David Rosenberg is an actor and playwright. He is a graduate of the acting program at Juilliard, and one of two writers in this Haggadah with a play set on Passover ("Effect if Not Intent").

Urchatz calls on a fairly obscure Jewish ritual: washing our hands before eating foods dipped in liquid. But not all liquids! According to custom, there are only seven that necessitate washing: wine, honey, olive oil, milk, dew, blood, and water. It is said that these liquids possess the danger to bring about “tumah,” or spiritual uncleanliness, in the eater. Washing our hands ritually protects us from tumah and brings about “taharah,” or purity.

There is no prayer associated with Urchatz. It’s a real “Show Don’t Tell” ritual. But tonight, as we wash our hands, let us reaffirm our commitment to go beyond symbolic cleansing. Let us not rely upon ritualistic gestures to ward off spiritual uncleanliness. Let’s be proactive about pursuing taharah without symbolic reminders. And let’s acknowledge that “purity” is an ideal, not a reality. Let’s acknowledge the practical impossibility of taharah, but keep pushing towards it anyway. 


haggadah Section: Urchatz
Source: David Rosenberg