Now that we have told the story and we get nearer to the ritual meal, we will wash our hands again.

Pouring water over hands has an enormous symbolic significance. Hands are our tools for manipulating the world. As we transition from telling the Passover story to the meal, we wash with the healing waters of spring. We wash our hands to cleanse the daily world from ourselves and to remind ourselves that this meal is as much ritual space as everything before it was. And it’s probably just a good idea to wash your hands before eating.

The pitcher and bowl are still available, but you may want to get up and wash your hands at the sink, since we are moving from livingroom to the table.

You may choose not to recite:

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 Elohim, ruler of the universe, who sanctified us with God's commandments and instructed us on washing hands.

Hail to all the waters that we live on and by and with!

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 Elohim, ruler of the universe, who sanctified us with God's commandments and instructed us on washing hands.

Hail to all the waters that we live on and by and with!


haggadah Section: Rachtzah