The Four Kinds of Children

Haggadah Section: -- Four Children

The Wise Child:

Participant:The wise child loves Passover. Eager to celebrate the holiday, he or she asks, "What are the decrees, statutes, and laws which Adonai our God has commanded concerning Passover?"  The parent should answer by instructing the child in the beautiful laws of Passover, starting from the beginning and ending with the laws of the Afikomen. The parent should also point out that the customs and observances have meaning as the beloved symbols of a great and noble ideal- the ideal of freedom for all humanity.

The Wicked Child:

Participant: The wicked child is irreverent and does not feel personally involved in the Passover celebration. Motivated by a spirit of mockery, the wicked child says to the parent, "What does this service mean to  you ?" By saying "to you" the wicked child is speaking as an outsider who has no part in the Passover celebration. The response should be firm with the parent saying, "It is because of what God did for  me  when I wen out of Egypt. Specifically ‘me’ and not ‘you.’ If you had been there (with your attitude), you wouldn’t have been redeemed.”

The Wise Child:

Participant: The simple child is naive and innocent. This child would like to know what Passover is all about, but is shy and just doesn't know how to ask, instead saying merely,"What is this?" In response the parent should explain that "with a strong hand the Almighty brought us forth from Egypt out of the house of bondage. Therefore, we commemorate that event tonight through this Seder."

The Child Unable to Inquire:

Participant: This child, not realizing that something unusual is going on, must be introduced to the story and its celebration in a simple and clear fashion. The parent should emulate the model suggested in the Torah, explaining, "This is because of what the Almighty did for us when we went forth from Egypt."

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