Urchatz -

Too often during our daily lives we don’t stop and take the moment to prepare for whatever it is we’re about to do. The seder offers us an opportunity to practice mindfulness by washing our hands. Traditionally, we wash our hands twice during our seder.

This symbolic washing of the hands recalls the story of Miriam's Well. Legend tells us that this well followed Miriam, sister of Moses, through the desert, sustaining the Jews in their wanderings. Filled with mayim chayim, waters of life, the well was a source of strength and renewal to all who drew from it. One drink from its waters was said to alert the heart, mind and soul, and make the meaning of Torah become alive.

As we prepare to wash our hands, we must remember that many in the United States and around the world do not have access to clean water. Clean water is not a privilege; it is a basic human right. One in ten people currently lack access to clean water. That’s nearly 1 billion people in the world without clean, safe drinking water. Almost 3.5 million people die every year because of inadequate water supply.

Today, we'll symbolize the uplifting of cleansed hands by raising hands into the air.

Compiled from contributions by Jewish Boston and Linda and Dan Berkowicz 


haggadah Section: Urchatz