![]() ![]() ![]() Some sources suggest that the practice was instituted so the Temple’s washing ritual would not be forgotten. For various reasons, the ancient rabbis extended this practice to all Jews before eating meals. The priests who performed the temple rituals were given gifts of oil, wine and wheat that could be eaten only after ritual washing. It derives from various practices concerning ritual impurity from when the ancient Temple stood in Jerusalem. The tradition of netilat yadayim prior to eating bread originated with the rabbis of the Talmud. It is also customary not to speak following the recitation of this blessing until reciting the blessing for bread and partaking of some. The tradition is unrelated to personal hygiene, and a person is still required to perform this ritual even if his or her hands are clean. Using the non-dominant hand to pour first can feel unnatural or awkward, highlighting that the washing is done for ritual rather than pragmatic purposes. Hasidic custom is to pour three times on each hand. There are various customs regarding how the water should be poured, but a common practice is to pour twice on the right hand followed by twice on the left (this is reversed for those who are left-handed). The ritual, known as netilat yadayim, is typically done using a two-handled cup, but any vessel will do. Traditionally, Jews are required to wash their hands and say a blessing before eating any meal that includes bread or matzah. Jesus once spoke to an expert in the Jewish law and told him that the most important commandment in the Law is "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind." The second most important commandment is "Love others as much as you love yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39) In his essay on "Healing Through Meal-Sharing", Brennan Manning says that Jesus is telling us "the only norm for a good and faithful disciple is that he be a professional lover of God and people.My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help Donate But the last to appear willing to humble themselves were the religious leaders (according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Jesus' message was one of peace and reconciliation with God, for whoever knew they were not worthy of God's attention. But the picture leads us to think that the Jewish religious leaders weren't at the table with Jesus. Scripture gives us the picture of Jesus regularly sharing meals with people. When I read about the way Jesus treated people, I see Jesus, whom Scripture claims is God come in the flesh, constantly representing the most dramatic expression of God's redeeming love and mercy. (Luke 19:1-10) That's exactly Jesus' mistake - unless we understand that Jesus was bringing Zacchaeus God's offer of a fresh beginning, new dignity, a friendship with God. So if you invited Zacchaeus to a meal in the presence of a number of people, you would be sharing his shame and guilt, and even an approval of his sinful life. Those who know the significance of "sharing a meal" in the Eastern culture of Jesus' day tell us that the invitation to "come to my table" meant that friendship was being offered. We are told that the religious leaders were outraged, in part, because they believed these dinners gave God a bad name. He welcomed people to share a meal with him not just when they had a bad reputation, but even when that reputation was well-deserved. ![]() The scandal that Jesus caused in first century Palestinian Judaism was precisely this: Jesus welcomed table fellowship with beggars, prostitutes, tax collectors and others thought of as social outcasts or religiously inferior. Some call it "culture" while others know it as "racism." Slaves and white people didn't eat dinner together in the same room, much less at the same table back then. One thing was certain about these gatherings: no one would expect a slave to be seated with them in a place of honor. In the mid 1820's, wealthy plantation owners in Atlanta, Georgia were best known for the lavish dinner parties they gave, honoring each other, famous authors, politicians, businessmen, and anyone who would further their reputation of "greatness." ![]()
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