The Four Children

The Four Children

The Haggadah instructs us to teach children the rituals and stories of Passover. The Talmud (a collection of ancient rabbinic teachings on Jewish law and tradition) suggests four different archetypes of “children” who question our reasoning for observing the Passover festival, why we must re-tell the story and hold on to these customs that represent pain and suffering, and what the seder practice means to us. Each Haggadah has its own version of what the four children represent and question, with the archetypes traditionally appearing as 'the wise child, the wicked, the simple child and the child who doesn't know enough.' In an ableist and normative society, these archetypes don't resonate for many people and, as neurodivergent, sick and chronically ill, disabled, queer, trans, non-binary and POC Jews, we can dream and shape our responses for what the children in our lives, young and old, question regarding our Passover rituals and traditions.

Your Child Will Ask by Rabbi Brant Rosen

Your child will ask why do we observe this festival?
And you will answer: it is because of what God did for us when we were set free from the land of Egypt.

Your child will ask were we set free from the land of Egypt that we might hold tightly to the pain of our enslavement with a mighty hand?
And you will answer: we were set free from Egypt that we might release our pain by reaching with an outstretched arm to all who struggle for freedom.

Your child will ask were we set free from the land of Egypt because we are God’s chosen people?
And you will answer: we were set free from the land of Egypt so that we will finally come to learn all who are oppressed are God’s chosen.

Your child will ask were we set free from the land of Egypt that we might conquer and settle a land inhabited by others?
And you will answer: we were set free from the land of Egypt that we might open wide the doors to proclaim:

Let all who are dispossessed return home. Let all who wander find welcome at the table. Let all who hunger for liberation come and eat.

Source: Jewish Voice for Peace Haggadah


haggadah Section: -- Four Children