Contributors

Sarah Bassin

-- Four Children

4 sons image

by Sarah Bassin

4 sons image

Washing - for what?

by Gavriel Goldfeder

By Rabbi Gavriel Goldfeder alternadox.netLater on we will do ' rachtzah '─the washing over the matzah . Now we are doing ' urchatz ', which amounts to washing before eating a vegetable. This is not something we do every day.To explain, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, first chief Rabbi of the State of Israel, writes of dividing life into two categories: the goal, and everything else. We set goals for ourselves and set out to reach them. Everything we do that helps...

Rachtzah

by Haggadot

Rachtzah

Rachtzah: A Deeper Washing

by Truah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

Our hands were touched by this water earlier during tonight's seder, but this time is different. This is a deeper step than that. This act of washing our hands is accompanied by a blessing, for in this moment we feel our People's story more viscerally, having just retold it during Maggid. Now, having re-experienced the majesty of the Jewish journey from degradation to dignity, we raise our hands in holiness, remembering once again that our liberation is bound up in everyone...

Rachtzah-Access to Clean Water

by Kayla Shore

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...

Rachtzah: El Lavado de Manos

by Zyanya Maxine

(Cada quién se enjuaga las manos). Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al netilat yadayim. Bendito Eres Tú Di-s Nuestro Señ-r, quien nos ha santificado con sus mandamientos y nos ha mandado lavarnos las manos. Lavémonos las manos y limpiémoslas de discordia. Que esta mesa esté libre de miedo y de ira, y que luchemos juntos para ser uno con Quien Es Uno. Con esta limpieza de manos, limpiamos también nuestros corazones. Mientras nos preparamos para participar...

Seder Song

by Shira Hanau

Seder means order, so we begin the seder by singing a song that goes through the order of the night's activities. Kadesh Urchatz Karpas Yachatz Maggid Rachtzah Motzi Matza Maror Korech Shulchan Orech Tzafun Bareich Hallel Nirtzah