This year, 22nd -30th April 2024 is the week of Passover/Pesach and Unleavened Bread/Chag Ha Mazot
This is the beginning of the Hebrew spiritual new year of 5784 which is the calendar set in by our Heavenly Father as given through Moses to the children of Israel. Ex. 6 and Lev. 23.
If you are new to the site there are several earlier posts giving details of the spring Appointed Times of the Lord. In Hebrew called The Moedim.
One of the highlights is the Pesach/Passover Seder. This is more than just delicious foods like matzah ball soup, fish and brisket. The main purpose is to retell the story of the Israelites redemption from the slavery of Egypt, this is done through the reading of the Haggadah; Hebrew for The Telling. This booklet gets its name from Exodus 13:8 where the Israelites are exhorted to “tell” their children about God and His works.
Part of the seder included in the Haggadah is asking what is termed:
The Four Questions – Mah Nishtanah מה נשתנה .
Mah nishtanah halaylah hazeh mikol halaylot.
(Pronounced: Mah Nishtanah Ha-lailah ha-zeh mee-kol ha-leilot.)
Mah Nishtanah – are the first two words in a phrase meaning:
‘Why is tonight different from all other nights?’
It is usually asked by the youngest guest at the gathering. This question may have been asked by John at the meal shared with Jesus/Yeshua and the other disciples. Then the seder leader replies by asking what differences they notice, there are variations on the questions; however, the youngest person then replies that there are four ways in which they notice a difference about this night of Pesach/Passover:
First Difference:
She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim chametz o matzah, halaylah hazeh kulo matzah?
On all other nights we eat bread or matzah, while on this night we eat only matzah.
This is because they left Egypt in haste and their dough/bread did not have time to rise, and as they carried it on their backs it became flat and baked hard in the sun.
Second Difference:
She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim she’ar yerakot, halaylah hazeh maror?
On all other nights we eat all kinds of vegetables and herbs, but on this night we have to eat bitter herbs.
This is as a means of recalling the bitterness of bondage and slavery in Egypt.
Third Difference:
She-bechol halaylot ain anu matbilin afilu pa’am echat, halaylah hazeh shtei pe’amim?
On all other nights we don’t dip our vegetables in salt water, but on this night we dip them twice.
The first dipping is into the dish with salt water to remind them of the bitter sadness and salty tears that were shed during their years in bondage to the Egyptians.
The second dipping is in the cheroset, the mixture of sweet fruit and nuts. This reminds them to rejoice in that the sweetness of their freedom came from their miraculous deliverance from slavery by Gods’ intervention.
Fourth Difference:
She-bechol halaylot anu ochlim bain yoshvin u-vain mesubin, halaylah hazeh kulanu mesubin?
On all other nights we eat while sitting upright, but on this night we eat reclining.
The fourth “question” refers to the ancient custom of eating while reclining on one elbow. It symbolizes the concept of freedom and refers to the idea that Jews would be able to have a celebratory meal while relaxing together and enjoying each others’ company. This question became part of The Four Questions after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E. Originally the fourth question, mentioned in the Talmud (Mishnah Pesachim 10:4) was: “On all other nights we eat meat which has been roasted, stewed, or boiled, but on this night we eat only roasted meat.”
This original fourth question referred to the practice of sacrificing the Paschal/Passover lamb at the Temple, a practice that ceased after the Temple’s destruction. Once the sacrificial system was abandoned, the rabbis replaced the fourth question with one about reclining during the Passover seder. They also added the roasted egg as a reminder of the roasted meat they could no longer enjoy as there was no longer a Temple in Jerusalem.
Another interesting part of the traditional readings included in the Haggadah includes the parable of the four sons and/or daughters, who have differing responses to the same story.
The questions are included in the Haggadah as part of the Maggid- מַגִּיד (Hebrew for narrate,) – which is designed to satisfy the needs of four different types of people and their relationship to the Word of God/Torah.
(A maggid, also spelled as magid, is a traditional Jewish religious itinerant preacher, skilled as a narrator of Torah and religious stories; a title most commonly held by preachers who flourished in Poland and Russia during the 17th and 18th centuries.)
The Four sons/daughters are typified from scripture as:
The Wise son, …
“When your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and statutes and judgments (precepts) which the LORD our God has commanded you?”
Deut. 6:20
The Wicked/Rebellious son,
who says:
‘What do you mean by this service?’ Exod. 12:26.
The Simple son /The stupid son,
“saying
‘What is this?’
and
The One Who Doesn’t Know How to Ask.
A little more on each of the 4:
The wise child,
in Hebrew chakham,
is the one who wants to know the technical details; he/she inquires about why the Israelites/Jews practice the customs of Passover/Pesach. The seder leader describes this child as wise because he/she wants to know more about the traditions of their people. The seder is for him/her, a time of education and of historical importance, helping him/her to understand who he/she is and his/her heritage. Deut. 6:20.
The wise son, or daughter, reflects a verse in Deuteronomy, not Exodus. What does this child ask?
“What are the testimonies, statutes, and ordinances that Hashem our God has commanded you?” (Deut 6:20).
In response, says the Haggadah, the father is to instruct the child regarding the laws of Pesach/Passover, down to the final detail which is that: “After the Passover offering, no dessert is to be eaten.”
The wicked child, in Hebrew rasha, is the child who excludes themselves and learns the penalty for doing so. This child is rebellious and wants no part of the Peasch/Passover traditions; and asks why the Jewish people other than him/her practice the customs of Pesach/Passover. The seder leader responds by describing this child as wicked, since he/she thinks Passover/Pesach customs are meant to be observed by other Israelites but not him/her. He/she is rebellious and is uninterested in the family history and is disrespecting the parents, wanting the blessings, but not wanting to keep the commandments of Torah, this child is a hypocrite. The harsh response is an attempt to bring the child to repentance.
The wicked son speaks up in Exodus 12:26, asking:
“What is this service to you?”
When he says to you, the father is to answer,
“It is for this that Hashem acted for me when I came out of Egypt” Exod 13:8.
The Haggadah comments: “For me, but not for him. Had he been there he would not have been redeemed.” Perhaps the rebuke will bring this son to repentance.
The simple child, in Hebrew tam,
is one who needs to know just the basics; they are somewhat bewildered by the Pesach/Passover seder, its meaning, and its format and observances. The seder leader responds by explaining to him/her about Gods’ favor toward the Israelites during their time of slavery in Egypt and why it is very important to remember Gods’ salvation with humility and gratitude.
The simple son says only, “What is this?” and the answer is simple too: “By strength of hand did Hashem bring us out from Egypt, the house of bondage. Exodus 13:14. And for the son who doesn’t know how to ask, the father initiates his instruction, as it is written, “And you shall relate to your son that day, saying ‘It is because of this that Hashem acted for me when I came out of Egypt’” Ex. 13:8.
Then the fourth son/daughter
who is the child who is unable to ask, the one who doesn’t even know enough to know what he/she needs to know or ask. In Hebrew Avudraham. This child, the – she’eilo yodea lishol, is simply told about the Passover/Pesach story in accordance with the biblical command given in Exodus 1:8 and thou shalt tell thy son….forth out of Egypt. Exod 13:8.
The story of the 4 sons/daughters is intended to commend the wise child and to encourage us to remember the Hebrew/Israelite/Jewish beginnings, the genesis of our faith. We are to study Torah and all the old Testament and respect the Hebrew/Jewish/Israelite way of life; for if we neglect this, we have failed in our responsibility to our heritage.
The children are listed in order of their intellectual capacities:
The wise child, understands the importance of their heritage and sees it as a means of preserving the knowledge of the Lord God of Israel for posterity and future generations.
the wicked child, who is also wise but whose insolence leads them to be rebellious and act wickedly;
the simple child, who has at least enough intelligence to ask; and finally
the one who does not know how to ask (Avudraham).
The Four Children: Wise, Rebellious, Simple, and Quiet
Modern day educators understand that children are individuals and learn differently from each other. In order to teach effectively, a teacher must figure out what the student wants to learn, how they learn best, where they are at emotionally, and adjust their instruction accordingly.
The educators (rabbis) in the Mishnaic period, who lived about 2,000 years ago, also understood this. Here’s what they had to say about teaching children at the seder:
The wise child asks a very detailed question. This child seems to want to know everything there is to know about the Passover seder.
The Haggadah advises the parent to answer the wise child with lots of details about Passover. In answer to “the wise son’s question,” the father explains why we keep God’s commandments. Deut. 6:20–25.
Why are so many and varied mitzvot related to the Exodus? What is so significant about this historic incident that warrants its pervading every facet of daily life?
“You may not eat after partaking of the Paschal sacrifice.” Why?
Because it is the symbol of spiritual liberation.
The offering of the paschal lamb represents our rejection of paganism with all its inherent materialism and self-indulgence. Therefore, the taste of spiritual liberty must be allowed to linger, and we are to savor it as long as it can last. There are many pleasantries that initiate desires and tempt us, and we must be aware that pleasant-tasting foods might cover up the taste of our precious spiritual freedom, and therefore must be avoided. Physical pleasures may be so seductive that we are always at risk of sacrificing our spirituality for them. We so need to be constantly reminded of the teachings of the Exodus.
The authors of the Haggadah describe the rebellious child as someone who feels excluded or who excluded themselves. Some commentators note, though, that although this child feels like an outsider they are still sitting at the table. In answer to “the wicked son’s question,” the father explains why we offer the paschal sacrifice. Exod. 12:26–27. The rebellious person, however, does not ask in order to know; their mind is closed because they have already made their decisions. They prefer earthly pleasures to spiritual strivings, and their attitude is, Who needs all this ritual anyway? This can hardly be considered a question, but is rather a statement of defiance, disrespect and rebellion.
There is little value in trying to reason with a person like this, because they do not want to listen. So to this person the leader of a modern day Haggadah might say, “There were the likes of you in Egypt, who refused to follow Moses into the desert. There were also those who did leave with Moses but relapsed into paganism with the worship of the Golden Calf. And there were those who complained about the manna, saying, ‘We wish we were back in Egypt, when we had fish, onions, garlic, and melons’. Numbers 11:5. There were those who said, ‘Let us appoint a new leader and return to Egypt’ 14:4.“Had you been there, you might have grudgingly exited from Egypt along with everyone else, but you would have willingly traded the hard-won, precious liberty for physical indulgences. You are far more interested in feeding your stomach rather than nurturing your mind. Yes, you might have left Egypt, but you would not have been redeemed. You would have maintained a slave mentality well into the life of freedom.”
We should seek to liken ourselves to the wise person, who constantly seeks to gain knowledge, so that we may always progress in our walk, growing spiritually.
The simple child asks a simple question and receives a basic answer. Sometimes we are so excited about a topic that we give our children more information than they are ready for, or are interested in. The authors of the Haggadah are reminding us not to overwhelm our children with more information than they are ready for. In answer to “the simple/stupid child’s question,” the father explains why firstborn animals are offered to God. Exod. 13:14–15.
In contrast to the wise child — who understands the value of spiritual freedom and therefore their only question is “in what way is the Exodus related to so many varied mitzvot?” — the simple child is overwhelmed by all the ritual of Passover. They do not reject it like the depraved/rebellious child, but in their bewilderment sincerely ask, “What is all this for?” and they deserve an answer.
The answer provided, that “God delivered us from the Egyptian bondage with a mighty hand,” refers not only to the coercion of Pharaoh, but to the fact that even many of the Israelites had to be coerced to leave Egypt. Scripture tells us that Moses had to convince the slaves that liberty was preferable to enslavement, and not all Israelites accepted his message. The Leader of the Haggadah would therefore explain to the simple child that even today there are many people who may adapt themselves to contentment, and whose primary goal in life is to be comfortable.
These people may reject the message of being set free from the bondage of the things that drive us physically; and that striving for spirituality, even though it may interfere with one’s comfort, is the primary goal that makes man worthy of being created in the Divine image. The simple child, because they are sufficiently aware to ask, may accept an answer and be willing to find out more about the spiritual life.
The quiet child doesn’t speak up or ask a question. Perhaps the child is too young to ask, is shy, or doesn’t have enough background knowledge to ask a question. Finally, the father explains to “the son who does not ask,” why we eat only matzot during the festival. Exod. 13:8. As for this child who is unable to ask, you must introduce the subject for them.
Perhaps the Haggadah deliberately provides caricatures of four types of children to teach us something about the care we must take when we answer questions. Each person at the seder is coming from a different place. This one is older and more experienced. That one has never been to seder before. That other one was sick and did not expect to make it to seder, but is there. That one never learned to read Hebrew, but knows French.
By telling us the story of the four children, each with a distinct question and each with a distinct answer, the Haggadah is telling us to accept each person where they are and to begin from there. The questions that are asked must be addressed, and the questions that are not asked must also be addressed.
Simple explanations encourage simple thinking; even simple questions often have complex answers, and ignorance is not the same as stupidity. And, always beginning the discussion for a child will prevent the child from learning how to ask. Too often, our categorizations of children become self-fulfilling prophesies, because of the power of our responses to influence future behavior.
There is a profound message here for our times. We are all confronted with people who scoff at the Torah, indeed the whole Bible. We often have to decide if and how to respond. The book of Proverbs teaches us that our primary responsibility is to improve the critic by our response. The central failure in the wicked child is their close-mindedness. The heart of rebellion is the utter foolishness to think that their understanding is perfect. Thus they are the complete opposite of the wise son who is wide open to the instruction of others.
….. they have to be crushed!
This is the gospel and we must not forget or allow circumstances and physical experiences to cause us to doubt or become discouraged. Even the disciples who had been with Him physically got discouraged because we read about it in
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