Did you know that China has 1.3 billion people; it occupies approximately 3,700,000 square miles, and its population density is 327 people per square mile? There are about eight principle languages spoken there. How long is a Chinese person’s name.
The computer is now telling me to put a question mark at the end of the last sentence! It sounds like a question doesn’t it. But this riddle has no answer; ‘HOW LONG’ is a Chinese person’s name! Written this way the grammar checker is happy!
Sometimes there are questions that need answers and sometimes the questions themselves are the answer! A non-religious man once told the Brisker Rav that he doesn’t believe in G-d because he has many questions. The Brisker Rav told him, “you don’t have questions, you have answers”.
If we take a look at the verses describing the ‘wise son’ from the Hagadah (found in this week’s sedra) we read, “If your child asks you tomorrow, saying, “what are the testimonies and the decrees and the ordinances that Hashem our G-d, commanded you?”. Many commentators have pointed out that the ‘wicked son’ uses very similar phraseology, “and it shall be when your children say to you, “what is this service to you?” and as we say in the Hagadah: ‘to you’ and not ‘to him’, his exclusion is what signs him as a wicked son. But doesn’t the wise son also exclude himself by saying “you”?
There are a number of differences between the two questions: amongst them we notice the wicked son’s refusal to mention that the service has been ordained by Hashem. Secondly we notice in the wise son’s question that he details various different components of service to Hashem, “testimonies, decrees and ordinances” – this is another sign that he is a wise son; conversely the wicked son makes one general sweeping statement. A third point is that the wise son asks ‘tomorrow’, he asks after deliberation, whereas the wicked son asks without thinking, impulsively.
The underlying point shared by all these answers is that it’s not the question that is wrong rather it’s the way it is asked. In fact the most important difference between the two of them is that the wise son asks, as it says in the verse, “If your child asks”, whereas the wicked son just says, “And it shall be when your children say to you”. He makes his statement and is not on the lookout for an answer. He is somewhat sarcastic with his rhetorical question. His question is his answer – his justification for his behaviour.
Allow me to explain a little deeper. Reb Moshe Shapira explains; the word ‘she’ailoh’ – “question” has in its root the letters ‘aleph’ and ‘lamed’ making up the word “al” meaning – lacking. Something is missing – and I am in search of the answer. Indeed we see again that ‘she’ailoh’ refers to a void that needs filling because the word for a grave is ‘she’ol’. Similarly ‘sho’ul’ means to lend – when you lend me you fulfil that which I am lacking in. This is the beauty in a question. You are looking for the truth via questioning. This is the wise son, he has a question, a ‘she’ailoh’, a void, something that needs addressing. The wicked son on the other hand has no void he is fine the way things are – just keep this religious stuff out of my life – it makes no sense.
When the spirit of Hashem departed from Saul and he was tormented by a spirit of melancholy we read in Samuel how they brought King David to come to cheer Saul up. What was the special quality of King David that he was suited for this job? He is described as being someone who “knew how to play music”. Expounds the Talmud that really what this means is that he knew how to ask.
The Maharal of Prague [1520-1609] explains that just as music makes a person happy so too does a decent question, an intriguing riddle. King David was employed to cheer up Saul by asking him questions and brainteasers. Interestingly Saul’s name is from the very same letters as ‘she’ailoh’ – to question! The excitement and ‘simcha’ that lies behind a question, is that it creates that opportunity for a void to be filled. If I’m bothered by a question I can be prepared to hear an answer – Eureka – “I have found it”. From the darkness I can appreciate the lightness. This is the beauty of a question – a searching question – searching for the truth. This is the attitude of the wise son.
The Brisker Rav [1886-1959] famously explained that the Mitzvah of retelling the Pesach story on Seder-night differs from the daily Mitzvah to recount the story in that on Seder-night it must be done through ‘answers and question’. Hence the “Mah Nishtanoh”, the four sons that ask, “Who knows one..? two ..? three?…”, and the various movements of seder items done to promote questions.
Reb Tzadok Hacohen [1823-1900] takes this one stage further. He suggests that the question and answer format of the Seder is an integral part of the Pesach-freedom experience. By creating the questions we give ourselves the opportunity to search for the answer. When we find it we experience the freedom that is Pesach!
It’s no coincidence that the national children’s museum that we visit quite often in nearby Halifax is called Eureka. Children are experts at being inquisitive. May we always stay young at heart and always be asking and searching. May we all merit that our questions are indeed questions – not G-d forbid answers and justifications. May we experience the happiness and freedom of finding our answers; from EUREKA to EUPHORIA!
Good Shabbos,
Yaakov