The Pardes Companion to the Haggadah; Introduction by Yaffa Epstein
Pesach is a time of inclusion.
On seder night, there are two moments where we metaphorically open our doors and invite others in. One is at the opening of the Magid portion of the seder, when we say, “All who are hungry come and eat.” There is a beautiful message here: we were once slaves; poor and hungry, and we remember our redemption by sharing what we have with others.
The other, comes towards the end of the seder, when we have the custom of pouring a fifth cup of wine, which we claim is for Elijah the Prophet.This is a statement of faith, a statement that says that although we are a free people, our redemption is not yet complete, and we believe that it will come.
From the most downtrodden to the most celebrated, the message is clear: everyone is welcome, and everyone is necessary. Why is it that we go out of our way to include all at our seder table?
The Pardes Companion to the Haggadah; Magid by David L. Bernstein
Perhaps no other portion of the haggadah can open up discussion like the section of the four children.
There are many learned interpretations to go to that analyze this part of the haggadah. However, while the seder should include learned divrei Torah (words of Torah), it should primarily consist of questions. The Magid section models this for us, beginning with the four questions in Ma Nishtana and moving on to our section. Note that three of the four children ask a question about what we are doing at the seder, and the fourth is the one described as “unable to ask.”
The haggadah is instructing us about how a seder should be run, in fine Socratic form: asking and eliciting questions. Sometimes the answers are prescribed; sometimes not.
The haggadah divides children into these four categories: wise, wicked, simple, and one who is unable to ask. Why these categories? Can you think of others that do not appear here?
- If you were writing a haggadah for UVA, which four categories would you choose?
- Which questions might they ask?
- When you sit at the Seder table, which category do you represent?
- What would your question be?