Wash Hands Before Prayer

Our Parsha gives us instructions as to how to make the copper כיור, wash basin. This was to be placed next to the entrance to the היכל, where Temple service was to take place.

The Kohanim needed to wash their hands and feet before engaging in their duties. The penalty for entering the sacred area unwashed, was מיתה בידי שמים, death by the Heavenly court,

The Gemara in ברכות tells us that we learn from here the obligation to wash our hands before prayer. The Rambam goes even a step further by saying that since prayer takes the place of sacrifices, we must wash our hands and FEET before praying שחרית.

The reason why he requires this only in the morning is because the Rambam believed that prayer once a day was a Torah commandment. The other prayers were rabbinically ordained.

Obviously, we do not hold like the Rambam concerning washing our feet, but it does show the reverence we are supposed to have before we engage in praying to Hashem.