Four Sons Poem by gershon hepner

In theory we should engage
with four sons, whom I list below,
including, at the top the sage,
at bottom he who doesn’t know
how questions should be asked, and in
the middle the outsider who
considers rituals a sin,
and he who’s simple, but heart true.

We teach Passover laws to those
who’re wise, and welcome to our table
the wicked sons who are our foes,
but do not make our lives unstable.
Though sons who’re simple fail in schools
to learn the facts of Jewish life,
we must not let them think they’re fools,
but tell them of God’s strength. Our wife
is suited best to teach our son
who does not yet know how to ask,
while we provide for him some fun,
with afikoman search his task.

The spice of life, variety,
is what on Passover we choose
to celebrate; society
does not allow us to refuse
a welcome to a single son,
so even those who have the label
of wicked we refuse to shun,
with wine and matzah on our table.


3/30/07