Chochom ma hu oimer, what does the wise one say? The wise one asks: “ ma ho’eidos v’hachukim v’hamishpotim asher tsivo Hashem eloiheinu eschem? ” [What are the testimonies, statutes, and laws that God has commanded to you?] What kind of laws are these, that God gave you? How? Can a God truly give such laws, that all humankind should be dragged out, labouring and barely having enough to keep themselves going, while a small few should take everything away from them, and squander and indulge and live in a sea of serenity?

Roshe ma hu oimer, the wicked one, the parasite says: “ ma ha’avoida hazois lachem. ” What’s this work to you, why shouldn’t you work? A person must indeed work, a person was created to work! Work makes life sweet! Work, work children! “ Lachem v’lo loi ” [to you, but not to him]—only us does he order to work and become downtrodden, only us, and he himself doesn’t even lay a finger in cold water, and lives off our production! And because he removes himself from the collective, he is a “ koifer b’iker ” [a heretic to the core], he loses the fundamental awareness that all of humanity is born equal, and does not believe in the liberation of humanity: therefore we have nothing to do with him. “ V’af ato hakacho es shiniui, ” you should only set his teeth on edge and say: Remember that we’ve already freed ourselves from the slave house once, from Egypt, and we will from today’s yoke also certainly free ourselves. Ourselves and not him, for this slave master is our true enemy; he does not want the revolution and must surely fall.

Tam ma hu oimer, the simple honest person asks: “ma zois?” [What’s this?] What’s happening here between you? What are you fighting for? Over what are you struggling? Why don’t you just resolve this affair in good humour?  V’amarto elav, to him you should answer: “ B’chozek yad ” [with a strong hand]. Only through violence were we liberated from Egypt, and so too only through violent struggle will we free ourselves today.

Ushe’eino yoideia lish’ol es pesakh loi,  when one has no idea what to ask, you should explain to him simply the whole history of our former and present enslavement, and should say to him:

[ The Haggadah continues with the Maggid, summarizing the history of the workers’ oppression, from Pharaoh to today. ]


haggadah Section: -- Four Children