Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide

Netilat Yada’yim –Ritual Hand Washing
Much of Jewish ritual practice serves to elevate the mundane to a spiritual level. Washing
our hands can serve this purpose. Not the soap-and-water kind of washing, although
sometimes the licensing rep seems to consider it divine. In Jewish law, we are
commanded to wash our hands first thing in the morning and before we eat a meal,
specifically a meal at which we eat bread and say ha’motzi.
“Hand washing separates us from what came before and prepares us for what’s to come;
it symbolizes our becoming conscious of what we do and who we are” (Kula, p. 14).
When we wake in the morning, we say the prayer Modeh Ani to give thanks to God for
another day, and we wash our hands to acknowledge, both physically and ritually, that we
are created in the image of God, and that we must treat our bodies with respect. In a
classroom where Modeh Ani is part of the morning circle or daily tefillah, the sensory
and spiritual impact of this blessing can be intensified by incorporating hand washing as
well. Perhaps two children can have the job of bringing a bowl, pitcher, and towel around
the circle to enable each child to wash his or her hands during the time of Modeh Ani.
Washing our hands not just for cleanliness but also ritually before a meal where we eat
bread can serve as a signal to slow down and think about how important the meal we are
about to eat together will be. We are inviting a special guest – God – to our table, and
washing our hands along with saying the brachah will help us to say thank you and to
remember the partnership between God and us that was necessary to get this meal to our
table. Another nice thing about netilat yada’yim (ritual hand washing) is the custom of
remaining silent between washing our hands and reciting ha’motzi to signify the
connection between two acts.
The ritual:
Because ritual hand washing is different than washing for cleanliness, it should be done
in a different way. Preferably we use a special two-handled cup, called a klee, although
any unbroken vessel will do. We fill the cup with water, hold it in one hand, and pour
some water over the other hand, and then we do the same with the other hand. Some
people pour three splashes of water over the right hand, and then three splashes of water
over the left hand, or switch back and forth three times, using up all the water in the klee.
As we dry our hands we say the blessing:
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Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam asher kid’shanu b'mitzvotav v’tzivanu al
netilat yada’yim.
Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us by
commanding us to wash (literally, to lift up) our hands.
Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide
USCJ Department of Education
Maxine Handelman
Handelman@uscj.org
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