Rachtza is the ritual where we wash our hands, before we eat the matza. The way we wash our hands is the same way that we wash our hands on Shabbat and other holidays with a blessing. First, we lift up the cup and then we wash our hands on both sides in and out and top and bottom. As we wash our hands we make a blessing. (One should not talk unnecessarily until after eating the matza.) We make a blessing over the matza. There are several blessings following Rachtza. The first blessing is "Hamotzi lechem min haaretz", in which we acknowledge with gratitude that God allows bread to come from the earth. The second blessing is the matza blessing. Some have the custom to first lift up three matzas, on which we make the first blessing. After we make the first blessing, we put down the lower matza and make the second blessing, and then we lean to the left and eat the matza. 


haggadah Section: Rachtzah
Source: Original