The Talmud seeks to determine if the Sabbath limits on travel (techumin) extend up in the air, or are only relevant near the ground. As a potential proof for this, the Gemara brings an episode where seven teachings that were said on a Shabbat morning before Rav Ḥisda in Sura were repeated toward the end of that same Shabbat before Rava in Pumbedita, despite the fact that the distance between them is too great for someone to have traversed it on Shabbat. The Gemara suggests that Elijah the prophet brought these teachings by flying through the air. Recall that Elijah did not die, but rose into heaven on a fiery chariot, II King 2. Elijah shows up in a number of episodes in the Talmud, and is assumed to be able to travel supernaturally. However, the ultimate return of Elijah will herald the coming of the Messiah.
Today the Talmud mentions about that coming: It has already been promised to the Jewish people that Elijah will not come either on the eve of Shabbat or on the eve of a Festival, due to the trouble (the people will go out to greet him and not be able to complete all their preparations for the sacred day). At first glance this sounds bizarre. Elijah will be coming to inform all humanity of a new age of goodness and salvation. But peeling the potatoes is more important?
One answer we can suggest is that when people are so busy in their day to day struggles, they don’t have the headspace to realize that something big is going on. Rather than have people struggling to comprehend redemption and salvation while they have their bread burning in the oven, Elijah would prefer to get our undivided attention another day. This same logic is even more needed today. We are constantly bombarded with notifications, messages, reminders, news and fake news. When we need to take action on something important and make a real decision, it becomes a chore to filter out all the background noise. Elijah reminds us to focus on what is truly important.
Another factor at play is that some men are so wrapped up in their situation that they wouldn’t even want to be saved. They may not be doing great, but they are used to life as it is. Men can get used to pretty much anything, even some seriously nasty relationships. It is a familiar, comfortable misery that so many men today inhabit. Telling a man you have an important message that will change his life may not even be appealing to him. You can’t save men who don’t want to be saved.
Red Pill Rabbi 