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One of the highlights of the Seder is the mention of the four sons. Based on different verses in the Torah, these characters represent different things to each generation. This of course especially true of the wicked son. In the illustrations of each Hagadah we can see how different generations have found there own version of this type. The passage of the wicked son is in itself a bit puzzling. By saying ’what is this service to you’ and not to us, he is regarded as removing himself from the Jewish people. You therefore ’set his teeth on edge’ by implying that had been in the generation of the Exodus, he would not have been thought worthy to be redeemed, a reference to those Jews whom tradition says died in the plague of darkness. Yet is this not precisely what the lad is saying. He is basically not interested in Judaism. This is your affair, not mine. I want no part in these obscure, outdated rituals. How then does implying he would not have been part of the redemption annoy him so much? The answer teaches us much about Jewish psychology. It is true that the wicked son is openly contemptuous of Jewish ritual. He wants nothing to do with the Jewish religion, politics or even culture. He is a modern assimilated citizen of the world. But so much as hint that he is not really Jewish or not a part of the Jewish people and his hackles rise. No one has the right to tell him that he is not Jewish enough. He is born Jewish and will die Jewish irrespective of what the Rabbis might say or what he does in between. The answer to the wicked son, rather than being self-defeating, thus hits him where it hurts or, in fact, does the most good. It forces him to confront the fact that, despite trying to run as fast and far away as possible from everything connected to Judaism or Jews, deep down he does care about being Jewish. Being in some way tied to the Jewish destiny is, even subconsciously, basic to his identity and the suggestion that he may be cut off from that destiny, cuts to the bone. The answer given to the wicked son thus causes him to question his own beliefs, and if he really is so estranged from Judaism as he pretends. If it suddenly means so much to be counted as a Jew, what implications does that have for his life? This scenario is, of course, as familiar to us as in previous generations. The Hagadah thus shows us not to despair of any Jew, no matter how seemingly estranged from Judaism or the Jewish people. Scratch a little deeper and the Jew in him will come out. That is indeed a good thing to remember as we celebrate our national birthday.