Page 15 - Pesach-Haggadah-2025-RB

One who knows?

Ask why you're washing. Everyone will be happy that the

washing is making you ask questions. Then you can surprise
them by telling the answer too!

Answer:
In the days of the HolyTemple, before eating any produce

(fruits or vegetables) dipped in certain liquids (including

water), people would wash their hands. Since there is no
Temple today, most rabbis say that the rule about dipping

doesn't apply. But at the Seder, we dip to recall the Temple

times. But since we don't HAVE to wash, we don't say any
bracha (blessing).

The Maharal of Prague says that there is deep symbolism involved

when one washes his hands for the purpose of a Mitzvah. Hands

represent the beginning of the human body, for when one stretches

out his hands to reach forward or above, it is the hands that are at

the front or at the top of the body. The Maharal explains that that the

way one begins an action greatly influences the direction and tone of
all that follows from that point, and therefore, even a seemingly

insignificant sin, but one involving the "bodily leader," is particularly

wrong, for a misguided beginning will lead to an incomplete and

incorrect conclusion. On Pesach, the Maharal continues, we should

be extremely careful in our observance of this idea, for Pesach is the
annual point of beginning for everything that exists, in all times.

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.םירוסא הצפה וא הקתעה ,שומיש לכ .רוא-ןפלואל תורומש תויוכזה לכ
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