Why Do We Wash Our Hands So Often These Days?

   -Pikuach Nefesh (protecting human life)

  The preservation of human life takes precedence over all the other commandments in Judaism.

-Sha’at Hadachak (an hour of crisis)

  In the face of extraordinary circumstances, it is lawful to make temporary adaptations of Jewish law.

This year, we are living in an hour of crisis. We are making extreme adaptations of our day-to-day lives, and to our Seder.  While we would normally celebrate in the company of family and friends, we have only our immediate family today. While we would normally welcome in the stranger, we must beg the stranger to stay home today. We feel heartbroken -- it feels wrong to shut our doors and keep our loved ones away.  However, we face these adaptations with courage because they will help save human lives.

We are commanded to protect human life above all else.

We are commanded to adapt, to make changes, so we can protect human life.

We are commanded to wash our hands. Washing our hands is a mitzvah.

Accepting change in an hour of crisis is a mitvah.


haggadah Section: Urchatz