This series is devoted to short but complete Torah morsels that
can be used at the seder. This series is reprinted from
Rashi is Simple with permission of the author, myself.
Complete postings may be found at http://www.shamash.org/rashi/
In todays unit we review the chapter on the WICKED SON.
There is a list of 4 chapters where telling
children about Egypt is a theme. Each chapter
deals with a different TYPE OF PEDAGOGY. The principles are
outlined in the various Rashis. The 4 sons are listed
in the following chapters presented in the LIST below
The interpretation of this list should be clear. For example
The wicked son is in the chapter that
>BEGINS at 2-12-26 (Ex (Book 2) Chapter 12 verse 24)
>END at 2-12-27 (Ex (Book 2) chapter 12 verse 27)
By comparing the language of these 4 chapters we can find
the Torahs viewpoints on pedagogy.
{LIST} The 4 sons
VERSE WICKED APATHETIC SIMPLE WISE
----- ------ ------ --------- ----
FROM 2-12-26 2-13-8 2-13-14 5-6-20
TO 2-12-27 2-13-10 2-13-16 5-6-25
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
There are at least 4 differentiating characteristics of the
wicked son.
Difference #1) The WICKED SAYS his question; others ASK it
-----------------------------------------------------------
SON VERSE TEXT
--- ----- ----
Wicked 2-12-26 And when your son SAYS to you WHAT IS..
Simple 2-13-14 And when your son ASKS you..
Wise 5-6-20 when your son ASKS
* The WICKED "SAYS" his question while the others "ASK"
* He is called wicked because he rhetorically asks.
* "WICKED" is identified with SKEPTICISM and lack of interest
in learning.
Difference #2) The WICKED SON BELONGS to a GANG
-----------------------------------------------
SON VERSE TEXT
--- ----- ----
Wicked 2-12-26 And when THEY (your children) ask you
Simple 2-13-14 And when HE (your child) asks you
Wise 5-6-20 when HE (your child) asks you
* The whole chapter on the wicked is in the PLURAL. This means
NO child ever becomes wicked unless they fall in with a bad
group. It is not
>HE(The wicked) who asks but
>THEY(his gang) that asks
* The other chapters always express asking in the
singular
>When HE asks
This observation (PLURAL vs SINGULAR) also explains the
famous statement of the Hagaddah
>The hagaddah says that the son is wicked
>because it says
>because of this God took US out of Egypt
>he took
>US
>but not
>you
>If you had been there you would not have been saved
The idea is that it is
>US(The Jews he took out)
but not
>YOU (The wicked sons gang)
In other words it is only by belonging to the JEWISH GANG that
you can be saved)
Difference #3) DO NOT ANSWER THE WICKED WITH SYMBOLS
----------------------------------------------------
SON VERSE TEXT
--- ----- ----
Wicked 2-12-26:27 NO TEFILLIN MENTIONED
Simple 2-13-14:16 Tefillin mentioned
Apathetic 2-13-8:10 Tefillin mentioned
Wise 5-6-20:25 NO TEFILLIN MENTIONED
Notice how the answer to the WICKED IS TERSE and without
SYMBOLS. (God saved us and let the Egyptians drown...there is
no mention of Tefillin etc). This also is PEDAGOGY---
* you don't use SYMBOLS for a skeptic (it encourages antagonism)---
* don't give DETAILS to a skeptic (he doesn't have the patience
for it)---
* but do tell him the basic idea.
(Tefillin is not mentioned by the wise son since he is "beyond"
just putting on tefillin; he must learn many laws)
Difference #4) ANSWER THE WICKED TERSELY
----------------------------------------------------
VERSE WICKED APATHETIC SIMPLE WISE
----- ------ ------ --------- ----
FROM 2-12-26 2-13-8 2-13-14 5-6-20
TO 2-12-27 2-13-10 2-13-16 5-6-25
------ ------- ------- ------- ------
Number verses 2 3 3 5
The Chapter on the wicked son is the SHORTEST--only 2 verses.
The other sons are answered in at least 3 verses. If a person
is wicked and involved with gangs then
>they don't have time for long explanations
>you have to be terse with them
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*