Parashat Bo - What makes a "wise" question and what makes a "foolish" question?

(24) “You shall observe this as an institution for all time, for you and for your descendants. (25) And when you enter the land that the LORD will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite. (26) And when your children ask you, ‘What do you mean by this rite?’ (27) you shall say, ‘It is the passover sacrifice to the LORD, because He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but saved our houses.’” The people then bowed low in homage.

People might think that "this" refers to the painting the blood on the doorposts and assume that putting blood on the lintels is an obligation for every generation. . . and logically this makes sense. . . But actually "this" goes back to the pascal sacrifice. paraphrase -- The Passover sacrifice has laws and customs different from those of other festival sacrifices.

(26) And when your children ask you, ‘What do you mean by this rite?’

Do you recognize this question?

What about the answer?

(27) you shall say, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, because He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but saved our houses.’” The people then bowed low in homage.

(14) And when, in time to come, your child asks you, saying, ‘What is this?’ ...

Do you recognize this question?

(14) . . .’ you shall say to him, ‘It was with a mighty hand that the LORD brought us out from Egypt, the house of bondage.

What about the answer?

Corresponding to four children did the Torah speak; one [who is] wise, one [who is] evil, one who is innocent and one who doesn't know to ask.

What does the innocent [child] say? "'What is this?' (Exodus 13:14)" And you will say to him, "'With the strength of [God's] hand did the Lord take us out from Egypt, from the house of slaves' (Exodus 13:14).'"

Rabbi Cheya taught, Corresponding to four children did the Torah speak; a wise child, an evil child, a foolish child and a child who doesn't know to ask. . . What does the foolish child say? "'What is this?' (Exodus 13:14)" And accordingly you will teach him the laws of the Pesach sacrifice, that "We may not eat an afikoman [a dessert or other foods eaten after the meal] after [we are finished eating] the Pesach sacrifice, so that a person should not get up from one eating group to another eating group."

Rabbi Cheya taught, Corresponding to four children did the Torah speak; a wise child, an evil child, an innocent child and a child who doesn't know to ask. What does the wise child say? "'What are these testimonies, statutes and judgments that the Lord our God commanded us?' (Deuteronomy 6:20" And accordingly 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)"

(8) And you shall explain to your child on that day, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I went free from Egypt.’

Corresponding to four children did the Torah speak; one [who is] wise, one [who is] evil, one who is innocent and one who doesn't know to ask.

What does the wise one say? "'What are these testimonies, statutes and judgments that the Lord our God commanded you?' (Deuteronomy 6:20)" And accordingly you will respond, 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)."

What does the evil one say? "'What is this worship to you?' (Exodus 12:26)" 'To you' and not 'to him.' And since s/he excluded themself from the collective, s/he denied a principle [of the Jewish faith]. And accordingly, you will blunt their teeth and say to them, "'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 them.' If s/he had been there, s/he would not have been saved.

What does the innocent one say? "'What is this?' (Exodus 13:14)" And you will respond, "'With the strength of [God's] hand did the Lord take us out from Egypt, from the house of slaves' (Exodus 13:14).'"

And [regarding] the one who doesn't know to ask, you will open [the conversation] . As it is stated (Exodus 13:8), "And you will speak to your child on that day saying, for the sake of this, did the Lord do [this] for me in my going out of Egypt."