A Note on Generalizations

I got to thinking about generalizations about two cups of wine into Saturday night... at the Passover Seder. There is always a good laugh around this time of the evening when the leader of the Seder calls upon each of the "four children" (wise, wicked, simple, and the one who does not know to ask) to question the meaning of Passover in his own way. In this case, my friend's dad called on her older brother first-- "Chad, tell us, what does the wicked child ask?" And so on and so forth.

Now I think I know what the Haggadah (the book used at Passover, describing the Exodus) is getting at with this generalization. Passover is a time of remembrance for older generations, and it is a time of learning for younger ones. This practice of phrasing the question "What is the meaning of Passover?" in four different ways is an exercise in patience and understanding. Children should be encouraged to come into their faith, challenge their faith, and trust their faith, and they should be able to do so in their own individual way.

So in theory I think I understand the lesson. But c'mon, wise, wicked, simple, and stupid? My friend's family uses a customized Haggadah, and on this subject it branched from the old four-child generalization, noting that children are at once all of these characteristics and more. Even the most intelligent child will be left without words. Even the most wicked will be moved to tears.

I guess I have a few points with this story. One is that generalizing is an artifice of ALL story telling, be it religious or secular, Rav Amram Gaon or Karen Armstrong. Another is that we should take this lesson and apply it to each other in class. Of course this is much easier sitting around a dinner table with family, food, and four cups of wine. But I hope that at some point in the discussion we will all allow each other to be every one of the four children, at one point humbled, at one point enlightened.