Elijah: Prophet, Rebel and Eternal Visitor

Few figures in Jewish tradition are as mysterious, passionate and enduring as the prophet Elijah. He appears suddenly in the Bible, challenges kings, calls down fire from heaven, flees into the wilderness, and ultimately ascends to heaven in a whirlwind. Yet Elijah’s story does not end there. In the Talmud and later Jewish tradition, he returns again and again, visiting sages, resolving unanswered questions, appearing at moments of crisis, and becoming the eternal symbol of hope, redemption and divine presence.

In this engaging class, we will explore Elijah through both the biblical and rabbinic lens: the fiery prophet of the Book of Kings, the lonely spiritual zealot, the miracle worker, the guest at every Passover Seder and brit milah, and the mysterious figure who bridges heaven and earth.

Together we will examine classical texts, stories from the Talmud and Midrash, and the evolving role Elijah plays in Jewish thought and imagination across the centuries.