[Avodah] The Wise Son vs the Wicked Son and the word ''you''

[Akiva Miller]

.
R' Chaimbaruch Kaufman wrote:

> A number of years ago I offered this answer to the question:
> How do we know he's a rasha? The reason we know he's a rasha
> is only because the narrator tells us that he is. ...
> ... we don't get to darshen the words of others, let alone
> children's. People often word things imprecisely, even when
> trying to say something good. Only an author can tell you the
> nature of their character upfront.

Fortunately, the Author of those pesukim did give us a clue about the
nature of the speakers.
UNfortunately, the editor of the Haggada left out some critical words.

The quote from the Chacham comes from Devarim 6:20: "Your child will ask
you, 'What are the rituals, laws, and rules, that Hashem our G-d has
commanded you?'"

The quote from the Rasha comes from Shemos 12:26: "Your children will say
to you, 'What is this work to you?'"

When you wrote that "we don't get to darshen the words of others", I
imagine that you might be referring to Rashi (footnote 1) who points out
that one child referred to "our G-d", while the other excluded himself by
saying "to you". Or perhaps you're referring to Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach
(footnote 2) who contrasts one child's detailed question about halacha and
even invokes Hashem's Name, with the other one who disdains all such
"work". If so, your point is well taken; perhaps we should not be so
particular about the exact words chosen by these children.

And that is why I prefer the explanation of Chukas Hapesach (footnote 3),
who does NOT "darshen the words of" those children. Rather, he darshens the
words of the Torah, whose Author did indeed "tell [us] the nature of their
character upfront." The Chukas Hapesach tells us to look at the verbs which
were unfortunately omitted by the editor of the Haggada: The Chacham ASKED
his question respectfully and with genuine interest. The Rasha SAID his
piece; if it was a question at all, it was rhetorical, and he had no desire
for an answer. (Footnote 4)

Footnote 1: Cited by the ArtScroll Haggadah page 83
Footnote 2: Halichos Shlomo on Hilchos Pesach, page 261, lines 14-15
Footnote 3: Cited by the ArtScroll Haggadah page 85
Footnote 4: Halichos Shlomo on Hilchos Pesach, page 261 line 16

Akiva Miller

Shameless plug for my Haggada: Go to Lulu.com and search for "Achieving
Immortality"
.
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