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
>APATHETIC SON, the SON WHO CAN'T ASK
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 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*
WHY IS HE CALLED APATHETIC
==========================
The APATHETIC does NOT ASK; the other 3 ASK a question.
he is called apathetic, because he lacks interest. Indeed
EXAMPLE 1
---------
On The simple son (2-13-14) it says
>and when your son ASKS you
EXAMPLE 2
----------
On the Wise son (5-6-20) it says
>when your son ASKS
EXAMPLE 3
---------
On the Wicked son (2-12-26) it says
>when your son SAYS 'what is this'
The apathetic-son-chapter has NO question. Hence he
is the son who can't ask! See {LIST2}, {LIST3} below
APATHETIC vs WHO-CAN't ASK
==========================
The translation "APATHETIC" vs "CAN"T ASK" is due to Rabbi
Soloveitchick who pointed out that a child who CAN'T ASK is
really SIMPLE--hence he prefers to translate
>CAN'T ASK=DOESN'T CARE TO ASK.
Rabbi Soloveitchick also pointed out that the statement
>"There are 4 sons"
does not mean
>"Each child is one of these 4"
but rather means
>"Each child is a MIXTURE of these 4 types".
In other words the 4 sons are 4 TYPOLOGIES---pure personalities.
Every REAL child is some mixture of these 4.
PRINCIPLES OF PEDAGOGY FOR THE APATHETIC SON
============================================
The basic principles of PEDAGOGY FOR THE APATHETIC SON are 3 fold
* Emphasize the individual vs the community
* Emphasize the symbolic vs the verbal
* Emphasize the personal (God did this "for me")
Let us go thru these 3 principles one by one:
Pedagogy Principle #1) EMPHASIZE THE PERSONAL:
==============================================
In the APATHETIC Parshah it says concerning the Tefillin
>"And it will be FOR YOU a symbol"
while in the SIMPLE-SON PARSHAH it says
>"And it will be a symbol"
Notice how the "FOR YOU" is absent in the SIMPLE SON PARSHAH.
Thus the message is clear---for the APATHETIC son we should
>EMPHASIZE the simple
{LIST4} and {LIST6} further studies the frequency of
personal references in all 4 chapters--the apathetic son
chapter has more than the others
Pedagogy Principle #2)EMPHASIZE THE SYMBOLIC:
=============================================
One difference between the APATHETIC son and SIMPLE SON parshah
is that there are more SYMBOLIC COMMANDMENTS MENTIONED in the
chapter of the apathetic son. The increased mentioning of symbolic
commandments teaches us the principles of pedagogy by which to treat
the apathetic son:
>You deal with the APATHETIC son by presenting many symbols
>and emphasizing the personal touch (God this for ME; these
>are MY symbols). {LIST5} shows the frequency of symbols
>mentioned in all 4 sons. Here are a few examples
EXAMPLE 1
---------
TEFILLIN is mentioned in the apathetic son parshah
TEFILLIN is not mentioned in the WISE or WICKED son parshah
EXAMPLE 2
---------
The redemption of the first born (symbolic of the saving
of the Jewish first born over the Egyptian first born in
Egypt) is mentioned in the apathetic son parshah but is
not mentioned in the WISE or WICKED SON PARSHAH.
Pedagogy Principle #3)EMPHASIZE THE INDIVIDUAL VS THE COMMUNITY:
================================================================
As can be seen from {LIST4} the language in the
>APATHETIC son chapter is 100% in the singular;
>the wicked son has 0% singular
>and the wise son has a 100% plural in the answers.
As an example we have
>(WICKED) When (THEY) ask you; ..God saved US
>(WISE) When (He) asks you; WE were slaves in Egypt
>(Apathetic) Because of this God did for ME in exodus
{LIST SECTION}{This section is a bit technical & can be skipped
on a first reading or read lightly}
================================================================
{LIST2} {Of how questions are asked by the 4 sons #}
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
FOOTNOTES:
=========
# The chapter on the APATHETIC son (2-13-1:10) does not, like
the other 3 sons, have a verse of the form "..when your son ASKS
you..." Hence this chapter corresponds to what our sages call
the child who doesn't care to ask = The APATHETIC SON.
$) 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.
{LIST3} {Biblical texts of the 2 children--simple and wise--
who ask their question}
SON VERSE TEXT
=== ===== ====
Simple * 2-13-14 What is this
Wise * 5-6-20 What are the testimonials,statues..
FOOTNOTES:
==========
* The SIMPLE son only says WHAT IS THIS
The WISE son asks lots of details (What are testimonials...)
Notice How we identify
WISE = LOTS OF DETAILS vs SIMPLE=NO DETAILS
{LIST4} {Of personal references in the 4 chapters on teaching sons
How the list was constructed is given in detail in the
footnotes}
PERSONAL 2-12-24 2-13-5 2-13-11 5-6-20
REFERENCES 2-12-27 2-13-10 2-13-16 5-6-25
PLURAL/SING WICKED APATHETIC SIMPLE WISE
=========== ====== ========= ====== ======
Singular Thruout Query;Ans Query
Plural Query;Ans Answer Answer
For me Thruout
Singular 0% 100% 72% 16%
Plural 100% 0% 28% 84%
For me 2 time 1 time Several
FOOTNOTES:
=========
# We should explain HOW this list was made.
E.g. Look at the SIMPLE SON CHAPTER starting at 2-13-11. Let
us go down to the question at 2-13-14. Let us count every word
that COULD BE EITHER SINGULAR or PLURAL. Here is how we would
start
>When your son (Singular =1) asks (Singular = 2) you ....
>and you will say (Singular = 3) ..with a strong hand God
>took us (Plural = 1) out of Egypt....And when Pharoh hardened
>his heart from sending us (Plural =2) etc.
We continue and take percentages.
Continuing with the explanation of the list we explain how we
count PERSONAL items. Notice that e.g
VERSE TEXT PERSONAL TYPE
----- ---- -------- ----
v2-13-9 It will be FOR YOU a sign YES APATHETIC
v2-13-16 It will be a sign NO SIMPLE
Thus v2-13-9 has an EXTRA "For you" which indicates a PERSONAL TONE
One final comment: None of the above counts are meant to be
black and white....maybe someone will notice some more personal
counts or differ in the singular plural count by 1 or 2.
{LIST5} {Of SYMBOLS in the 4 Chapters of the 4 sons}
VERSE 2-12-24 2-13-5 2-13-11 5-6-20
TO 2-12-27 2-13-10 2-13-16 5-6-25
SYMBOL TYPE WICKED APATHETIC SIMPLE WISE
======== ======= ========= ======= ======
1stBorn 2-13-1 2-13-12
Watching 2-12-26 2-13-5
Spring 2-13-4
Matzoh 2-13-7
Sacrifice 2-12-27
Tefillin 2-13-9 2-13-15
{LIST6} {Of verses in the 4 chapters dealing with
the 4 sons spoken about on Passover that
have Tefillin mentioned in them}
VERSE TEXT PERSONAL TYPE
----- ---- -------- ----
v2-13-9 It will be FOR YOU a sign YES # APATHETIC
v2-13-16 It will be a sign NO SIMPLE
FOOTNOTES
---------
The APATHETIC son has a personal tone by tefillin ("sign FOR YOU")
while the other sons do not
#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*# (C) Dr Hendel, 1999 *#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*