There's an old legend the...
Illustration
There's an old legend the rabbis used to tell about the prophet Elijah. (Elijah, of course, did not die as other people did, but ascended to heaven in a whirlwind; he still walks the earth from time to time, and is always turning up in unexpected places.)
One day, Elijah is walking through a town when he hears the sounds of a party coming from a large and beautiful house. The prophet twirls himself around, and instantly he's clothed in the rags of a beggar. He knocks on the door.
The host, in his elegant garments, takes one look at the so-called beggar on his doorstep, clad in his miserable rags and slams the door in his face.
Elijah twirls around a second time. Instantly, he's clothed in the fine garments of a gentleman. He knocks on the door again, and this time the host takes one look at his splendid attire, and says, "Come right in!"
Elijah makes a beeline for the buffet table. He begins to stuff food into his pockets.
The other guests all step back, amazed at this rare sight. Then Elijah pushes even more food into his tunic, and pours wine over his shoulders and down the front of his fine suit of clothes.
It's not long at all before the host runs over to him, and demands to know what's going on.
"I came to your door dressed in rags," explains Elijah, "and you did not invite me in. Then I came to your door dressed in fine garments -- the very same person -- and you welcomed me to your feast. I can only conclude that it was not me you invited, but my clothing. That is why I feed my clothing with your food and drink."
The story concludes with the party guests feeling ashamed and looking down at the ground. When they look up again, Elijah is gone.
One day, Elijah is walking through a town when he hears the sounds of a party coming from a large and beautiful house. The prophet twirls himself around, and instantly he's clothed in the rags of a beggar. He knocks on the door.
The host, in his elegant garments, takes one look at the so-called beggar on his doorstep, clad in his miserable rags and slams the door in his face.
Elijah twirls around a second time. Instantly, he's clothed in the fine garments of a gentleman. He knocks on the door again, and this time the host takes one look at his splendid attire, and says, "Come right in!"
Elijah makes a beeline for the buffet table. He begins to stuff food into his pockets.
The other guests all step back, amazed at this rare sight. Then Elijah pushes even more food into his tunic, and pours wine over his shoulders and down the front of his fine suit of clothes.
It's not long at all before the host runs over to him, and demands to know what's going on.
"I came to your door dressed in rags," explains Elijah, "and you did not invite me in. Then I came to your door dressed in fine garments -- the very same person -- and you welcomed me to your feast. I can only conclude that it was not me you invited, but my clothing. That is why I feed my clothing with your food and drink."
The story concludes with the party guests feeling ashamed and looking down at the ground. When they look up again, Elijah is gone.
