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Bolt of Inspiration #57 – Questions Never Asked

מה נשתנה....

The marquee moment for children at the Seder (who don’t make it until the Afikomen) is the asking of the four questions. When thinking about the four questions – it’s interesting to take notice that many Passover elements are remiss from the questions. We have to ask ourselves why these specific four? Rav Asher Weiss notes that these questions have one common denominator.  They all relate to the primary tension of the evening: is this a night to recall – slavery or freedom, שיעבוד or גאולה. On one hand we eat reclining, and on the other hand we eat bitter herbs. Similarly, the Matzah reminds us of servitude (poor man’s bread), and on the other hand it’s our food of freedom. Dipping in the Charoses is subject to a debate. According to some opinions it is the blood shed by our ancestors, and according to other opinions the sweetness is a symbol of freedom. With each question highlighting this tension the answer perfectly resolves the tension in but one phrase: מתחיל בגנות ומסיים בשבח (begin in denigration and conclude in praise). On this evening we remember both extremes, and use the bad as a blackwash by which the freedom is better able to stand up.