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The Ballad of the Four Sons
Contributed by Shayna Goldberg

  • TOP HAGGADAHS FOR 2023

Sing to "Clemetine"

Said the father to the children                         All the Seder, and we should not
“At the Seder you will dine,                               After twelve remain to eat.”
You will eat your fill of matzah,
You will drink four cups of wine.”                    Then did sneer the son so wicked,
                                                                               “What does all this mean to you?”
Now this father had no daughters,                  And the father’s voice was bitter
But his sons, they numbered four,                  As his grief and anger grew.
One was wise, and one was wicked,                 
One was simple and a bore.                             “If you don’t consider,
                                                                               As a son of Israel
And the fourth was sweet and winsome,       Then for you this has no meaning,
He was young and he was small,                     You could be a slave as well!”
While his brothers asked the questions,            
He could scarcely speak at all.                          Then the simple son said softly,
                                                                               “What is this?” and quietly
Said the wise one to his father                         The good father told his offspring
“Would you please explain the laws.               “We were freed from slavery.”
Of the customs of the Seder
Will you please explain the cause?”                 But the youngest son was silent,
                                                                               For he could not speak at all,
And the father proudly answered                    His bright eyes were bright with wonder
“As our fathers ate in speed,                             As his father told him all.
Ate the Paschal lamb ‘ere midnight                   
And from slavery were freed.”                          Now dear people, heed the lesson
                                                                                And remember evermore,
“So we follow their example,                             What the father told his children,
And ‘ere midnight must complete,                   Told his sons who numbered four.
haggadah Section: -- Four Children
Source: Ben Aronin

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