Evil Sons and literal dentists
Perhaps the most commented on section of the seder is that of the Four hypothetical Sons -- Wise, Evil, Simple, and Doesn't Know To Ask -- each asking (or not) his little question and getting his pat answer. The section for the Evil son starts (from memory, so cut me a bit of slack):
Evil, what does he say?
"What is this service to you?"
Saying "you," he excludes himself, and therefore you should blunt his teeth and say...
For some reason, this is always translated as "speak plainly" or "respond forcefully," but it definitely means either "blunt his teeth" or "hit him in the teeth."
Right before I went to my mother's for the weekend, I went to my dentist to get a crown, and he filed down part of the tooth above it. So now one of my canines has indeed been blunted. Let it never be said that the universe lacks a sense of humor.
Evil, what does he say?
"What is this service to you?"
Saying "you," he excludes himself, and therefore you should blunt his teeth and say...
For some reason, this is always translated as "speak plainly" or "respond forcefully," but it definitely means either "blunt his teeth" or "hit him in the teeth."
Right before I went to my mother's for the weekend, I went to my dentist to get a crown, and he filed down part of the tooth above it. So now one of my canines has indeed been blunted. Let it never be said that the universe lacks a sense of humor.