Why Copper?
Why is it ideal and preferable to perform the mitzvah of netillat yadayim with a copper cup?
Copper in and of itself is healing and purifying. So too is the mitzvah of netillah. Copper is a natural antibacterial and has what’s known as a oligodynamic effect on bacteria, meaning it kills microbes. Copper does not retain any impurity. This is the reason why hospitals use copper for door knobs in an effort to minimize the spread of germs.
Copper is like a force field preventing impurity from penetrating
Impurity has the ability to cling to anything that is living. As we know, 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 so 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 and so 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.
Why OurCopper Cup?
While there are other copper netillah cups on the market, many of those cups are simply copper plated or lined with gloss on the inside of the cup. This prevents the actual raw copper from touching water which nullifies the entire reasoning behind using a copper cup for netillah.
Netillah is a 100% pure copper cup with gloss only placed on the outer surface of the cup. The inside of the cup is raw copper. While copper tarnishes, it’s simple to remove by taking a piece of lemon dipping it in kosher salt and rubbing it on the inside of the cup.
Over the last decades netillah cups have been made with very inexpensive materials. As a result the pure copper cup has been forgotten.
Now is our chance to bring it back!
The Use and Importance of Copper Throughout the Generations
Throughout the generations, the nation of Israel used a copper cup for the washing of hands as we found in Ahavat Chaim, Parashat Vayera.
Spiritual Benefits
Torah and Kabbalah state that copper has mystical qualities associated with good health, fertility, livelihood, and purity.
“Silver represents chesed (kindness); gold represents power; and copper represents mercy.”
In the Beit Hamikdash, King Solomon made a large mikveh made entirely of copper for the kohanim to immerse in and cleanse themselves from impurity prior to working in the Beit Hamikdash (״ים נחשת״). Kings 7:23:וַיַּעַשׂ אֶת-הַיָּם, מוּצָק: עֶשֶׂר בָּאַמָּה מִשְּׂפָתוֹ עַד-שְׂפָתוֹ עָגֹל סָבִיב, וְחָמֵשׁ בָּאַמָּה קוֹמָתוֹ, וקוה (וְקָו) שְׁלֹשִׁים בָּאַמָּה, יָסֹב אֹתוֹ סָבִיב...וַיַּעַשׂ אֶת-הַמְּכֹנוֹת עֶשֶׂר, נְחֹשֶׁת.״(The sea was a copper tank that was filled with water by the kohanim for ritual immersion and it stood on 12 cows made of copper.)
In the book “אור הבהיר” a book explaining the Kabbalah, Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Brendvine says, Lavan told Yaakov “נחשתי ויברכני ה בגללך” Comes from the word “נחושת” (=copper). Lavan explains that Hashem blessed him with male children in the merit of Yaakov. Prior to Yaakov’s arrival, Lavan only had girls. From this we learn that נחשת, copper, is connected to fertility and has the ability to assist in bearing children.
The כיור (sink) in the Beit Hamikdash is compared to the Jewish people. It was made out of copper. Why copper? Copper tarnishes however it is easily cleaned. The same is true of the Jewish nation. Although they may tarnish their soul with transgressions, the moment they make teshuvah they are immediately cleansed and purified.
As stated in Sefer Bamidbar, Moshe created the נחש נחושת, the copper snake, to heal the people during the plague. The Zohar Kaballah explains: Why did Moshe make the snake from copper? Because copper is the secret to the source of life. Copper is the 6th secret of תפארת, glory.
״וצלה ילדה גם היא את תובל קין - לטש כל חרש נחשת וברזל״ (“And Zillah too-she bore Tubal-Cain who sharpened all cutting implements copper and iron.” 4:22) This comes to show that the element of copper is something that has been in existence and has been significant from the beginning of time.
Rabbi Yosef Bechor Shor wrote in his book “Alleh Shor” (Exodus 38:17)״משה עשה במשכן 65 אדני נחושת כמנין אדנות כנגד ספירת המלכות שהיא מקור ירידת השפע והפרנסה לעולם הזה.״Moshe was told to make 65 copper hooks (equivalent to one of the names of Hashem, Adanut, in gematriah) in the Mishkan. It’s told that through these 65 copper hooks sustenance and plenty rains down upon the world. According to Kabbalah, there are ten sefirot (emanations through which Hashem reveals Himself). Adanut (one of the names of Hashem) represents Sefirat מלכות (royalty) and מלכות is the source of פרנסה (sustenance) and abundance.
״אם אדם ננשך על ידי כלב, ישתה מכלי נחושת במשך 12 חדשים וירפא״ (“If a person has been bit by a dog he should drink from a copper cup for twelve months and he will be healed.”)
Health benefits of Copper
Copper has been used for thousands of years for many ailments we see today.It’s not only an important element for living, but it’s also known for its ability to heal wounds faster, sterilize water, treat lung disorders, and help headaches.
Did You Know?
01
Copper is a mineral that is found throughout the body.
02
Copper helps your body make red blood cells and keeps nerve cells and your immune system healthy.
03
Copper helps form collagen, a key part of bones and connective tissue.
04
Copper acts as an antioxidant, reducing free radicals that can damage cells and DNA.
05
Copper helps the body absorb iron.
06
Your body needs copper to make energy.
7 Powerful Reasons to Choose Copper
Copper has several important properties that make it incredibly useful!
Copper is a natural antibacterial and has what’s known as a oligodynamic effect on bacteria, meaning it kills microbes. Copper does not retain any impurity. In fact, this is important when hospitals are made, as they make the door knobs out of copper to minimize the spread of germs.
According to a 2012 study published in Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition, storing contaminated water in copper for up to 16 hours at room temperature considerably reduces the presence of the harmful microbes, so much that the researchers inferred that “copper holds promise as a point-of-use solution for microbial purification of drinking-water.”
In an additional study from University of South Carolina, researchers explored the purifying power of copper, finding that “Antimicrobial copper surfaces in intensive care units (ICU) kill 97% of bacteria that can cause hospital-acquired infections,” resulting in a 40% reduction in the risk of acquiring an infection. The research was done in a hospital ICU. The research found that the rooms with copper-surfaced objects had less than half the infection incidence than those rooms without copper.
Copper regulates the Thyroid, makes our bones strong, aids in the formation of new cells, helps with iron absorption, and is the primary element responsible for producing.
Our brain works by transmitting impulses from one neuron to another through an area known as the synapses. These neurons are covered by a sheath called the myelin sheath that acts like a sort of conductive agent – helping the flow of impulses. How does copper figure here you ask? Well, copper actually helps in the synthesis of phospholipids that are essential for the formation of these myelin sheaths. Thereby, making your brain work much faster and more efficiently. Apart from that copper is also known to have anti-convulsive properties (prevents seizures).
Apart from fine tuning your digestive system to perform better, copper also helps your body break down fat and eliminate it more efficiently.
If you are worried about the appearance of fine lines, copper is your natural remedy! Packed with very strong anti-oxidant and cell forming properties, copper fights off free radicals – one of the main reasons for the formation of fine lines – and helps in the production of new and healthy skin cells that replace old dying ones.
Copper has anti-inflammatory properties and helps in arthritis and other inflammatory pains. This asset is especially great to relieve aches and pains caused due to inflamed joints. In addition to that, copper also has bone and immune system strengthening properties, making it the perfect remedy for arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Copper has very strong antioxidant properties that helps fight off free radicals and negate their ill effects – one of the main reasons for the development of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society the exact mechanism of how copper helps prevent the onset of cancer is still not known but some studies have shown that copper complexes have a considerable anti-cancer effect.
