Page 2 - HaMizrachi #8 Pesach

Israel and US

Rabbi David A. Israel

THE FOUR SONS

AND THE ENEMY WITHIN

some point, I was so fascinated (actually Evil seems to be in the eyes of the
I figured I could turn it into a paper for beholder. How disheartening to see the
a history class) that I went to a Jewish idealistic pioneers as representations of
library and began pulling out Haggadot evil! What a contrast between this view
and finding an even greater variety of the first Jewish tillers of the Holy
of evil – punk rockers, Moe from the Land in 2,000 years and that of Rav
Three Stooges, as well as kibbutzniks, Kook, who upon visiting kibbutznikim
communists, and even Zionist pioneers. in the Galilee said: “There are great
souls here with a willingness to sacrifice
Then came the most exciting and for the Jewish people.”
exhilarating discovery. Knowing that
the representation of the evil child Rather than pointing fingers, I choose to
as a Roman soldier was one of the believe that the four siblings are not four
most classic, I was moved to see a different people, nor even four stages in
Haggadah that showed a ל" ַ ה ַ צ ל ַּי ַ ח, an the growth of a single person. The four
IDF soldier, as the ם ַ כ ֲ ח, the wise child, represent the opportunities, challenges
he Four Sons has always been and not the ע ָ ׁש ָ ר. It was almost as if we and dangers each of us face every day.
the most captivating part of the as a people had come full circle. The They represent our ability to ask a wise
T Seder for me. Who are these depiction reminded me of the striking question or to wisely stay silent and
children? Why do they ask their particular sculpture ׁש ֵ א ָ ה ת ַּ ל ִ ג ְ מ, Scroll of Fire, by listen. They represent the impulse to
questions? And most important to a Nathan Rappaport. This magnificent sometimes reject out of hand or to open
young mischievous kid, who is this ע ָ ׁש ָ ר, monument sits atop the hills of our hearts to ה ָ טּו ׁש ְּ פ ה ָנּומ ֱ א, simple faith.
this evil child, and is he available for a Jerusalem and depicts the pioneers and They represent the wisdom of truly
playdate? As I became older, I continued soldiers of 1948 returning the golden contemplating with depth to better
to be fascinated by these children. I began Menorah to Jerusalem, an image which understand or staying silent out of fear
to collect Haggadot and what interested of course reverses the travesty of our of showing we don’t know. Perhaps even
me most was again, the picture of the ע ָ ׁש ָ ר. powerlessness in the year 70 when the several times a day we encounter these
Who is the evil one, ‘he who shall not be Roman soldiers removed the Menorah different sides of ourselves. Each of the
named?’ from our Temple (as depicted on the traits represented here can be the enemy
Arch of Titus in Rome). Those evil of the moment. In that instant, we must
In college, I was looking through my Roman soldiers had been replaced choose the child who moves us forward
Haggadah collection and began to by wise Israeli soldiers, our own wise toward faith, Torah and mitzvot. Then
see the diversity in how the ע ָ ׁש ָ ר is brothers and sisters protecting our we will truly be wise.
portrayed. Who is this enemy of the people.
people? Here he is a Roman soldier, here Rabbi David A. Israel is the Executive
he is a gambler and a drinker, and there What lessons are to be drawn from these Vice-President of Religious Zionists of
he is an overindulgent man of wealth. At depictions? America–Mizrachi

HAMIZRACHI PATRONS CHICAGO LOS ANGELES

• Martin and Reva Oliner 3740 W. Dempster 209-286-7141
Skokie, IL 60076 office@rzla.org
• Friends of Mr. Jack Nagel z’’l
847-674-9733 President
• Lynn and Joel Mael & Family 305 Seventh Avenue Presidium office@rzc.us Dr. Yakov Agatstein
Room 1200, www.rzc.us
• Mr. and Mrs. David Rubin New York, NY 10001 Dr. Ernest Agatstein
Rabbi Leonard Matanky President
• Rosalyn and Stephen M. Flatow 212-465-9234 Martin Oliner Dr. Oren Lakser
office@rza.org Executive Vice-President Executive Director
2 www.rza.org Rabbi David A. Israel Rabbi Jerold Isenberg