Washing the Hands
Pass the bowl & pitcher around the table, each pouring a few drops of water onto their neighbor’s hands.
Why are we washing our hands?
The term "delayed gratification" probably describes it best. We should be remembering what the slaves went through all those years ago, who weren't able to eat such delicious food whenever they wanted. We wash our hands to stave off the eating bit and keep ourselves hungry. Other rabbis disagree (of course) about the reason: they believe we wash our hands to replicate what everyone did in the days of the Holy Temple.
When we wash hands again later, just before eating the festive meal, we will say blessings to sanctify that act. Because the feast is still a few pages away, this handwashing is purely symbolic, and therefore the blessing is unspoken.
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