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Question:
Ask why you're washing. Everyone will be happy that the

washing is making you ask questions. Then you can
surprise them by telling the answer too!

Answer:
In the days of the Holy Temple, before eating any produce

(fruits or vegetables) dipped in certain liquids (including
water), people would wash their hands. Since there is no

Temple today, most rabbis say that the rule about dipping
doesn't apply. But at the Seder, we dip to recall the

Temple times. But since we don't HAVE to wash, we don't
say any bracha (blessing).

The Maharal of Prague says that there is deep symbolism
involved when one washes his hands for the purpose of a

Mitzvah. Hands represent the beginning of the human
body, for when one stretches out his hands to reach

forward or above, it is the hands that are at the front or at
the top of the body. The Maharal explains that that the

way one begins an action greatly influences the direction
and tone of all that follows from that point, and therefore,

even a seemingly insignificant sin, but one involving the

"bodily leader," is particularly wrong, for a misguided
beginning will lead to an incomplete and incorrect

conclusion. On Pesach, the Maharal continues, we should
be extremely careful in our observance of this idea, for

Pesach is the annual point of beginning for everything that
exists, in all times.

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