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What is the source in the Halachic literature outside of the Mishnah Berurah who says it is a requirement to place a washing cup by your bed instead of going to the sink to wash your hands upon awakening in the morning?

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Kaf HaHaim Palagi (8:1) writes that if someone doesn't have the cup around his bed, then he should walk four amot and then stop etc. Thus, he holds that one should water around his bed.

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  • did you ever follow up with Alex link on getting a new print of the Kaf Hachaim I think its marketable Sefer and there should be Many willing to take of monetary responsbility – simchastorah Jan 5 '12 at 1:10
  • @simchashatorah they don't even provide a phone number. – Hacham Gabriel Jan 5 '12 at 1:12
  • The Kaf Hachaim says it explicitly, you don't have to infer it ("Thus, he holds that one should water around his bed") – Menachem May 20 '13 at 16:57
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The Mishna Brura (OC 1 sk 2) quotes the Shaarei Teshuva (OC 1 sk 2) who quotes the Birkei Yosef (OC 1 sk 1) who quotes the Bach (OC 4 sk 1) who quotes the Tolaat Yaakov who quotes the Zohar that it is assur to walk 4 cubits before washing upon waking up. It would thus seem prudent to keep a cup of water by one's bed.

Unfortunately, we don't have a Zohar that says that. So I give you: the Tolaat Yaakov!

h/t @simchashatorah for this bio of the Tolaat Yaakov.

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  • I think this is talking about the idea of not going 4 amot with N"Y (see Reshit Hochma 163b, and Ruah Haim sim. 4). – Hacham Gabriel Jan 5 '12 at 1:22
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    he.wikipedia.org/wiki/… – simchastorah Jan 5 '12 at 1:23
  • @HachamGabriel The only reason to davka wash by your bed is if you can't move to wash elsewhere, no? – Double AA♦ Jan 5 '12 at 1:23
  • @DoubleAA yes (see my above source). – Hacham Gabriel Jan 5 '12 at 1:24
  • @DoubleAA if you can find Ruah Haim 4 of Rav Haim Palagi, I believe it is discussed there. – Hacham Gabriel Jan 5 '12 at 1:30

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