02 Apr OPENING THE DOOR

This article is dedicated as an aliyas neshamah for my dear mother, Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avrohom HaLevi a”h, who was born on the first Seder night.

As my zeide was readying himself for the Seder, my grandmother, Mama, had news to share. The baby was on its way. It was time to summon the midwife. Zeide sent someone to get her, and proceeded with the Seder, saying the Haggadah with an extra prayer in his heart. Just when it was it was time to open the door for Eliyahu HaNavi, a cry was heard. “Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov!” the midwife called out. “Rabbi Jungreis, you have anew baby girl. ”That baby girl was my mother. Years later, my mother wrote, “I do not know whether I was really born at the specific moment that the door was opened for Eliyahu HaNavi, but it sufficed for me to hear it that way, and my father never grew tired of telling and retelling the tale. Even on those dark nights when we were trapped within the walls of the ghetto or in Bergen-Belsen, when our table was bare and where the salt water was made with our own tears —even then, my revered father related the story of my birth and made me feel special. ”We all have treasured Seder memories. Recollections that, like indelible ink, leave a permanent mark upon us, creating memories never to be forgotten. For me, opening the door for Eliyahu HaNavi is one such memory. As a little girl, I remember peering over the Kos shel Eliyahu that graced our Seder table. I was so sure that the wine was “a little drop lower” after Eliyahu honored us with his presence. (My father, as many other fathers, would give the table a little shake to convince us that Eliyahu had really sipped a bit from the cup).Each year, when it was time to open the door for Eliyahu HaNavi, my mother would tell us children to go together and welcome Eliyahu. She told us that Eliyahu was magically able to be at every Seder table. From New York to Yerushalayim, from Boro Park to Barcelona, from Phoenix to Paris, wherever Jews were, Eliyahu was there. Ima instructed us to greet Eliyahu with honor, and invite him into our home. That it was a time to say a heartfelt prayer. Even now, I can hear my mother’s words, “Sheifelech… Eliyahu HaNavi is in the house. Daven. Daven for the mishpachah, our family. Daven for Am Yisroel. Daven for Eretz Yisroel. ”How sad it is to hear of instances where instead of everyone jumping up and running to open the door for Eliyahu, there are children who say, “It’s not my turn…. I did it last night…. I’m too tired…. Let the little kids do it.” How important it is to teach our children to feel the awesomeness of the moment, and to not lose an opportunity to do a special mitzvah. On the other hand, I know a family where everyone gets up from the table to greet Eliyahu at their front door. Fast forward. I’m now a mommy and a bubby. We become our parents. I find myself echoing my mother’s words to the next generation. “Daven well. Eliyahu HaNavi is in our midst. ”There is a beautiful story told of a Seder by the Belzer Rebbe, Rabbi Yissochor Dov Rokeach, zt”l (1854-1926). The Rebbe asked one of his grandchildren to open the door for Eliyahu. The Rebbe then asked the child if he saw Eliyahu. One of the Rebbe’s chassidim asked if it was really possible to see Eliyahu. To which the Rebbe replied: “There are special great people who merit to see Eliyahu HaNavi, but he, who doesn’t see him, but believes that he is really there, is even greater. ”We are a nation of believers. Year after year, we open the door for Eliyahu, and invite him in. During the course of the Seder we drink four cups of wine. Four cups for the four expressions of redemption with which HaShem saved the Jewish people.“V’ho’tzeisi– I will bring you out fromunder the yoke of the Egyptians. V’hi’tzalti– I will save you from being slaves. V’go’alti – I will redeem you with an outstretched arm. V’Lo’kachti– I will take you to be my people.” (Shemos 6:6-7)There is yet one more term of redemption.“V’hay’veisi – I will bring you into the Land of Eretz Yisroel…. and I will give it to you for a heritage. ”The promise of v’hay’veisi is the promiseof the Fifth Cup, the Kos shel Eliyahu, alluding to when Eliyahu HaNavi will herald the coming of Moshiach. We will then experience the true fulfillment of v’hay’veisi. To go to Eretz Yisroel, a land that will be filled with peace and harmony, a land of shalom. Anachnu ma’aminim bnei ma’aminim. We are believers, children of believers. We don’t give up. Achakeh lo b’chol yomsheh-yavoh. Each and every day we eagerly await the arrival of Moshiach. Every week, as we bid our beloved Shabbos farewell, we sing a beautiful melody, Eliyahu HaNavi, EliyahuHaTishbi…., bim’heirah yo’voh eleinu, im Moshiach ben Dovid. We ask Eliyahu HaNavi to come to us quickly in our day, signaling the imminent arrival of Moshiach.The Haggadah takes us on a long journey.The journey of our people, from slavery to freedom. We are still on that journey, waiting for the final leg of the trip to be fulfilled. V’hay’veisi, to bring us to the Promised Land. We close the Seder with the joyous song, L’Shanah Haba-ah B’Yerushalayim, may we celebrate next year in Yerushalayim. My beloved father zt”l would make a circle with us children, and as late as it was, and as tired as we were, we would sing this tune together. The dream of every Jew. The message of the Fifth Cup. May we merit to witness very soon the realization of the prophecy of Malachi, which we read in the haftarah this past Shabbos: “Hinei anochi sholeiach lochemes Eliyahu Hanovi lifnei bo Yom HaShem hagadol. Behold, I send you the Prophet Eliyahu before the great and awesome Dayof HaShem arrives.” (Malachi 3:23)