chart paper and markers or chalkboard/whiteboard and chalk/markers

• A story about Elijah from a book such as:

Goldin, Barbara Diamond. Journeys with Elijah: Eight Tales of the Prophet. San Diego and New York: Gulliver Books, 1999.

Maisel, Grace, and Samantha Shubert. A Year of Jewish Stories: 52 Tales for Young Children and Their Families. New York: UAHC Press, 2004. (Recommended: “It’s Not Fair,” “It’s All for the Best,” “The Perfect Seder,” “The Silk Bridegroom”)

• Copies of Elijah Text Worksheets (pages 81–95)

• Paper

• Pencils or pens

• Ten pieces of poster board with “Snapshot of Elijah” written across the top, the “snapshot” pasted in the center, and one of the texts on pages 81–95 in the center of each snapshot.

• Parent volunteer (optional)

LESSON PLAN SET INDUCTION (10 MINUTES)

1. Ask the students: Have you ever heard of Elijah? What do you know about him? List their answers on the chalk- or whiteboard or a piece of chart paper. Answers may include: We hold the door open for him at the Passover seder, we sing about him in the havdalah ceremony at the end of Shabbat, etc. 78 Torah Lesson 7 CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life

2. Say to the students:

This week we will be studying the prophet Elijah. I want you to listen to the story I am about to read to you. While you listen to the story I want you to write down what you think you learn about who Elijah is based on this story.

Read the students a story about Elijah. There are several suggestions in Materials Needed, but this is not an exhaustive list. If you do not have one of these books/stories available to you but you have another, please feel free to use it. This activity is meant to introduce Elijah and his unusual “powers.”

3. Ask the students: What did you learn about Elijah from this story? Write the students’ answers on a different section of the board or another piece of chart paper.

LEARNING ACTIVITY Chevruta Text Study and Snapshot of Elijah (45 minutes)

1. Post the ten Snapshot of Elijah posters around the room. Say to the students: “Today we will try to figure out who the prophet Elijah is and why he is so important to the Jewish people. You will get the opportunity to look at a few different texts that give us some insight into Elijah. After you read your texts you will write down what you learned about Elijah, just like we did with the story. When everyone has finished, you will share your answers and see if we can get a good picture of Elijah.”

2. Break the students into chevruta (groups of two to three). Give each group an Elijah Text Worksheet (pages 81–95). Be sure to copy the templates back to back so the students can answer the questions on the back of each text. If they have time to study another text, give them an additional text to read. You will notice that some texts are long and others are relatively short. If you distribute two texts, you might want to initially give each chevruta one longer and one shorter text. If you do not assign all of the texts in the initial distribution, when you assign a new text to a chevruta give them a text that has not been assigned. If all of the texts are distributed at the outset you can give groups any text, but be sure to distribute the various texts evenly among the class.

Be sure to go around to each of the groups to see if they need assistance. If you have student teach- ers/madrichim or parent volunteers, they could each be assigned to one group or all of you could float among the groups. For your reference, a summary of key points in the texts and the answers to the worksheets appear on pages 96–98.

When students have completed their worksheets, ask them to find the Snapshot of Elijah poster that has their text on it. Instruct each student in the group to either draw a picture that depicts what they learned about Elijah from the text or write words or phrases that describe what they learned about Elijah.

3. After the students have completed their text study, bring them together and have them share the information they have gathered. Explain to the students that you are trying to get a good picture of who Elijah was/is. Hold up each poster and have the group or groups that worked on that text explain their pictures and words.

Have one group give a synopsis of the text and then share the information from the worksheet. If more than one group studied a text, after one group shares its thoughts ask the other group(s) that CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life Elijah: Who Was He? Who Is He? 79

have studied the same text if they have additional comments to share. After each text has been shared, look at the list you created in the Set Induction to see if there was anything the students already knew or something that they learned from the story that has not been mentioned in the text study.

CONCLUSION (15 MINUTES)

1. Ask the students: What is special and unique about Elijah? Possible answers include:

• He has special powers.

• He will announce the messianic era.

• God listens to Elijah.

• He seems to be alive even today.

Ask: What do we know about Elijah that should affect us even today? Possible answers include:

• He seems to still be among us.

• Elijah is looking to see if the world is ready for the messianic era.

Ask: Since we know that Elijah will often dress as an unfortunate person and will also be the one to announce the time of the messianic era, how should we act toward others? (We need to be good to everyone with whom we interact.)

2. Have the students answer the following questions on page 11 of their workbooks:

• What do you think was the most important thing Elijah said or did?

• What do you think was significant for our world about what you learned today?

• What does today’s learning make you think about in your own life?

• What was important to Elijah?

• What is the job of a prophet?

3. As an optional homework assignment, ask students to write a story about Elijah and how he comes to help someone or helps the community we live in, based on issues that face us today.

CHAI: Learning for Jewish Life 81

Elijah Text Worksheet 1

The text we have is: I Kings 17:1–24 Elijah said to Ahab, “I serve Adonai, the God of Israel who tells me that there will be no dew or rain except when I tell it to.” Adonai said to Elijah, “Leave this place and go to the Wadi Cherith. You will drink from the wadi, and I have command- ed the ravens to feed you there.” Elijah did as Adonai had told him, he went and stayed by the Wadi Cherith. The ravens brought him bread and meat every morn- ing and every evening, and he drank from the wadi.

After some time the wadi dried up, because there was no rain in the land. And Adonai said to him: “Go at once to the town of Zarephath.” When Elijah came to the entrance of the town, a widow was there gathering wood. He called out to her, “Please bring me a little water in your pitcher, so I can drink, and a piece of bread so I can eat.” As she went to get them for Elijah she replied, “I know that Adonai your God lives, but I have nothing baked, nothing but a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I can make some bread but even what I have is not enough for me and my son to eat and live; we will surely die.” “Don’t be afraid,” said Elijah to her. “Go and do as you have said; but first make me a small cake from what you have there, and bring it out to me; then make some for yourself and your son. Adonai, the God of Israel, told me: The jar of flour will continue to fill with flour and the jug of oil will be filled with oil until the day that Adonai sends rain to the ground.” She went and did what Elijah said, and she and he and her household had food for a long time. The jar of flour did not give out, and the jug of oil did not fail, just as Adonai had spoken through Elijah.

After a while, the son of the woman became sick and his illness grew worse until he was about to die. She said to Elijah, “What harm have I done to you that would cause the death of my son?” “Give me the boy,” he said to her; and taking him from her arms, he carried the boy to the upstairs room where he was staying, and laid the boy down on his own bed. He cried out to Adonai and said, “Adonai, my God, will You bring such a disaster to this widow whose guest I have been, and let her son die?” Then he stretched out over the child three times saying, “Adonai, my God, let this child’s life return to his body!” Adonai heard Elijah’s plea; the child’s life returned to his body, and he revived. Elijah picked up the child and brought him down and gave him to his mother. Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” And the woman answered Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that you truly speak the word of God.”

This text is taken from (circle one): The Bible Our liturgy (a prayer) Midrash

1. Adonai, the God of Israel, tells Elijah to go to two places. What are those two places?

2. Why do you think Elijah tells the widow to bring him water and bread?

3. What are three miracles performed in this text?

4. Why do you think God listens to Elijah about saving the life of the boy?

5. Based on your answers above, what do you think this text teaches us about Elijah?

Elijah Text Worksheet 2

The text we have is: II Kings 1:1–17 Moab rebelled against Israel. King Ahaziah fell and was injured. So he sent messengers, and said to them: “Go and ask of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, if I will recover from this injury.” An angel of Adonai said to Elijah, “Go and say to the messengers of Ahaziah, ‘Why do you go to ask Baal-zebub, why don’t you ask Adonai, the God of Israel? Adonai says you will die.’” And Elijah went.

The messengers returned to Ahaziah and he asked, “Why have you come back?” They answered him, “A man came to us and said, ‘Go back to your king and say to him: Adonai says: Why do you go to ask Baal-zebub, why don’t you ask Adonai, the God of Israel? Of course you will die.’” “What sort of man was it who came to you and said these things?” asked Ahaziah. They replied, “A hairy man with a leather belt tied around his waist.” “That’s Elijah!” said Ahaziah.

Then Ahaziah sent a captain and fifty men. They climbed a hill and found Elijah sitting there on top. The captain said, “Man of God, by order of the king, come down!” Elijah said to the captain and his fifty men, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and burn you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and burned up the captain and his fifty men. The king sent another captain and his fifty men. This captain said to Elijah, “Man of God, by order of the king, come down at once!” But Elijah answered, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and burn you and your fifty men!” And fire came down from heaven and burned up the captain and his fifty men. Then the king sent a third captain and his fifty men. The third captain and his fifty men climbed to the top, knelt before Elijah and begged him saying, “Oh, man of God, please have regard for my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours! Already fire has come from heaven and burned up the first two captains and their fifty men. I beg you, have regard for my life!”

Then the angel of Adonai said to Elijah, “Go down with him, do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king. Elijah said to the king, “Because you sent messengers to ask Baal-zebub as if there were no God of Israel whose word you could ask, you will not get up, but will die on the bed you are now lying on.”

And Ahaziah died, just like the words of Adonai that Elijah had spoken.

This text is taken from (circle one): The Bible Our liturgy (a prayer) Midrash

1. Who did Ahaziah send messengers to ask if he would recover from his injuries?

2. What does Elijah say and have done to prove he is a man of God?

3. What does Elijah tell Ahaziah?

4. What happens to Ahaziah at the end of the text?

5. Based on your answers above, what do you think this text teaches us about Elijah?

Elijah Text Worksheet 3

The text we have is: II Kings 2:1–15 When Adonai was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha [Elijah’s student and assistant] had left Gilgal. Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, because Adonai has sent me on to Bethel.” “As Adonai lives and as you live, I will not leave you,” said Elisha. So they went down to Bethel. Students of the prophets (Elijah and Elisha) at Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that Adonai will take your teacher away from you today?” He said, “Yes; be quiet.”

Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, for Adonai has sent me on to Jericho.” Elisha replied, “As Adonai lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went on to Jericho. The students of the prophets who were at Jericho came over to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that Adonai will take your teacher away from you today?” He said, “Yes; be quiet.”

Elijah said to him, “Stay here, for Adonai has sent me on to the Jordan.” “As Adonai lives and as you live, I will not leave you,” said Elisha and the two of them went on. The two of them stopped at the Jordan River. There Elijah took his cloak and, rolling it up, he struck the water; it divided to the right and left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry land. As they were crossing, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” Elisha answered, “Let two-thirds of your spirit pass on to me.” “You have asked a difficult thing. If you watch as I am being taken from you, this will be granted to you,” replied Elijah. As they kept on walking and talking, a fiery chariot with fiery horses suddenly appeared and separated them; and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw Elijah being taken and he grasped his clothes and tore them.

He picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had dropped by him; and he went back to the Jordan River. Taking the cloak which had dropped from Elijah, he struck the water and said, “Where is Adonai, the God of Elijah?” As he too struck the water, it part- ed to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over. When the students of the prophets at Jericho saw him from a distance, they yelled out, “The spirit of Elijah has settled on Elisha!”

This text is taken from (circle one): The Bible Our liturgy (a prayer) Midrash

1. Who is Elisha?

2. What is happening that all of Elijah and Elisha’s students know about?

3. What does Elijah keep saying to Elisha?

4. What is Elisha’s response each time?

5. What does Elisha ask from Elijah?

6. Does Elisha get what he asked for?

7. Does Elijah die in this text? Explain your answer.

8. Based on your answers above, what do you think this text teaches us about Elijah?

Elijah Text Worksheet 4

The text we have is: Malachi 3:23–24 I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of God [messianic era*]. He will turn the hearts of the parents to the children and the hearts of the children to the parents.

This text is taken from (circle one): The Bible Our liturgy (a prayer) Midrash

1. When will God send Elijah?

2. What does it mean that Elijah will “turn the hearts of the parents to the children”?

3. What does it mean that Elijah will “turn the hearts of the children to the parents”?

4. Why do you think it is important to God that the hearts of parents and children turn toward each other?

5. Why is this important to bring on the messianic era?

6. Based on your answers above, what do you think this text teaches us about Elijah?

*The messianic era is when there will be peace on earth. People will respect one another; they will take care of people, animals, and the earth; and everyone will get along.

Elijah Text Worksheet 5

The text we have is: from the ritual of circumcision/B’rit Milah This chair is devoted to Elijah the Prophet, may he be remembered for the good he did. I wait for the messianic era,* Adonai. I have fulfilled the commandments. Elijah, messenger of the covenant (b’rit), you are with me and help me.

This text is taken from (circle one): The Bible Our liturgy (a prayer) Midrash

1. What object is devoted to Elijah at a b’rit milah?

2. What commandment is the person saying the prayer doing?

3. Why might Elijah be there to help the person?

4. Based on your answers above, what do you think this text teaches us about Elijah?

*The messianic era is when there will be peace on earth. People will respect one another; they will take care of people, animals, and the earth; and everyone will get along.

Elijah Text Worksheet 6

The text we have is: from the end of the Havdalah* service We give thanks for the Sabbath day that is ending. We are grateful for its many blessings: for peace and joy, rest for the body, and refreshment for the soul. May this feeling remain with us as we enter the new week, reminding us to live a life of holiness, inspiring us to work for the coming of the day when Elijah’s spirit will remove all sadness and all slavery. (Gates of Prayer, p. 634) Elijah the prophet. Come bring the messianic era** quickly, while we are alive. With [King] David’s son, the messiah. This text is taken from (circle one): The Bible Our liturgy (a prayer) Midrash

1. What are some special feelings we should have at the end of Shabbat?

2. How are we supposed to try and live our lives?

3. What will Elijah remove from our world?

4. What does this prayer ask Elijah to bring?

5. What is important about the messianic era for our lives?

6. Based on your answers above, what do you think this text teaches us about Elijah?

*Havdalah—the service that separates Shabbat from the rest of the week. **The messianic era is when there will be peace on earth. People will respect one another; they will take care of people, animals, and the earth; and everyone will get along.

Elijah Text Worksheet 7

The text we have is: from the Passover Haggadah* The Fifth Cup of the evening belongs to Elijah. The first four cups represent four things God did for us: lightened our burdens, removed our burdens, took us out of Egypt, and made us God’s special people. But the Bible says there is a fifth event: living in the land of our ancestors. Today we can live in the modern State of Israel. The Cup of Elijah is the Cup of Redemption in anticipation of the redemption that will bring enduring peace, the messianic times. The question of the Fifth Cup. There is a debate about how many promises are found in Exodus 6:6–8, which is the text used to decide if there are four or five cups of wine during the seder. Since the Rabbis could not resolve this problem to their satisfaction, they decided on a compromise: we pour the fifth cup but we do not drink it. We leave it for Elijah. So, in addition to bringing advance word of the messianic times, Elijah will also bring the answers to questions that we have not been able to answer for ages. This text is taken from (circle one): The Bible Our liturgy (a prayer) Midrash 1. How many cups of wine do we drink at the seder?

2. How many cups do we pour for the seder?

3. Why is living in the Land of Israel important to the Jewish people?

4. What are the two things Elijah will do when he returns? Why is it so important that he does each of these things?

5. Based on your answers above, what do you think this text teaches us about Elijah?

*Rachel Anne Rabbinowicz, ed., Passover Haggadah: The Feast of Freedom (New York: United Synagogue Book Service, 1982), pp. 103–4.

Elijah Text Worksheet 8

The text we have is: from the Yalkut* on Ruth There was a couple who were very devoted to their Judaism. At one point in their lives they lost all of their money and the husband went to work for a farmer. One day, as he was plowing in the field, Elijah disguised himself as an Arab, met the man in the field and said to the man, “You have six good years coming to you— when do you want them, now or at the end of your life?” The man replied, “You must be a sorcerer. I have nothing to give you. Leave me alone.” But Elijah returned three times with the same question. Finally, on the third time, the man replied, “I will go and ask my wife.” The man went to his wife and said, “Someone came to me and bothered me three times, saying to me, ‘You have six good years— when do you want them, now or at the end of your life?’ What should I say?” She replied, “Go, tell him, ‘Bring them now.’” So the man went back and said to Elijah, “Bring them now.” Elijah replied, “Go to your house, and before you reach the gate of your courtyard you will find your blessing.” At that time his children were playing in the dirt and found enough money to sustain them for six years. When his wife told him of their good fortune he immediately thanked God. What did his wife do? She told him, “God has shown us mercy and has given us enough to last for six years, so we need to do deeds of loving-kindness during these years, maybe God will continue to give us what we need after these six years.” And that is what she did, each and every day they gave to the poor. At the end of the six years Elijah returned to the man and said, “The time has come to take away what I gave you.” The man replied, “When I took the money, I took it on the advice of my wife. Now that I need to return it I also want to ask the advice of my wife.” He went back to his wife and said, “The old man has come back to take away the money.” His wife replied, “Go say to him, ‘If you find other people who would do better deeds with the money then you may take it back.’” When God considered their words and their actions, God continued to give them good fortune.

*Yalkut/Yalkut Shimoni—The best known and most comprehensive midrashic anthology covering the entire Bible. (For a more extensive description see the Encyclopedia Judaica.) This excerpt is based on Hayim Nahman Bialik and Yehoshua Hana Ravnitzky, eds., The Book of Legends/Sefer Ha-Aggadah, trans. William G. Braude (New York: Schocken Books, 1992), p. 678.

This text is taken from (circle one): The Bible Our liturgy (a prayer) Midrash

1. Why do you think the man told Elijah to leave him alone two times before he really paid attention to him?

2. Why do you think the man’s wife told him to take the money right away?

3. What did the man and woman do with the money while they had good fortune?

4. Why do you think God continued to provide for them after the six years?

5. Why do you think Elijah chose this couple?

6. What would you do if something like this happened to you?

7. Based on your answers above, what do you think this text teaches us about Elijah?

Elijah Text Worksheet 9

The text we have is: from Pesikta de-Rav Kahana* Eleazar ben Simeon was a porter.** One time Elijah the Prophet came to him, disguised as an old man, and said to him, “Get an animal ready for me.” Eleazar asked, “And what do you have to load on the animal?” Elijah replied, “This bag- gage, my cloak, and myself as a rider.” Eleazar said to the people standing around, “Look at this old man—I could load him on my back and carry him to the end of the world, yet he says to me, ‘Get an animal ready for me!’” So he asked Elijah, “Do you insist on riding?” Elijah replied, “Yes.” Then he put Elijah on his back and took him up mountainsides, down into valleys, and across fields of thorns. But Elijah began to make himself heavy on Eleazar’s back. Finally Eleazar said, “Old man, old man, ride more lightly. If not, I will throw you off.” Then he asked Elijah, “Would you like to rest a bit?” Elijah answered, “Yes.” What did Eleazar do next? He took Elijah to a field, set him down under a tree, and gave him something to eat and drink. After Elijah ate and drank, he asked Eleazar, “What will all this heavy labor get you? Wouldn’t it be better to study like your ancestors?” Eleazar asked, “Will you be my teacher?” Elijah replied, “Yes.” Then Elijah taught Eleazar for thirteen years. He became so learned in Torah that he was then called Rabbi Eleazar ben Simeon. So much of his strength went into study that by the end of the thirteen years Eleazar could not even pick up his own cloak.

*Pesikta de-Rav Kahana—A compilation of midrashic sermons on the Torah portions and Haftarah portions for Sukkot, Passover, Shavuot, and special Shabbats. This excerpt is based on Bialik and Ravnitzky, p. 253. **Porter—a person who moves and carries items for other people.

This text is taken from (circle one): The Bible Our liturgy (a prayer) Midrash

1. What did Elijah ask Rabbi Eleazar ben Simeon at the begin- ning of the story?

2. Why do you think Eleazar chose to carry Elijah himself rather than get an animal to take him?

3. Why do you think Elijah chose to make himself heavy on Eleazar?

4. Why do you think that Elijah chose to teach Eleazar for thirteen years?

5. What do you think it means that Eleazar could not even pick up his own cloak at the end of thirteen years of study?

6. Based on your answers above, what do you think this text teaches us about Elijah?

Elijah Text Worksheet 10

The text we have is: from the Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 113a–b* During a lecture, Rabbi Yose said Elijah the Prophet was a hot-tempered man. So Elijah, who used to visit him regularly, stayed away for three days and did not come. When he did come again, Rabbi Yose asked him, “Why have you stayed away, Elijah?” Elijah replied, “Because you called me hot-tempered.” Rabbi Yose responded, “But Elijah, even in this you have shown your temper.”

This text is taken from (circle one): The Bible Our liturgy (a prayer) Midrash

1. Why do you think that Elijah stayed away from Rabbi Yose for three days?

2. How did Elijah show his hot temper in this story?

3. What can we learn from this story about ourselves?

4. Based on your answers above, what do you think this text teaches us about Elijah?

*This excerpt is based on Bialik and Ravnitzky, p. 254.

Key Points in Elijah Texts

Worksheet 1: I Kings 17:1–24 • God speaks through Elijah. • What God tells Elijah comes true. • God hears Elijah and heals the boy. Worksheet 2: II Kings 1:1–17 • Elijah stands up to the king. • Elijah predicts what will happen and God does it. Worsheet 3: II Kings 2:1–15 • Elijah has a successor—Elisha. • Elijah has special powers. • Elijah’s spirit passes to Elisha. Worksheet 4: Malachi 3:23–24 • Elijah will come before the messianic times. • Elijah will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents. Worksheet 5: From the ritual of circumcision/B’rit Milah • There is a special chair for Elijah at a b’rit milah. • Elijah is the messenger of the b’rit. Worksheet 6: From the end of the Havdalah service • Elijah’s spirit will bring redemption from all sadness and slavery. • Elijah will announce the messianic times. Worksheet 7: From the Passover Haggadah • Elijah = redemption • The fifth cup of wine at the seder is reserved for Elijah. • Elijah declares the coming of the messiah. • Elijah will bring us answers to questions we have had no answer to for many years. Worksheet 8: From the Yalkut on Ruth • Elijah disguises himself as another person. • Elijah speaks with and for God. Worksheet 9: From Pesikta de-Rav Kahana • Elijah disguises himself as another person. • Elijah is a teacher. Worksheet 10: From the Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 113a–b • Elijah is hot-tempered.

Answers to Elijah Text Worksheets

Worksheet 1: I Kings 17:1–24 From the Bible 1. Wadi Cherith and Zarephath 2. Answers will vary. Elijah is asking the widow to trust Adonai. 3. The ravens bring food to Elijah; the flour and oil do not run out; life returns to the body of the boy. 4. Answers will vary. 5. Answers will vary.

Worksheet 2: II Kings 1:1–17 From the Bible 1. Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron 2. “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and burn you and your fifty men.” That’s what happens. 3. Because you sent messengers to another God as if you could not trust in Adonai, you will die from your injuries. 4. He dies from his injuries. 5. Answers will vary.

Worksheet 3: II Kings 2:1–15 From the Bible 1. Elijah’s student and assistant 2. Elijah is about to die. 3. “Stay here.” 4. “As Adonai lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” 5. He asks for two-thirds of Elijah’s spirit. 6. Yes 7. Answers may vary. Elijah is taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot, but the text does not actually say he dies. 8. Answers will vary.

Worksheet 4: Malachi 3:23–24 From the Bible 1. Before the coming of the messianic era 2. Answers will vary. 3. Answers will vary. 4. Answers will vary. 5. Answers will vary. There will be peace when families are at peace. 6. Answers will vary.

Worksheet 5: From the ritual of circumcision/B’rit Milah From our liturgy 1. A chair 2. The ritual of circumcision—bringing a Jewish male infant into the b’rit. 3. Answers will vary. 4. Answers will vary.

Worksheet 6: From the end of the Havdalah service From our liturgy 1. Answers will vary. The text asks us to give thanks for peace, joy, and rest. 2. In a holy way 3. Sadness and slavery 4. The messianic era 5. Answers will vary. 6. Answers will vary. Worksheet 7: From the Passover Haggadah From our liturgy 1. Four 2. Five 3. Answers will vary. 4. Bring advance word of the messianic times and bring answers to questions that we have not been able to answer for ages. Answers will vary. 5. Answers will vary. Worksheet 8: From the Yalkut on Ruth From midrash 1. The man thought Elijah was a sorcerer asking for money. 2. Answers will vary. 3. They gave to the poor every day. 4. Because they were good and righteous people who took care of the poor in addition to taking care of their own family. 5. Answers will vary. Because they were devoted to their Judaism, he believed they would do good with the money they were given. 6. Answers will vary. 7. Answers will vary. Worksheet 9: From Pesikta de-Rav Kahana From midrash 1. To get an animal ready to carry him 2. Answers will vary. Eleazar ben Simeon believed he could carry Elijah himself and didn’t need to bur- den an animal or spend money on the animal’s food and care. 3. To test him 4. Answers will vary. 5. Answers will vary. 6. Answers will vary. Worksheet 10: From the Babylonian Talmud, Sanhedrin 113a–b From midrash1 1. He was hot-tempered and his feelings were hurt. 2. By staying away from Rabbi Yose. 3. Answers will vary. 4. Answers will vary.

1While the source of this text is not from what is termed the Midrash, it is a midrash. For more on this distinction, see CHAI Level 4 Curriculum Core, p. 12.