The Four Children
(Adapted from Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights)
The Torah speaks of four types of children: one is wise, one is wicked, one is simple, and one does not know how to ask a question.
What does the wise child say? "What is the meaning of the laws and traditions that God has commanded, according to custom?" You should teach this child all the traditions and meanings of Passover, even to the last detail. Tell this child: “God brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, that we may understand the heart of those suffering in slavery. We must use all of our powers to redeem those millions of people who, even today, continue to live under slavery and oppression.
What does the wicked child say? “What does this ritual mean to you?” Notice: “you,” not him or her. The wicked child stays far removed from suffering, and thus has lost the essence of our teachings. You might ask this child: “If you had been in Egypt, would you have been redeemed? And if you do not lift a finger now, who will redeem those who languish in slavery?”
The simple child asks: “What is all this?” You should teach this child: According to custom, God brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand, out of the affliction of slavery. So we must now use our strength to end slavery and oppression around the world.
The child who does not know to ask a question, you must help this child ask. Begin the story: “As is written, this is because of what God did for me in taking me out of Egypt.”
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