An adaptation of a story by I. L. Peretz about a Passover visit from Elijah moves the tale’s original time and place. Muriel and her family have been hit hard by the Depression and can’t afford to have a Seder. All they can do is leave the door open for Elijah, though they can’t afford to fill a wine glass for him. When Muriel is walking home just before sundown, she sees a poor beggar performing magic tricks who suddenly transforms into a well-dressed man. As soon as she gets home, there’s a knock on the door: It’s that same man, asking if he can join them for dinner. Now the table that was once bare is filled with food, and Elijah’s once-empty glass is filled with wine. Muriel’s parents send her to fetch the rabbi to witness the miracle, and many members of the Jewish community follow him to Muriel’s home, where there is enough food for everyone. But the stranger is now gone, and Muriel notices that Elijah’s glass has been emptied. The detailed illustrations recreate a Washington, D. C., complete with cherry blossoms, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Washington Monument; together with the narrative, they convey a strong sense of a close-knit 1930s Jewish community. (Ages 5-9)