1) Urchatz: Washing of the hands without reciting a Bracha.
The reason for this washing is due to a Halacha which for some reason has been forsaken by most people throughout the year, known as "Tibul B'Mashkeh". (See Taz Siman 473:6)
"Tibul B'Mashkeh" is literally translated as "dipped in a liquid", and refers to the halachic requirement to wash ones hands before eating any food that is wet with one of the following seven liquids: Wine, Bee's Honey, Olive oil, Milk, Dew, Blood, and Water. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 158:3. The acronym for these seven liquids is YaD (Yayin, Dvash) SHaCHaT(Shemen, Chalav, Tal) DaM(Dam, Mayim)
Thus, being that we are about to eat Karpas, a vegetable dipped in [salt] water, we must first wash our hands.
2)There are various explanations given for perhaps not being stringent with this Halacha nowadays, which we will not get into at this time, but on the night of the Pesach Seder when we all endeavor to do everything properly and be on a loftier level than usual, all people are careful with this washing.
Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal explains that the reason this washing is referred to as a command, "Urchatz, and you shall wash" rather than the simpler "Rachtzah, washing" is due to the fact that this Halacha is overlooked the rest of the year by many people, we need to "command" everyone to do it this night.
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) For the washing of "Urchatz" it isn't necessary for women to remove their rings (as is recommended when washing for bread, see Mishna Berura Siman 161:19) as by "Tibul B'Mashkeh" since many people do not do it year round, we do not impose stringencies on the women this night. (See Halichos Shlomo, Pesach, Dvar Halacha footnote 53)
If one mistakenly recited the bracha of "Al Netilas Yadyim" on the washing of "Urchatz", it is possible that he may not require a new washing when it comes to "Rachtzah" later on in the Seder.
Thus, the best thing to do is to use the restroom or otherwise touch a covered part of the body or scratch the scalp in order to necessitate a new washing with a Bracha for the Matzah. (Halichos Shlomo, Pesach, Perek 9:26)
2) Karpas: A vegetable (celery, potato, scallion, or other vegetable, depending on each family's minhag) is dipped in saltwater and eaten.
When reciting the Bracha of "Borei Pri HaAdama" on the Karpas one should specifically have in mind that this Bracha should exempt the Maror that will be eaten later on. (See Mishna Berura Siman 473:55)
If one did not specifically have this in mind, the Bracha still works to exempt the Maror and no new "Borei Pri HaAdama" is made when eating the Maror.
The prevalent custom is to eat less than a Kzayis of Karpas. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 473:6 and Mishna Berura S"K 56.)
The Gaon of Vilna ruled like the Rambam that a Kzayis is indeed required, and those who follow the Gra's minhagim do take a Kzayis
However, even if a Kzayis is eaten no Bracha Achrona is recited, as the Birchas Hamazon later on will exempt this eating as well. (As quoted in Ma'aseh Rav. This was also the minhag of the Chazon Ish and the Brisker Rav Zichronam L'Vracha)
The prevalent custom is to eat the Karpas without Heseiba, leaning.
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Yahoo.com
Reader's Question:
I wanted to know why a man in Shana Rishona (the first 12 months after his marriage) does not wear a Kittel at the Pesach Seder but after that time period, does.
Answer:
One of the reasons for wearing a Kittel (which is like the white Tachrichim, shrouds, in which Jews get buried) at the Pesach Seder is that we should damper the extreme Simcha a bit lest it lead to Kalus Rosh. It is for this reason that the Taz (Siman 472:3) allows an Avel, a mourner, to wear a Kittel atthe Seder.
(See also Mishna berura Siman 472:13 where he brings the opinions of other Poskim that an Avel should not wear it)
Thus, a man in his first year of marriage is commanded to be extremely happy and not to damper the Simcha at all, and thus many people's custom is to not wear a kitel during their first year of marriage. (See Ta'amei HaMinhagim 503 in Kuntres Achron)
CHIZUK CORNER
As a Zechus for the Refuah Shelaima of one of the Gedolei HaDor, the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva , HaRav Chaim Stein Shlita, R' Chaim Yaakov ben Chasya Miriam, B'soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel, we will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
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THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
אל תתיאש מן הרחמים
Chizuk Corner
"A doctor must undergo rigorous training in order to qualify for his title. He must have hands on experience prior to actually practicing medicine. All this is necessary in order to become an expert in the field of medicine.
Similarly, a person who wishes to become an expert in the field of Jewish law, must excel in the mitzvos governing man's interaction with others.
One must have "hands on" experience in order to gain expertise. For how can one understand the Torah's laws and carry them out properly without having empathy for a fellow Jew?"
HaRav Yerucham Levovitz Zatzal, Mir Mashgiach, quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
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