It turns out, according to Jewish legend, it's all about how you treat your workers.
We know Elijah as a zealous figure, a defender of God's honor. But the Legends of the Jews, as retold by Ginzberg, gives us a glimpse into his more…particular standards. It seems Elijah wasn't just concerned with grand acts of faith. He was paying close attention to the little things, the everyday kindnesses (or lack thereof) that people showed each other.
Take the story of the two pious brothers. Both were, ostensibly, good, observant Jews. But Elijah only deigned to visit one of them. Why? Because this brother treated his servants as equals, sharing his own table with them. The other brother? Well, he let his servants eat their fill of the first course, but after that, they were stuck with the leftovers. Ouch. Elijah wanted nothing to do with him. That’s a pretty clear message, isn't it?
Then there's the second pair of brothers. Again, both pious. But one always made sure his servants were taken care of after he'd seen to his own needs. The other, though? He put his servants first. He made sure they had what they needed before thinking about himself. And guess which brother got the Elijah seal of approval?
It's a powerful reminder that piety isn't just about prayers and rituals. It's about how we treat the people around us, especially those who are in our service. It seems Elijah valued radical empathy, the kind that puts others' needs before your own.
What do these stories tell us? Perhaps that true devotion isn't just about what you do in the synagogue, but how you live your life every single day. It's a challenge, isn’t it? To live up to Elijah's standards, to be the kind of person he'd want to visit. But maybe, just maybe, that's the whole point. To strive for a level of kindness and compassion that truly reflects the divine image within us all.