Leader: The Torah speaks of four children. In every generation, we see them at our table: the one who seeks, the one who drifts, the one who wonders, and the one who is silent. To each, we offer the bread of affliction and the wine of freedom.
- The Wise Child
The Question: “What do the the laws and rules of the Torah mean for us?” (Deuteronomy 6:20)
The Response: We teach them that we, like our ancestors, seek and find wisdom in the Torah. In seeking, we see the complexity and beauty of our world; and in finding, we learn that the greatest gift is accepting that awesome diversity. We teach them that the truest wisdom is found not just in the letter of the law, but in treating all others with kindness, dignity, and respect.
- The Indifferent Child
The Question: “What does this ritual mean to you?” (Exodus 12:26)
The Response: Because they have said “to you” and not “to us,” they stand as a guest at their own table. We tell them that community is a great gift, and by excluding themselves, they deny their heritage and lose the vibrancy and joy of life. Yet we do not close the door. We ask that they reconsider, and we keep our hearts open and our chairs ready for their return.
III. The Innocent Child
The Question: “What is this all about?”
The Response: With patience, we share with them the delight in our shared traditions and how they have enriched our lives through the ages. We teach them the stories of the Torah, for the retelling of them brings us into the past, weaving our thread into the tapestry of history. We remember the ancient promise:
“You shall observe this as an institution for all time, for you and for your descendants.” (Exodus 12:24)
- The Child Who Has Yet Learned to Question
Our Action: For the one whose lips are silent, we show them a world of wonder—a world of endless possibilities and a world to explore. We plant the seed of curiosity and we water it with kind attention and empathy. We pray that when they learn to question, it will be with the wide eyes and open heart of a seeker of knowledge and a follower of justice. We teach them that:
“All humanity was created in the likeness of God.” (Genesis 1:27)
And we all share that divine spark equally.
