English

Noun

Elijah seat ‎(plural not attested)

1. (Judaism) In Jewish ceremonies, an unoccupied seat reserved for the prophet Elijah.
   • 1987, Salzberg, Joel, Critical Essays on Bernard Malamud, G. K. Hall, ISBN 9780816188819, page 219:

     But Cohn can and does extend "recognition," suspecting from the beginning a significant core of feeling in the immense isolato, seeing hints of a "true gentleman" and even going so far as to offer him the Elijah seat at the Seder.

   • 2003 September 7, Glassford, Bonnie, Living the Sacred Story: A Journey Into the Landscape of the Bible, iUniverse, ISBN 9780595283200, OL 7553104M, page 196:

     Because of my schedule of chores, the seder was half-over when I arrived and there was a choice of two seats: one right beside the rabbi, or else Elijah's seat, a chair that sits empty in case the prophet Elijah turns up with the Messiah in tow, on his donkey. I sat beside Michael as I am not Elijah, and I have absolutely no messianic pretensions or connections, and thus the Elijah seat implied responsibilities that I did not care to take on.

   • 2004, Koén-Sarano, Matilda, King Solomon and the Golden Fish: Tales from the Sephardic Tradition, Wayne State University Press, page 193:

     The Elijah seat on which the sandák sits and the performance of the brit at the synagogue as a religious ritual are elements that help affirm the link to Judaism.

Synonyms

• Elijah chair
• Elijah's seat