[Avodah] FW: Karpas/Davar shetivulo bemashkeh

[SBA]

Over YT I have done a bit of 'exploring' in the topics of "uRechatz" and
"Karpas".

There seem to be 2 reasons for washing hands before Karpas -
a) Because it is a Davar shetivulo bemashkeh - which, despite most not being

nizhar all year, at the Seder - the head of the family (and in some places 
everyone) washes their hand.  (Lechore, there may be no chiyuv even for
those who are makpid to always wash for DShB - as one is supposed to eat
less than a Kezayis of Karpas.)  Or 
b) We do this to give the children another opportunity to ask questions
about strange and unusual minhagim of the night. 

Having made a bit of a survey, I found that for Karpas - quite a few have a
Minhag of using potatoes.

Now if the reason for Rechatz is b) - neecha. The kids will ask the question
- whatever is used. (In fact I have heard rumors of banana and
strawberries).

But if the reason is a), washing for a DShB is not required on any item that
requires peeling - even if it is washed before or after... 

I invite our TCs to comment..

MeInyan LeInyan... I spoke (separately)  to 2 young 'Bnei Torah-types" here
and asked if they are noheg to always wash for DShB.  They both humbly
replied that they do.

I asked them if they wash hands before eating pickled cucumbers - seeing
that they are wet when taken out of the jar or container?
 They both said , no. But couldn't explain why.

I have a chashash that they had taken up a Chumra (which, BTW, is actually
recommended by many poskim - including the KSA) without really knowing 
very much about the subject..

SBA