Ze’ev Jabotinsky’s Passover message
There may be a higher wisdom in that a man takes something from
the past without question, without curiosity as to causes or effects.
Op-ed.
Ronn Torossian
With Passover approaching, it is timely to revisit Zionist ideologue Ze’ev Jabotinsky’s
Passover message, in an article "Four Sons" which speaks of his deep
understanding of the meaning of the four sons’ story traditionally read
on Passover. A profound understanding of the story of the Exodus of the
Jewish people from Egypt at Passover is said to be adapted to the
psychology of four typical children, four typical Jews.
Jabotinsky wrote: “The
first is clever, the second is impudent, the third a simpleton, and the
fourth "such that he doesn't even know how to ask". And each must be
answered in order, according to his tastes and measure of understanding.
The Clever: The
clever boy wrinkles his high forehead, gazes searchingly with his big
eyes and wants to know what really the matter was. Why did they first
love his forefathers in Egypt, welcome them with open arms, and then
begin persecuting and tormenting them, and, so queerly they kept on
persecuting and tormenting them and throwing the baby boys into the
rivers, but wouldn't for anything let them go. What was the explanation,
Daddy? - asks the clever boy.”
The Impudent: The
second boy is “impudent” - there he sits - lolling back in his chair,
crossing his feet and grinning ironically - and asks - what are all
these funny customs and memories of YOURS? All this silly old nonsense
should have been forgotten long ago! “Blunt his teeth” says the ritual
of the Passover concerning this son. But I doubt if his teeth can be
blunted … for nothing is more unvanquishable than indifference. Nothing
can touch him, once he says of his own people, “you”, you can give him
up … He will go on grinning at you with all his teeth, and nothing that
you can do will blunt them. And, indeed, you should not blunt the teeth
of this son. Let him go on his way with strong teeth. Poor fellow, he
will need them in the encampment of the triumphant whither he is drawn.
He will have to crack hard nuts there, and the hardest will be the nut
of contempt. Often and often will he have to take kicks in answer to
loving speeches, be spat upon in answer to his flattery …
The Simpleton: The
third boy is the simpleton. His eyes are honest, clear and direct. He
is not of those who inquire, discover and excavate contradictions. For
him the world is simple and indisputable. He loves to believe and
worship with the simple faith of the primitive man … an artless,
single-minded trustfulness. “Daddy” he says, and planting his elbows and
pressing his chest on the table, he stretches out his neck and turns to
you … believing already everything you will tell him, for he wants to
believe, “Daddy, when will a better time come?” Then tell him gently and
simply about everything that is happening now in the great illimitable
Diaspora. Tell him how in a thousand different places, the newly
scattered temple of the undying people is being raised by a thousand
hands. Tell him how gradually the hitherto scattered national will is
being unified before our eyes, how again a real people is being created …
like all healthy nations … Tell him how everywhere, with every day the
pride and respect for our own individuality grows … Tell him what
wonderful poets are now writing in our tongue, and how beautiful … this
tongue is … And tell him further how gaily the colonist’s children are
chattering in this language in Palestine. And how … by great labour …
through a thousand obstacles … something new is rising and growing
there.
The One Who Doesn’t Know How to Ask: The
fourth boy does not know how to ask. He sits at table sedately, does
everything properly and it does not even enter his head to ask what it
is all about and why. According to the ritual, you should not wait for
his questions but tell him of your own accord. I disagree …there is
sometimes a higher wisdom … in that a man takes something from the past
without question, without curiosity as to causes or effects … According
to the ritual, you should tell this son about everything that he does
not ask. But I think, let the father too be silent and … kiss this son
on his brow, the surest keeper of the sacrament.”
This Passover Israel remains the center of Jewish life. Am Israel Chai – The Jewish people live.
Ronn Torossian is an entrepreneur & author.
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