The mitzvah of Netillah is a true gift given to us with the potential to unleash a tremendous amount of beracha. But is it possible that our generation is not performing this mitzvah to the extent of it’s potential? Orly Wahba, founder of the world renowned non-profit organization Life Vest Inside, and her cousin Binyamin Israel have come together as co-owners of Netillah which is trying to solve that very problem.

Netillah is the first affordable 100% pure copper Netillah cup. The owners of this brand new company would argue that we have something to learn about this special act and the vessel in which we choose to perform it with. From the very beginning, Bnei Yisrael performed the mitzvah of Netillah through the use of a copper cup. However, over the past few generations the custom to use copper has been lost as people began using less expensive materials. Torah and Kabbalah state that copper has mystical qualities associated with good health, fertility, livelihood, and purity.

So how did this idea come about? Netillah’s founder Binyamin Israel, Orly’s cousin who lives in Israel, approached his Rabbi in hopes that he could give him some direction as he was having a lot of trouble with Parnasah. His advice was to focus on the mitzvah of Netillah. Binyamin stated that he was already performing the mitzvah with care, but his Rabbi than specified that he should try it with a 100% copper cup.

Binyamin agreed to take on the simple task according to his Rabbi’s advice. He would soon find out, though, that it was not so simple to find a copper cup to perform the mitzvah with. Many of the cups he found were copper plated or lined with gloss on the inside which would defeat the overall purpose. Others he found were pricey, an expense upwards of $280, so he decided to make his own cup.

As he began to do the mitzvah as it was intended, with copper, he started researching the reason behind what his rabbi had advised. Lo and behold, he began finding source after source citing the significance of copper throughout the generations. It was then that Binyamin decided it was time to share his new found knowledge with others and bring back the copper cup to Am Yisrael.

“When Binyamin approached me about this, I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to not only bring these important teachings to those who are already performing the mitzvah of Netillah, but to also have the opportunity to inform those who don’t perform the mitzvah,” said Whaba of her new business venture.

So why copper and how is it associated with this mitzvah? As we know, impurity has the ability to cling to anything that is living. Water is a living thing. Therefore, when waters are poured into a Netillah cup that is not made of copper, impurity is able to cling to it and we end up washing our hands with impure waters. However, by pouring the water into a 100% pure copper Netillah cup, the copper neutralizes the water. This insures that the water is no longer living and impurity has no way of penetrating it.

When we wash our hands with water from a pure copper Netillah cup, we receive the full and ultimate benefit that was intended by Hashem for performing the mitzvah. Copper therefore acts like a forcefield preventing impurity from penetrating. It is for this reason that before the Kohanim performed Avodat Hakodesh, they washed their hands from waters that came from the Kiyor Nechoshet - the copper sink.

Since all what we create comes from our hands, whether it be business, raising our children, preparing our food, creating - when our hands are purified and sanctified, we infuse that purity and sanctification into everything we touch.

Many of our great rabbi’s share how they too have been performing the mitzvah of Netillah with a copper cup for years and share stories of the Yeshuot and miracles they’ve seen through the use of a copper Netillah cup. Orly and Binyamin have presented the Netillah cup to some of the Gedolieh Yisrael who are now using their product and are excited that they are bringing the copper cup back to Am Yisrael.

Among those rabbi’s are:

שר התורה הרב חיים קנייבסקי שליט״א

הרב מרדכי שיינברגר שליט״א

המקובל הרב בניהו שמואלי שליט״א

“I think it’s a great idea that has been confirmed by the great Rabbi’s of Israel, Said Rabbi Eli J. Mansour, “Yes indeed, I use it.”

Zohar Kabbalah states: “Silver represents chesed (kindness); gold represents power; and copper represents mercy.”

“Our Netillah cup isn’t simply a product, it’s a spiritual vessel,” explained Orly of her amazing new product, “A gift for life and a mitzvah for life.”

For more information on Netillah, head to website and check them out on Instagram @Netillah_inc.

Frieda Schweky

Frieda@sephardic.org

Frieda Schweky is Sephardic.Org's official community events reporter. For inquiries and to get involved with our site, please contact Frieda via email.