Why the seemingly extra “vav”? When one wants to sanctify himself, one of the very first steps would be to cleanse one’s self from the “stain” of the sin. In other words, these two statements of KADESH (sanctification) and RACHATZ (washing) are intertwined and give us this message. As we begin the seder, we seek to become better people. The Ba’al Haggda is indicating that the first step on that path is through “cleansing” ourselves of sin…THAT will help us to sanctify ourselves and move to that next level.

Why do you wash your hands? The חכמים made a גזרא that if you are going to touch the food that will be dipped into any of these liquids, then you wash before. יד שחט דם

י = יין

ד = דבש

ש = שמן

ח = חלב

ט = טל

ד = דם

מ = מים


haggadah Section: Urchatz