The Four Thoughtful Children

The Rabbis of the traditional Haggadah told us that there were four kinds of sons, each with his own question about Passover. One was wise, another wicked, another simple, and the last, too young to ask.. This telling strikes many of us as too harsh and inconsistent with modern values.

Today, many of us prefer to tell the story in a way that acknowledges our daughters as well as our sons, and that honors each child with the respect his or her question deserves. We've identified four children, each with a thoughtful question about the holiday.

The observant child asks:

What foods are permitted and what foods are prohibited during Passover?

To this child we answer,

We eat unleavened food at Passover to remind us that we were once slaves in Egypt.

The rebellious child asks,

Why do you bother with this holiday?