Can any Jewish people explain this circumcision chair ritual in more detail?

Two excellent answers right above me. I will just take this opportunity to add one thing about Elijah. Elijah makes occasional appearances in the Talmud as well. One of my favorite ones goes a long way towards explaining the Jewish view of our relationship to G-d. So, the story goes that the rabbis were having a discussion as to the ritual cleanliness of an oven (too long to go into what that's about here). One rabbi (Rabbi Joshua, if I remember right) said it was clean, and the rest of the rabbis said unclean (unless the positions were reversed--I'd have to look it up to be sure). Anyway, Rabbi Joshua said "If I'm right, let the river prove it" and the nearby river flowed backwards. The other rabbis said, "We don't put any merit in this." Rabbi Joshua said, "If I'm right, let the carob tree prove it" and a carob tree was uprooted and thrown three hundred miles. "We don't put any merit in this either" said the other rabbis. Finally Rabbi Joshua said, "If I'm right let a Heavenly Voice prove it" and immediately a voice from Heaven was heard to say, "Why do you all contend with Rabbi Joshua seeing that in matters of ritual cleanliness he is always right?". The other rabbis immediately answered (and I'm paraphrasing this next sentence a bit), "G-d, you stay out of this. You gave the Torah to us and it's up to *us* to figure out what it says."

Well, one day shortly thereafter one of the rabbis was walking along and he ran into Elijah. "And what did the Holy One do when we gave our response?" asked the rabbi. Elijah replied, "G-d clapped G-d's hands and said, 'My children have defeated me, My children have defeated me.'"

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It is not idolatry, as the chair is not being worshipped.

People do not have a special chair for Eliyahu; rather, some synagogues have it. Some do not; whenever there is a circumcision, they pull out any old chair, cover it with a white cloth, and designate it as the chair of Eliyahu hanavi (the prophet).

No. Not idolatry. Nobody's worshiping the chair.

The chair's not even required, it's just a custom. In our community, there's one big fancy chair that a lot of people like to borrow for the ceremony, but most don't use it.

LOL (respectfully) at the "more traditions like this" question!

Yeah, we're full of them. Judaism has been around for a long time, and around the block a few times, so we've picked up many, many traditions. The traditions are half the fun!

One of the important things to sift out, when you're a Jew, is which things are actually required by Jewish law, which things are customs that have become required as though they are law, and which customs and traditions are "extra credit" but not necessary.

The Eliyahu chair at the circumcision is in the latter category.

Eliyahu is also supposed to come back in Messianic times, to answer the burning question of whether we should be having four or five cups of wine at the Passover seder. That's why we pour an extra cup (to show that we're willing to have 5 instead of 4) and open the door "for Eliyahu" at the seder.

He isn't supposed to come through the door and drink the wine. He's supposed to come and tell us whether we should drink it.

Another thing he's supposed to do: There are some arguments in the Talmud that were not decided. It was determined that no definitive decision could be made. For these, there is this little word "TEKU" meaning to let it stand until Eliyahu clears it up.

So, if you hear a harried mother taking a toy from a pair of disputing siblings, and putting it on top of the refrigerator saying "TEKU", you'll know what she means! (That would be me.)

Why would it be idolatry? The concept of using special items for ceremonial purposes has always been around. The concept isn't the worship of the chair; it's the idea of giving Elijah a seat if he wants to show up. Seemingly, he doesn't show up very often.

It's a ceremonial thing; and Elijah is viewed as a prophet, nothing more. Thus, no idolatry.

The chair isn't really owned by everyone; I've never even heard of it. In honesty, it sounds like a custom, rather than a law. So, no, not every family has one. Probably owned by the moil.

As for more odd traditions...Yes, we have a lot of them. Judaism is an old religion, and you end up with truly odd customs developing.

If you where asking about Circumcision itself, that was a commandment given to Abraham and all his descendants as an eternal covenant with God. It was part of the "Chosen People" deal.

He that hath my commandments, and KEEPETH THEM, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be LOVED OF MY FATHER, and I WILL LOVE HIM, and will manifest myself to him [John 14:21]

Paul's writing make it very clear that you don’t have to follow commandments but believe Jesus (p.b.u.h) died for you sins to get salvation while Jesus(p.b.u.h) said BUT IF THOU WILT ENTER INTO LIFE, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS." The Christians today follow what Paul said and keep what Jesus (P.B.U.H) said to the side.

Old Testament makes circumcision to be an EVERLASTING COVENANT: "He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money (your slaves), must needs be CIRCUMCISED: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an EVERLASTING COVENANT." [Genesis 17:13

"And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be CUT OFF (be killed) from his people; he hath broken my covenant." [Genesis 17:14]

Jesus (pbuh) was circumcised on the eighth day, to fulfill the law: And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. [Luke 2:21]

Paul even abandoned circumcision

For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?" [Romans 2:25-26]

My Question to Christians is Why didn’t God think of that for 2000 plus years and changed his mind all of the sudden? According to OT Paul have committed cardinal sin he even denied to circumcise Titus .

Paul Breaks An "EVERLASTING COVENANT" Yet Majority Christians today don’t care.

It is no more idolatry than the Christians' cross.