ארבעה בנים

The Four Sons

-         Shani Sabari               

 

 

The story of the Exodus was told and re-told from generation to generation. It was especially a delight to children. But children are not all alike; in fact children are divided into four groups.  The Passover Haggadah explains this concept through four types of sons, one who is wise, one who is wicked, one who is simple and one who does not know how to ask. The wise son asks “What is the meaning of the laws, regulations and decrees which the L-rd our G-d has commanded you?”  To him you must explain the laws in great detail. The wicked son asks, “What does this service mean to you?”  By his tone of voice it is evident that the service has no significance for him, and so he has excluded himself from the people and denied G-d.  So you shall say to him “This is because of what the L-rd did for me when I left Egypt”. The simple son asks, “What does this mean?” Tell him “With a mighty hand the L-rd rescued us from slavery in Egypt”. As for the one who does not know how to ask, say that “I do this because of what the L-rd did for me when I came out of Egypt”. (Passover Haggadah, Rabbi Morris Silverman)

The Midrash that I am going to speak about relates “The four Sons” to education. The message of the Midrash is important to parents. When a child asks a question, the parent must not only understand the question but also look at the person behind it. In order for a parent to answer a question properly, they must understand the motivation of it. The answer a parent gives to the child must be correct and appropriate for that specific individual. Therefore the message that is expressed by the Midrash of the “Four Sons” is that every parent is responsible to explain and teach traditions so that it will be continued to be passed down from generation to generation. (Menachem Leibtag).

In my opinion, based on the knowledge that I have learned, the four sons represent the four types of modern Jews. The son who “does not know enough to ask” represents he who is so far removed from Jewish life that he is unaware of Jewish problems. The son who is simple and unconcerned represents he whose desires and needs are small. He lives a simple life and is neither proactive nor reactive. The son who is evil represents he who seeks to break his lineage and take away his identity. He claims that we bring on our troubles. And finally, the son who is wise represents he who has great pride in his people and their accomplishments. He is the Jew who will teach his children the spirit of Judaism and our history. We should all aim to be like this Jew, like the wise son. (Chavurat No’ar).

 

Passover Haggadah, Rabbi Morris Silverman

 Chavurat No’ar.

Menachem Leibtag,   http://www.tanach.org/special/pesach/pesachs5.htm .