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Some sects of Ashkenazim (mostly Litvish) wash their hands only twice, while some Sephardim and some Hasidim wash three times.

Based on this answer I know that the first splash gets rid of the impurity. The second splash gets rid of the impure water on the hands from the first splash. What is the reason for the third splash?

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I heard this from a fellow, but don't have a source:

  1. The first splash gets rid of the dirt.
  2. Second splash gets rid of the impurity.
  3. The final splash gets rid of the impure water still on the hands.
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  • Was the fellow someone knowledgeable?
    – Seth J
    Sep 25, 2013 at 13:32
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    Was the fellow's name Joseph Karo?
    – Double AA ♦
    Sep 25, 2013 at 13:33
  • @SethJ, a yeshivah bachur.
    – Ani Yodea
    Sep 25, 2013 at 13:36
  • That's not true because Shulchan Aruch says you must get rid of the dirt from your hands, then dry your hands, then begin the "Netila"
    – Yaabim
    Dec 30, 2020 at 12:20
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According to the Gemara Shabbos 109a, there's a spirit that rests on the hands which is a 'noble' spirit, and will therefore refuse to leave with a mere washing once, but only by washing three times can it be removed (Rashi there).

While this is said in the context of washing in the morning, it could be that some have extended this to the washing done before bread, if they are worried about the damaging spirit continuing to reside on their hands (because after all, the Rabbinic requirement to wash hands for bread, even actual terumah bread, wouldn't require washing more than twice)

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  • Would the extension to bread not be out of ignorance of the context in which it was said? Why should it apply to bread, for which there is no "ruach ra'a"?
    – Yaabim
    Dec 30, 2020 at 12:22
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The Kaf HaChaim brings (162:2) that the three times is a specific Kabbalistic intention.

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