The Four Sons - The 4 Sons

The story of the Four Sons is also read at the Passover seder table. Each of the four sons symbolize a different type of Jewish person. One son is wise, another is simple (this son is regarded as simple because of his indifference and unconcern), still another is wicked, and the final one is very young in age, too young to inquire about Passover, and therefore silent. The wise son inquires about why the Jews practise the customs of Passover. Those assembled at the Passover seder table respond in unison, describing this son as wise, since he wants to know more about the Passover traditions of his people. The simple and indifferent son asks in more general terms what is all this he sees at the Passover seder table. Those at the Passover seder table respond by educating and reminding the simple and indifferent son about G-d's favors toward the Hebrews during the time of slavery in Egypt, and the importance of remembering and observing them, and remembering them with gratitude. The wicked son wants no part of the Passover traditions and asks why the Jewish people - other than him - practise the customs of Passover. Those at the Passover seder table respond by describing this son as wicked, since he thinks Passover customs are meant to be practised by other Jews, but not him. Finally, the young and silent son who does not know enough to inquire is simply told about the Passover story in accordance with the biblical command: "And thou shalt tell thy son in that day, saying: it is because of that which the Lord did for me when I came forth out of Egypt".

The story of the Four Sons reflects different perspectives of Passover and teaches that no matter what view one has about the Passover holiday, the meaning of the Passover holiday is the same in response to each view: that one should remind oneself and feel grateful for the deeds done by G-d for the Hebrews so long ago.

The story of the Four Sons also demonstrates that it is necessary to emulate the wise son by remembering our obligations to our people and to Judaism. What are these obligations? Well, we must begin by learning more about the Torah and the Jewish way of life. If we do not develop our knowledge of the Torah and hence our knowledge of G-ds' commandments and traditions such as Passover and instead leave this to others, then we have failed in our responsibility to not only advance our own education in our heritage, but to apply our newfound knowledge to the benefit and betterment of both our fellow Jewish brethren and for humankind as a whole. It is the wise son who understands the importance of learning his traditions so that he could be a positive role model for future generations in his family, for fellow Jews, and for all of humanity.

The Fifth Son : A Pesach Message

Adapted from a letter of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

During the Seder service, we read in the Passover Haggadah that the Torah speaks of four sons, "one wise, one wicked, one simple, and one who does not even know how to ask a question." The Passover Haggadah then proceeds to tell us the questions posed by each of these 'sons', and the reply which we are to give to each of them.

The Wise Son inquires about the special Mitzvos ("Commandments" in Hebrew) of Passover and we are to tell him in detail all the laws and customs of the festival. The Wicked Son asks: "What is this service to you?" By saying "to you", he excludes himself from the Jewish community, and we are told to reply to him sharply. The Simple Son asks: "What is this all about?" In reply, we are to tell him of the Exodus from Egypt. As for the son who does not know how to ask, it is for us to open the conversation with him, as the Torah says, "You shall tell your son on that day, as follows: 'This is on account of what the L-rd did for me when I went forth from Egypt'."

While the Four Sons differ from one another in their reaction to the Seder, they have one thing in common: they are all present at the Seder. Even the "Wicked" son is there, taking an active, though rebellious, interest in what is going on in Jewish life around him. This, at least, justifies the hope that some day also the "Wicked" one will become wise, and all Jewish children attending the Seder will become conscientious, observant Jews.

Unfortunately, in our time of confusion and spiritual bankruptcy, there is another kind of a Jewish child - a "fifth son", who is conspicuous by his absence from the Seder; the one who has no interest whatsoever in Torah and Mitzvoth ("commandment" in Hebrew), laws and customs; who is not even aware of the Seder-shel-Pesach ("The Passover Seder" in Hebrew), of the Exodus from Egypt and the subsequent Revelation at Sinai.

A challenging and pertinent question is: What brought about this regretably all-too-common phenomenon of the "fifth son"?

The "Fifth Son" is the result of an erroneous psychology and misguided policy on the part of some immigrants arriving in a new and strange environment. Finding themselves a small minority, and encountering social and economic difficulties, some parents had the mistaken notion, which they transmitted to their children, that the way to overcome these difficulties is to become quickly assimilated into the new environment by discarding the heritage of their forefathers and abandoning the Jewish way of life. Finding that this process leads to the discomfort of inner spiritual conflict, some parents resolved to spare their children this conflict altogether. They simply gave their children no Jewish education or training.

To justify the desertion of their religion and appease their stricken conscience, it was necessary for them to devise some rationale. They persuaded themselves, and in turn their children, that the Jewish way of life, with the observance of the Torah and Mitzvos, was incompatible with their new surroundings. They sought, and therefore also "found," faults with the true Jewish way of life; while in the non-Jewish environment everything seemed to them only good and attractive.

By this attitude, these parents hoped to assure their children's existence and survivial in the new environment. But what kind of existence is it, if everything spiritual and holy is traded for the material? What kind of survival is it, if it means the sacrifice of the soul for the amenities of the body?

The tragic consequence of this utterly false approach was, that thousands upon thousands of Jews have been severed from their fountain of life, from their true faith, and from their fellow Jews. Deprived of spiritual life, there has risen a generation of children who no longer belong to the "Four Sons" of the Passover Haggadah, not even to the category of the "Wicked" one. They are almost a total loss to their fellow Jews and to true Yiddishkeit.

The Exodus from Egypt and the Festival of Pesach are forceful reminders that an attempt to emulate the environment does not lead to survival, deliverance and freedom. These come from staunch loyalty to our traditions and the Torah way of life. Our ancestors in Egypt were a small minority, and lived in the most difficult circumstances. Yet, they preserved their identity, and with pride and dignity, tenaciously clung to their own way of life, traditions and uniqueness. Precisely in this way was their existence assured, and eventually their deliverance from every slavery, both physical and spiritual.

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