Haggadah-Kadeish Before Urchatz

At his first Seder following his induction as a Rebbe, Rabbi Tzvi of Alexander spoke as follows: “We read in the instructions of the Haggadah: recite the Kiddush and then wash the hands. Washing the hands is a symbol of penitence and ordinarily should precede Sanctification. In this instance, however, we know that there was no time for the Children of Israel to proclaim their penitence, since the Redemption came so swiftly upon them. Therefore they first sanctified themselves, being confident that they would surely find an opportunity to do penitence afterwards (Esser Zechuyot, page 93).”