After the blessing to sanctify the day of Passover at the beginning of the Seder, we do the first of two hand-washings, וּרְחַץ/urchatz; which in Aramaic means to lean into or to trust.

We see in the sanctification of the day our holiness In the midst of the holy day: and with the וּרְחַץ/urchatz, we ask ourselves, what have we been trusting in this past year, and what will we trust in during the year to come?

At this point in the Seder we recognize that we are washing, and therefore being cleansed, as וּרְחַץ/urchatz in Hebrew means to wash. However, we do not yet know how to be a blessing with our hands.

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

“Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us through your commandments and has commanded us concerning the washing of hands.”

Later, just before the elements are taken from the Seder plate, we wash again, this time with the regular blessing for hand-washing. Why?

Having heard the story of the exodus, we have now learned how to be a blessing with our hands. We will now lift them freely to serve the Lord, and the human community; because we have trusted in, leaned on, the Lamb Who cleanses us. On the evening of Passover, Yeshua said:

“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (Jn. 15:3).

Now wash knowing that you have been washed, and prepared to serve those around you with His blessing.

Be well. Shalom.