The Four Children
כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבָּעָה בָנִים דִּבְּרָה תּוֹרָה. אֶחָד חָכָם, וְאֶחָד רָשָׁע, וְאֶחָד תָּם, וְאֶחָד שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאוֹל.
חָכָם מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מַה הָעֵדוֹת וְהַחֻקִּים וְהַמִשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶתְכֶם? וְאַף אַתָּה אֱמָר לוֹ כְּהִלְכוֹת הַפֶּסַח: אֵין מַפְטִירִין אַחַר הַפֶּסַח אֲפִיקוֹמָן.
רָשָׁע מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מָה הָעֲבֹדָה הַזֹּאת לָכֶם? לָכֶם - וְלֹא לוֹ. וּלְפִי שֶׁהוֹצִיא אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִן הַכְּלָל כָּפַר בְּעִקָּר. וְאַף אַתָּה הַקְהֵה אֶת שִנָּיו וֶאֱמֹר לוֹ: בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂה יְיָ לִי בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם. לִי - וְלֹא לוֹ. אִילּוּ הָיָה שָׁם, לֹא הָיָה נִגְאָל.
תָּם מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מַה זֹּאת? וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו: בְּחֹזֶק יָד הוֹצִיאָנוּ יְיָ מִמִּצְרָיִם, מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים.
וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאוֹל - אַתְּ פְּתַח לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ בַּיוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר, בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂה יְיָ לִי בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם.
The Torah speaks of four children: One is wise, one is wicked/rebellious, one is simple and one does not know how to ask.
The wise one, what does he say? "What are the testimonies, the statutes and the laws which the Lord, our God, has commanded you?" You, in turn, shall instruct him in the laws of Passover, [up to] `one is not to eat any dessert after the Passover-lamb.'
The wicked/rebellious one, what does he say? "What is this service to you?!" He says `to you,' but not to him! By thus excluding himself from the community he has denied that which is fundamental. You, therefore, blunt his teeth and say to him: "It is because of this that the Lord did for me when I left Egypt"; `for me' - but not for him! If he had been there, he would not have been redeemed!"
The simpleton, what does he say? "What is this?" Thus you shall say to him: "With a strong hand the Lord took us out of Egypt, from the house of slaves."
As for the one who does not know how to ask, you must initiate him, as it is said: "You shall tell your child on that day, `It is because of this that the Lord did for me when I left Egypt.'
Possible questions to answer:
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What makes someone wicked or wise?
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How would you respond to each of the four children? Who would you find most challenging to engage with?
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When are labels helpful or hurtful?
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How would you create a version of the Haggadah for Four Daughters?
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If you were to categorize parents into four categories, what would they be?
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Where do you see the four children reflected in yourself? Your family? Your community?
I don't know if there are any people that actually fit into one of the categories of the four children. I think that a main and important part of it is that all of us have some of the four children within each our personalities and the ways we act. -Talia, Los Angeles
I think the difference between wicked and wise is what you chose to do with the knowledge you have.
-Alex, Los Angeles
I think to be wise is to acknowledge one's faults/mistakes and constantly want to learn more and improve. -Samantha, Los Angeles
El estricto le exigiría a su hijo preguntar y sin embargo ninguna pregunta lo satisfacerá. El ausente ante la pregunta no estria para poder responderle a su hijo. El desinteresado simplemente respondería de forma baga o fácil. Por último, el atento ante las pregunta de su hijo, responderá de la mejor manera que pudiera eninsitaria al hijo a seguir preguntando.
En nuestra hagadá podríamos cuatro padres con estas cuatro clasificaciones: El primero, extremadamente estricto, el segundo ausente, el tercero desinteresado y el cuarto atento. -Eial y Ari
What makes someone wicked or wise?
I believe this question is subjective. What is a wicked or wise action? Who can decipher between a wrong or right motive? If we can not answer these questions I believe that there is no such thing as someone who is either wicked or wise. It is the intent of the individual and how they present themselves.
-Anonymous, Los Angeles
Para nosotros las etiquetas pueden ser negativas o positivas, por un lado, te crean un prejuicio sobre alguien sin antes conocerlo y solo lo vez como una etiqueta, esto hace que no tengas la oportunidad de conocer a alguien y perderte conocerlo. Por otro lado, las etiquetas pueden ser positivas, ya que si uno mismo se pone su propia etiqueta y se identifica, se puede sentir feliz de tener esa etiqueta o puede hacer que gente con mismos intereses pueda acercarse a él y hacerse un nuevo amigo.
-Benjamín y Federico, Montevideo
What makes someone wise?
The ability to listen before you speak. -Anonymous
I believe that people are not just one trait. I believe that we are complicated and have many layers, which is what allows us to all be unique. I believe that a person isn't wicked, rather there are time which they act wickedly. I believe experience is what can make a person wise. When someone has had experience which not many have had, and learned things that others have not, it leads to them having wisdom.
-Sabrina, Los Angeles
I think that a label can be helpful in order to get a shallow understanding of someone and learn a little about them. On the other hand, defining a person with one word or phrase doesn't allow you to understand other aspects of their personality or life. I think that it is better to not label a person as they have many different aspects to their lives and they also can change over time.
-Ethan, Los Angeles
What makes someone wise?
As the Torah says wisdom begins with the fear of God. The knowledge that God judges us and punishes us for wrongful actions discourages us from doing wrong. The absence of this knowledge results in wickedness. -Noah, Los Angeles
Las etiquetas pueden tener diferentes efectos dependiendo de la intención detrás de ellas y el contexto en el que se utilicen. Ya sea que una etiqueta esté destinada como crítica constructiva, un cumplido, o con intención negativa, puede empoderar o dañar a las personas. Es importante ser consciente de cómo se usan las etiquetas para asegurar que promuevan la comprensión y el respeto en lugar del daño. -Alina, Florencia y Matías, Montevideo
Somebody wicked has bad intentions while somebody wise is intelligent and calm.
-Anonymous, Melbourne
Deivid K, Vilnius, Lithuania
What are the adults worried about with wicked or rebellious child?
He will reject what is most precious to them. The child will be cut off from them.
-Rabbi B-K, Los Angeles
I think that they are worried of abandonment of the Jewish religion and therefore act so strongly to make sure that it doesn't happen. -Anonymous, Los Angeles
I believe that the adults are worried that the wicked/rebellious child will stray from Jewish tradition and try to convince others to do so as well. Judaism teaches us how to conduct our lives as moral, compassionate people. Rebelling against the religion could be seen as rebelling against doing mitzvot. -Anonymous, Los Angeles
I think the adults are worried that the wicked child will negatively influence the rest of the children (especially the simple one and the one who doesn't know how to ask) away from Judaism. When the wicked child creates a separation between themself and the Jewish people, it's sowing division, which needs to be stamped out. -Benny, Los Angeles
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