(טו) אַרְבַּע מִדּוֹת בְּיוֹשְׁבִים לִפְנֵי חֲכָמִים. סְפוֹג, וּמַשְׁפֵּךְ, מְשַׁמֶּרֶת, וְנָפָה. סְפוֹג, שֶׁהוּא סוֹפֵג אֶת הַכֹּל. מַשְׁפֵּךְ, שֶׁמַּכְנִיס בְּזוֹ וּמוֹצִיא בְזוֹ. מְשַׁמֶּרֶת, שֶׁמּוֹצִיאָה אֶת הַיַּיִן וְקוֹלֶטֶת אֶת הַשְּׁמָרִים. וְנָפָה, שֶׁמּוֹצִיאָה אֶת הַקֶּמַח וְקוֹלֶטֶת אֶת הַסֹּלֶת:
(15) There are four temperaments among those who sit before the sages: the sponge, the funnel, the strainer, and the sieve. The sponge -- because it absorbs everything. The funnel -- because it lets in at [one end] and lets out at [the other]. The strainer -- because it lets the wine out and retains the sediment. The sieve -- because it lets out the [inferior] flour and retains the fine flour.
Discussion Questions:
1. What types of learners do we have in our educational institutions today? How do we view the role of our educators?
Magid, The Four Sons (Children)
חָכָם מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מָה הָעֵדוֹת וְהַחֻקִּים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶתְכֶם. וְאַף אַתָּה אֱמוֹר לוֹ כְּהִלְכוֹת הַפֶּסַח: אֵין מַפְטִירִין אַחַר הַפֶּסַח אֲפִיקוֹמָן:
What does the wise [son] say? "'What are these testimonies, statutes and judgments that the Lord our God commanded you?' (Deuteronomy 6:20)" And accordingly you will say to him, as per the laws of the Pesach sacrifice, "We may not eat an afikoman [a dessert or other foods eaten after the meal] after [we are finished eating] the Pesach sacrifice. (Mishnah Pesachim 10:8)"
רָשָׁע מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מָה הָעֲבוֹדָה הַזּאֹת לָכֶם. לָכֶם – וְלֹא לוֹ. וּלְפִי שֶׁהוֹצִיא אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִן הַכְּלָל כָּפַר בְּעִקָּר. וְאַף אַתָּה הַקְהֵה אֶת שִׁנָּיו וֶאֱמוֹר לוֹ: "בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂה ה' לִי בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם". לִי וְלֹא־לוֹ. אִלּוּ הָיָה שָׁם, לֹא הָיָה נִגְאָל:
What does the wicked [son] say? "'What is this worship to you?' (Exodus 12:26)" 'To you' and not 'to him.' And since he excluded himself from the collective, he denied a principle [of the Jewish faith]. And accordingly, you will blunt his teeth and say to him, "'For the sake of this, did the Lord do [this] for me in my going out of Egypt' (Exodus 13:8)." 'For me' and not 'for him.' If he had been there, he would not have been saved.
תָּם מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר? מַה זּאֹת? וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו "בְּחוֹזֶק יָד הוֹצִיאָנוּ ה' מִמִּצְרַיִם מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים".
What does the innocent [son] say? "'What is this?' (Exodus13:14)" And you will say to him, "'With the strength of [His] hand did the Lord take us out from Egypt, from the house of slaves' (Exodus 13:14).'"
וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִשְׁאוֹל – אַתְּ פְּתַח לוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר, וְהִגַּדְתָּ לְבִנְךָ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא לֵאמֹר, בַּעֲבוּר זֶה עָשָׂה ה' לִי בְּצֵאתִי מִמִּצְרָיִם.
And [regarding] the one who doesn't know to ask, you will open [the conversation] for him. As it is stated (Exodus 13:8), "And you will speak to your your son on that day saying, for the sake of this, did the Lord do [this] for me in my going out of Egypt."
Magid, Yechol Me'rosh
English
Note : Despite the Haggadah's very different approach to each child, it still gives each child a seat at the table. In doing so, the Haggadah embodies a profound insight articulated by Numbers Rabbah, (8:4), "If you estrange those who are distant, you will ultimately estrange those who are near!"
My People's Passover Haggadah, Volume 1, edited by Rabbi Lawrence Hofffman and Dr. David Arnow, p. 178.
Note: The wicked child is considered "wicked" because he/she excludes oneself as part of the community ( the question is about the pascal sacrifice, and by extension, the Seder) Contrast this to the model of Moses. We are taught that ..."When Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and witnessed their labors" (Ex. 2:11). Even though raised in Pharaoh's palace, Moses went out to see the suffering of Israel. (Midrash Lekach Tov on ex. 2:11).
My People's Passover Haggadah, Volume 1, edited by Rabbi Lawrence Hofffman and Dr. David Arnow, p. 178.
Discussion Questions:
1. How do we respond to and engage each type of child / student in our communities?
2. What are our educational goals for Passover? If we wish for our students to be sieves, what is the "solet" or fine flour that we wish for them to retain? What questions should be asked about Passover, Judaism, etc., that reflect our modern day circumstance(s)?
The inspiration for this sheet was the article, "If you were a Kitchen Utensil, what would you be?" by Rabbi Dennis S. Ross, 4/13/2017,
https://reformjudaism.org/blog/2017/04/13/if-you-were-kitchen-utensil-what-would-you-be?