1.
The Torah spoke of four sons: one wise, one wicked, one innocent, and one who did not know how to ask. These four sons became one of the most prominent symbols of the holiday.
A few weeks ago, a group of people came to the city of Bnei Brak to express their opinion on what is happening in the country. Their protest is acceptable and is being carried out with both legal and moral permission, but the location was determined by a negative attitude of defiance against an entire public, while some of them have no opinion on the subject and some do not even belong to any side in the great debate.
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Despite this, most of the city's residents welcomed them with warmth, love, and brotherhood. Some even went so far as to turn on the loudspeakers playing the traditional song "Shalom Aleichem" in preparation for Shabbat.
One of the protesters, a Jew who had apparently distanced himself from Judaism over the years, to the point where he had almost no connection left, heard the familiar and beloved song from Beit Abba, the song that plays in Israeli homes every Shabbat before the Shabbat night meal, during the most beautiful moments of the week, a time that unites family members around one table, free from distractions and free from everyday worries.
When he heard the special melody, which, in addition to the obvious message, contained another message - that he was welcomed like the face of angels, the captive baby burst into tears and began to sing gently and sweetly to the rhythm of the song. And the whole world was abuzz with excitement about the bringing of hearts together, which happened precisely during such a difficult time of division in the nation.
2.
The question arises, who is that son? Is he the wise one, a learned scholar who knows and understands the intricacies of Jewish law? Unfortunately, not yet. But who knows, perhaps this is the beginning of a process.
Is he the evil one? Of course not. If he were the evil one, he would defiantly ask when the melody is played: 'What is this "Shalom Aleichem" to you?' He would exclude himself from the group and blaspheme primarily because of the connection he has with the Jewish religion.
Is he innocent? God forbid, he belongs to the most enlightened and successful community in Israeli society.
Maybe he's the one who doesn't know how to ask? Why not?! Doesn't he have a well-founded opinion in all areas of life, and he's not content with expressing it verbally, but rather physically acts at intersections and bridges to express his opinion firmly, even to convince others to follow his path.
3.
It turns out that today there is also a fifth son - that prodigal son, who doesn't even make it to the holiday meal, that child who has completely disconnected himself from his ancestors' heritage. He lives less than a kilometer from the city of Bnei Brak. He sees the words "Bnei Brak" on signs, at interchanges. He also hears about it quite a bit in the media - sometimes for the better, sometimes less so, but he has never visited it.
He is afraid of being blinded by the Jewish light. Even in the swamp where he lives, so far removed from Judaism, memories of the past occasionally disturb his peace. He understands that if he leaves the bubble, and even more so - enters the flag city of Israeli tradition, he will be literally burned.
Well, it turned out that he predicted correctly. Although he initially entered into crime, he ended up being raped. The inner light of the soul ignited his body, and the fire broke out and affected and touched thousands of the people of Israel.
The fifth son is called the 'unwilling son'. He knows a little, but suppresses it. He doesn't want to know!
Our sages tell us about these children, that we will never give up on them. We will give them toast and nuts, shower them with love, give them warmth and hope, and the day will come when, thanks to them, they will return to their origins and all sit down together at the Seder table.
