You have likely heard of the Prophet Elijah who, unseen to us, visits us at our Passover Seders for his cup of wine, and also has a special chair at every bris. According to legend, he never died. He lived long ago, and like other biblical prophets, was always trying to get the Israelite people- particularly the leaders - to follow the commandments. All of the prophets had that in common – they channeled God, bringing messages of compassion and justice. They also warned them of consequences to their behavior. And most of the time, the leaders – the king and the priesthood – and the people didn’t listen to them.
The biblical Elijah was the most passionate of them all, even committing violent acts to get his message across. The bible says the God took him in a fiery chariot – thus he never really died. The Elijah of rabbinic lore is still very passionate, but less ruthless and more compassionate. He wanders the earth, helping the poor and the sick. We are taught that he will one day tell us when the Messiah is coming, which in Jewish tradition means a time of peace. And, Judaism teaches, we have to do our part to bring the messiah, or a messianic time; to create a world with more kindness and justice and peace.
Today we celebrate a new year, and we also have before us liturgy that is meant to awaken us to the gift of life itself, and consider how we are spending our time on earth, and how we might do better, and be better – as individuals and as a community and people. Many of us also contemplate the secrets of life during this time; why do things unfold the way they do? Why did this hard or bad thing happen to me or someone I love? What is that book of life and book of death that is so central in the imagery today?
As I said yesterday, this season we are looking at life through a prism of walking – both physically and metaphorically. How do we walk through the world as Jews, individually and communally? Our tradition is filled with metaphors of walking and the literal walking of our ancestors and teachers.
The story I wish to share with you is about Elijah and a great sage who wanted to learn more about him. The name of the sage was Rabbi Joshua ben Levi. Their first encounter happens as they meet along a path and then walk together on an expedition filled with curious and life-changing events for Rabbi Joshua. This is a story to teach us something about our own paths.
One day, Rabbi Joshua was out walking along a path, and he came across Elijah, walking in the other direction. Although usually unseen by anyone, unless the Prophet wants to be seen and recognized, Rabbi Joshua saw and recognized Elijah and greeted him respectfully. Then he begged the Prophet to take him along on his journey.
“Where I go," Elijah replied, "there must be no human companion. Humans do not see everything, and what they see they do not always understand. Pray, be not curious, let me go."
Elijah's words only strengthened Rabbi Joshua's desire to accompany the Prophet and benefit from his companionship. The sage continued to plead: "I promise that I shall not ask you questions and in no way interfere with your mission. Take me with you, Master." Elijah responded, "Remember, as soon as you will begin asking me questions to explain that which you will not understand, our ways must part."
Towards evening the weary travelers came to an old shaky hut belonging to a poor couple. Both the man and wife were sitting outside. When they saw the two travelers they rose and, in the true fashion of the children of Abraham who taught us about the mitzvah of hospitality, they welcomed the strangers to their humble home. What little food they had in the house, they gladly shared with the guests, and offered them their beds for rest. They themselves made their beds on the straw in the cowshed. Their cow was their only valuable possession, for its milk was their whole source of income.
In the morning the Prophet and sage took leave from the kindly couple, and started along their path. As soon as they were out of sight, the Prophet Elijah prayed that the cow of the poor couple should fall dead. Rabbi Joshua was terribly shocked and upset. "Why should you repay the kindness and hospitality of these people with such ingratitude?!" he wanted to exclaim. But he remembered the Prophet's warning to not question, and kept his silence.
All day long they wandered together and the Prophet shared many teachings of Torah without a word of explanation about his way with the poor couple.
Towards evening they came to a fine mansion and asked permission to spend the night there. The rich man who lived there did not receive them with a friendly face. Grudgingly he permitted them to stay the night in his house, but offered them no food or a kind word. In the morning, as they were about to leave, they noticed a crack in the wall. Elijah did not say a word, but no sooner were they gone when the Prophet prayed that the cracked, dangerous wall be restored to solid strength.
Again Rabbi Joshua was amazed. "Why should the rich miser be spared the trouble and expense of repairing his wall?" he thought, but remembering the Prophet's warning he held his peace.
After a long and tiring day's journey, the two reached a city that had a beautiful House of Prayer. The walls were made of marble, and the benches of carved wood. The scrolls were richly adorned, and the Ark was a masterpiece of art. "Here, certainly, we shall be made welcome and treated with respect," thought Rabbi Joshua. But he was wrong again. After the evening prayers, no one seemed to take an interest in the strangers, and none of the wealthy members offered them a bed and food. The Prophet and the sage had to spend the night on the precious but hard wooden benches. When they left in the morning, the Prophet wished the members of the community that they should all become Aldermen of the city.
Rabbi Joshua tried mightily to keep his silence, what with his empty stomach and aching bones. The Prophet's blessing for the unkind people puzzled him greatly, but he sealed his lips and buried his question deep in his heart.
The companions reached another city. The House of Prayer was not as beautiful as the one they visited the day before, but the people made up for it in kindness and hospitality. They enjoyed a rest in the best house of the town, and were honored like princes. When it was time to go, the Prophet turned to the good people and said: "May The Holy One grant that only one of you be a leader."
This was the last straw. The sage was no longer able to control himself. Forgetting the Prophet's warning, he exclaimed: "Revered Master! Far be it from me to tell you what to do. Yet it seems to me that you add insult to injury; that you reward good with evil, and evil with good. Please explain to me your strange ways."
"I warned you that humans judge by the sight of their eyes, but there is more in life than meets the eye. According to our agreement, you will have to leave me now. But let me explain to you at least what you have witnessed, and your heart will be able to live in peace.
"You see, the poor old couple who received us so nicely on the first night of our journey, certainly deserved our gratitude. I saw to my great sorrow that that very day the woman was destined to die. We gave them an opportunity, to do an act of charity and I prayed that she should live, and that their cow take her place. Although they lost their most precious possession, they will be able to stay together for a few years more. The Creator of Life and Source of Love who gives life will also provide for their support."
"I see now," exclaimed Rabbi Joshua. "But what about that rich miser, and his cracked wall?"
"There was a huge treasure buried beneath the wall. Had it collapsed, the miser would have found it. He certainly did not need it, and would not have used it for good. Better it stay there for someone more compassionate to find it in the future. That's why.
"I could not have known that, of course," said Rabbi Joshua. "Now, why did you bless the men of the beautiful synagogue who did not open their homes to us?"
"That was no blessing, my friend," replied Elijah. "A community where everybody is a leader is not a happy place to live in. This is also the explanation of my wish to the kind and hospitable citizens of the last place we visited. Let them have one respected and able leader who is dedicated to the good of all. There will be peace, harmony and co-operation in that blessed community, and it will prosper."
"You have opened my eyes, dear Master," exclaimed Rabbi Joshua.
"Go and teach our brethren the ways of God, and Torah. Let them not be disheartened when they see the wicked prosper, or the righteous suffer. For while human beings judge by the sight of their eyes, God looks into the heart, and desires that the world be filled with justice and mercy. Shalom! Peace be with you."
The next moment Elijah was gone.
As we walk along the path of life we see things that make no sense whatsoever, and struggle to believe that this is a just universe. Because if this is a just universe then God must have caused, for example, childhood cancer and mass shootings. I do not believe in a God that does that. I believe God is not a separate being up there but in here, within each of us, and flows through all creation. And through our actions we can bring more of the divine light and love into this world.
Bad things happen because of the laws of nature and human choice and action - but that is not always obvious. The world is an incredibly complex web, all life interacting over generations, over billions of years, impacting what follows, and so cause and effect are not easy to see.. So much suffering has been caused by human choices, hate, greed, mistakes. Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav, who suffered greatly in his own life, including losing a child, taught us that if we tried to intellectually understand the workings of the world, to make sense of senseless tragedy, we could go crazy. And so, we are here to do our best to bring more light and love.
I understand being inscribed in the Book of Life in our liturgy as a metaphor. It is about us making choices about how we live in the face of challenges, suffering, illness, loss, fear, worry, and death. It is about walking a path that may lead us to things that are unexpected, and struggling to choose how we might respond, as best as we can. It is about drawing on our friends and community, our faith and traditions for support. And in our responses we may find some comfort and meaning, even when we cannot fully understand.
May we be inscribed for a new year of deeper living, gratitude, meaning and compassion. Blessings for increased sweetness for you and for your families.
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