[Avodah] running a seder

[rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com]

Daniel:
">>In any case, we can't take the four questions as real questions 
of 
>>the child because there is a set text.  So they are, in a sense, 
>>symbolic."

OK I have a LONG answer but I will divide and conquer!

The mishna states
The child asks
And if does not know to ask the father teaches him.

Quick peshat:
The father does the following
Karpas
Yachatz 
Kos Sheini

If the son is curious he asks

If the son fails to ask
THEN the father teaches the highlights of the upcoming seder

He does NOT TEACH the child to ask, because he would point out the past curiosities NOT the future ones!  At this point the father is awakening the NON-curious child with an intro.

See the gmara re: Abbaye.

At most the connection to questions would ne that:
the father would be pointing to the nonrespondent son what he should be asking LATER ON!  

There is zero expectation at THIS point that the child asks the 4 questions.  Rather the expectation is that he has asked mah nistanah regarding what JUST transpired
Viz.: karpas yachatz kos sheini, plus handing out nuts wearing a kittel etc.

Or as my 2.5 year.old daughter asked me after kiddusg:  "where's the hallah?"

And if you are old ashkenaz In additon a child might  ask
"Why didn't we wash before qiddush?" 


ZP
RRW
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