Q:
To wash your hands in the morning, negel vasser, should it be right near the bed?
A:
The answer is, as close to the bed, because negel vasser, the Rashba says, is for the purpose of showing we are Kohanei Hashem and the Kohanim, ורחצו ידיהם ורגליהם בגשתם לשרת. In the morning, we’re going to serve Hashem all day long. That’s the lesson. Negel vasser means get ready to serve Hashem. You are Kohanei Hashem all day long. A tremendous lesson. We’re in this world to serve Hashem.
And so as you wash your hands, don’t just do it without thinking. Think that I’m doing this now, I’m a Kohen, Hashem appointed us mamleches Kohanim v’goy kadosh. Our entire lives are dedicated in serving Hashem.
Whether you’re in the kitchen cooking, whether you’re washing diapers, whether you’re working in an office, besides davenen and learning, whatever you do, you should know you’re serving Hakodosh Boruch Hu and you’re an eved neeman and therefore you are Kohanim, and therefore your washing the hands is a very important symbol, and it should be utilized to make us aware of our status as Kohanei Hashem.
(November 26, 1998)
