As we now transition from the formal telling of the Passover story to the celebratory meal, we once again wash our hands to prepare ourselves. As we remember from our symbolic washing, pouring water over the hands has an enormous symbolic significance. Hands are our tools for manipulating the world. To mark the transition from telling the Passover story to  the meal, we ritually wash our hands to create an aura of sanctity; we clean our tools for interacting with the world, that will engage us in something beautiful.

We encourage you to to say the blessing for washing your hands and then go wash your hands.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה הָ׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדַיִם

Barukh atah adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al netilat yadayim

Blessed are you, our God, ruler of the universe, who sanctified us with God's commandments and instructed us on washing hands.


haggadah Section: Rachtzah