The second element of the Passover is Urchatz.
Urchatz is the Hebrew word that describes the ritual of hand washing.
HAND WASHING
In this element of the Seder we wash our hands for the first of two times during the symbolic meal.
This first hand washing ritual will happen right before dipping a vegetable (usually parsley) into salty water as part of the Seder remembrances.
It is this very thing that makes the necessity for the washing of the hands. Since it is easy for liquids to contract impurities and to conduct those impurities to solid foods, the sages of old ordained that one should wash their hands before eating a food that has been dipped into a liquid.
URCHATZ
You could see symbolism in this as well as safety.
When you wash your hands you are making a statement symbolically that says you wish to be rid of the impurities of life in a materialistic world.
As you wash your hands your mind imagines that more purity has been achieved, and you can almost feel the dirt lifting from your soul.
LIKE A PRAYER
The handwashing becomes like a prayer asking God for help in staying pure and clean so that when we come to worship Him we can lift holy hands up in His presence and honor him.
Certain gestures can be symbolic prayers without words. This is one of those times. It is similar to when someone makes the sign of the cross; it is a silent prayer.
A WASHING FOR THE THINGS OUR EYES CANNOT SEE
When our hands are dirty; we should wash them.
Sometimes harmful particles are so tiny that they cannot be seen with the eyes; but they are still there spreading their germs everywhere that our hands touch.
If we cannot see the dirt; all the more reason to wash the hands to be sure that a thorough cleansing takes place.
There are often specks of sin in our souls that are invisible to our humanity. We must ask God to remove the sins that we do not realize we have.
IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN; YOU ARE A PRIEST
A basin and a towel are brought to the table.
You should pour the water to cover your right hand. Repeat. Repeat again. Do the same for your left hand. That is how the Kohanim did it when they entered the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
Maybe you are thinking; “but I am not a priest.”
Perhaps reading this scripture found in 1 Peter 2:9 will help you to understand your destiny:
“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
THE TEMPLE OF LIVING STONES
We have no physical temple to go to wash anymore; but we DO have a spiritual temple (our bodies filled with Christ through the work of The Holy Spirit.)
God is building up a temple of living stones.
What could be more exciting?
We must keep the priestly ritual and wash before dipping the karpus.