Maggid, Rachzah The ‘order of the Seder’ begins kadesh u’rechaz...maggid*rachzah.* Why do we first say rachazand then rachzah after*maggid?What is the significance of the extra letter hayat the end of the word rachaz? This is a way of reminding us of the significance of second washing. In point of fact, one washing should have been enough before a meal. However, there can not be any type of interruption between the time we wash and the beginning of the meal. Since the meal is preceded by the maggid, the telling of the Exodus as well as passages of praise, there is an interruption here. It is necessary for us to wash again before we begin the meal. The letter hay is an allusion to haggadah havay hesech hada’at b’hay:***** “the telling is an interruption with the letter hay.” Each of the words in this phrase begins with the letter hay.¹⁶

footnotes: ¹⁶ There are five words in this phrase which begin with the letter hay – the numerical value of hay is five!!