With the Coronavirus dominating the news we’ve all been doing a whole lot of washing hands recently in order to maintain clean hands and avoid germs. So when I saw that this week’s parsha (Ki Tisa) talks about hand washing I decided to explore a little deeper. It says in this week’s parsha:
Shemot 30:18-21
וְעָשִׂיתָ כִּיּוֹר נְחֹשֶׁת וְכַנּוֹ נְחֹשֶׁת לְרָחְצָה וְנָתַתָּ אֹתוֹ בֵּין־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּבֵין הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְנָתַתָּ שָׁמָּה מָיִם׃
Make a laver of copper and a stand of copper for it, for washing; and place it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar. Put water in it,
וְרָחֲצוּ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו מִמֶּנּוּ אֶת־יְדֵיהֶם וְאֶת־רַגְלֵיהֶם׃
and let Aaron and his sons wash their hands and feet [in water drawn] from it.
בְּבֹאָם אֶל־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד יִרְחֲצוּ־מַיִם וְלֹא יָמֻתוּ אוֹ בְגִשְׁתָּם אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לְשָׁרֵת לְהַקְטִיר אִשֶּׁה לַה’׃
When they enter the Tent of Meeting they shall wash with water, that they may not die; or when they approach the altar to serve, to turn into smoke an offering by fire to the LORD,
וְרָחֲצוּ יְדֵיהֶם וְרַגְלֵיהֶם וְלֹא יָמֻתוּ וְהָיְתָה לָהֶם חָק־עוֹלָם לוֹ וּלְזַרְעוֹ לְדֹרֹתָם׃
they shall wash their hands and feet, that they may not die. It shall be a law for all time for them—for him and his offspring—throughout the ages.I. Kavanah/Intentionality
The Kohanim washed their hands and feet every time they entered the Mishkan to perform the Avodah. It was a ritual act which helped them not only to maintain good hygiene, but also to prepare their minds with Kavanah that they were about to do something holy.
We still echo this act today with the washing of the Kohanim’s hands before the Birchat Kohanim. We also wash Negel Vaser each morning, wash our hands before Tefilla (Brachot 16a), and wash Netilat Yadayim before eating bread. And at the Pesach Seder in a few weeks we will wash our hands not once but twice (Urchatz and Rachtza).
Ramban writes that, when a kohen washes his hands before the avodah, it is not for cleanliness; it is a sign of respect, just as the one who serves the king’s meals washes his hands even if they’re clean.
Not only is washing hands a sign of respect to Hashem; it also helps the Kohanim approach their Avodah with the right frame of mind. Washing hands is not just a matter of hygiene in Judaism. It is a symbolic reminder that our actions should be holy and pure. That what we do matters. That if we are intentional in our behavior we can have a tremendous impact on those around us. Imagine if before every conversation, email, or text we washed our hands as a reminder to be mindful and purposeful with our words. So one lesson I take from the emphasis on washing is the idea of Kavanah, of intentionality in our actions.
II. Reflection
But perhaps there is a deeper idea going on here as well. Rashi (30:19) quotes the Gemara (Zevachim 19b) which says that the Kohein would wash his hands and feet simultaneously. He would put his right hand on his right foot and wash them both, and then do the same with his left hand on his left foot. It almost sounds like a crazy game of Twister. What is the symbolism of washing in this manner? Bending over and placing his hands on top of his feet, the Kohain would look up and see his face reflected in the polished copper surface of the Kiyor. And he would remember his sacred duty to represent the people in purity and service to Hashem.
How do we know that the copper used for the Kiyor was reflective? It is based on a midrash quoted by Rashi in next week's parsha (38:8):
וַיַּעַשׂ אֵת הַכִּיּוֹר נְחֹשֶׁת וְאֵת כַּנּוֹ נְחֹשֶׁת בְּמַרְאֹת הַצֹּבְאֹת אֲשֶׁר צָבְאוּ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד׃
“He made the copper Laver… from the mirrors of the legions who massed at the entrance of the Ohel Moed.”Rashi quotes the midrash that Moshe did not want to take the copper mirrors, used for external beauty, for one of the Keilim of the Mishkan. But Hashem told him that these were the most precious to Him b/c they symbolized the emunah of the women in Mitzrayim who kept hope and faith in a brighter future and built their families despite the challenges of Avdut.
בְּנוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ בְיָדָן מַרְאוֹת שֶׁרוֹאוֹת בָּהֶן כְּשֶׁהֵן מִתְקַשְּׁטוֹת, וְאַף אוֹתָן לֹא עִכְּבוּ מִלְּהָבִיא לְנִדְבַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, וְהָיָה מוֹאֵס מֹשֶׁה בָּהֶן מִפְּנֵי שֶׁעֲשׂוּיִם לְיֵצֶר הָרָע, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּבָּ"ה קַבֵּל, כִּי אֵלּוּ חֲבִיבִין עָלַי מִן הַכֹּל, שֶׁעַל יְדֵיהֶם הֶעֱמִידוּ הַנָּשִׁים צְבָאוֹת רַבּוֹת בְּמִצְרַיִם
So, while we look forward to the day when things go back to normal and we don’t have to wash our hands every few minutes, in the meantime, perhaps while washing we can reflect on the idea that all our actions should be intentional and that our Avodah, our duty, is to each do just a little bit to make the world around us better. If we do this then not only will we, B’ezrat Hashem, maintain good hygiene; we will also create a brighter tomorrow. A tomorrow in which we look out for each other, realize the impact we have on one another, and encourage each other to have faith in the future.
