Questions tagged [netilat-yadayim-washing]

Ritual hand washing. Required before or after certain actions, e.g before eating bread, after waking up, etc.

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8 votes
3 answers
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What's the deal with all the washings?

Sometimes we wash with a cup, sometimes not; sometimes we wash twice, sometimes thrice; and not everyone agrees on method or pattern in all cases. Who says which ways we are supposed to wash, in ...
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24 votes
6 answers
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Washing hands for eating pizza

How many slices are required to make you responsible to wash on Pizza?
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11 votes
3 answers
798 views

Why when washing for bread do we splash twice?

Is there any particular reason the procedure for washing hands for bread includes pouring the water twice on each hand? Isn't once enough?
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8 votes
2 answers
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Why do the Leviim wash the hands of the Kohanim when they go up to bless the people?

When the Kohanim washed their hands and feet in the Beis HaMikdosh they did not have anyone to help. Why then do the Kohanim need others to wash their hands when they go up to bless the people? Why ...
7 votes
4 answers
2k views

talking after washing

If one talked after washing does he have wash again and is it a hefseik? Where in halachah is it stated that one should preferably not talk after washing? I read that the only time you need to wash ...
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is Ruach Rah

Right in the beginning of Shulchan Aruch we see this idea of "Ruach Rah". In regards to washing ones hands and all that comes before that -- not walking more than 4 amos without washing one's hands, ...
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7 votes
1 answer
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Prosthetic limbs in halacha

What is the status of prosthetic limbs in halacha in terms of being considered part of the body? Is it considered: As if I were born with it? As a living piece of flesh, but not a piece of me? ...
5 votes
1 answer
719 views

What if you forgot to wash?

What should you do if you suddenly realize that you forgot to wash, either upon waking or before eating bread? I assume you should wash at your first opportunity, but is that right? Do you make a ...
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16 votes
3 answers
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What is the source of netilat yadayim before eating bread?

From where do we learn that one must wash one's hands before eating bread? What does washing one's hands before bread symbolize? Why is ritual hand washing required for bread, but not other foods?
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8 votes
2 answers
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Washing Hands post Funeral

What is the proper way to wash after a Funeral or a visit to the Cemetery?
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6 votes
2 answers
535 views

Washing in Less than Ideal Circumstances

We all know that in a perfect world, one would have a sink with a nice big washing cup for Netilas Yadayim. However, what does one do when, for example, one does not have a cup? What if one does not ...
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2 votes
1 answer
217 views

Are women obligated to say the morning blessings?

Are women obligated to say the morning blessings and perform the ritual hand washing?
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2 votes
1 answer
223 views

Touched acovered place while learning-may i continue learning?

Many times, in the middle of learning i will absentmindedly touch my scalp under my yarmulke, or my shoulder under my sleeve. Do i have to stop learning to wash my hands? may i continue without ...
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12 votes
2 answers
1k views

When I wake up before Alot Hshachar and won't go back to sleep, what can/can't I do?

If I wake up early in the morning, like any time from 2am to 6am, before Alot Hashachar, and I'm pretty sure I'll start my day and not go back to sleep, at least not before a possible afternoon nap, ...
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11 votes
5 answers
909 views

Can I wash and say "please pass the salt"?

After washing one's hands before eating bread, one is not supposed to talk until he has made Hamotzi and partook of the bread. I understand that general chatter is not allowed. But what about for ...
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10 votes
2 answers
915 views

Remove rings to wash?

Do I need to remove my wedding-band, which I wear every day, to wash for Hamotze or morning Negel vasser? What about other rings?
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10 votes
2 answers
491 views

Forgot to wash but said hamotzi

If I inadvertantly forget to wash and said the bracha hamotzi, and have just broken the bread, but not eaten yet, what should I do next?
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10 votes
1 answer
491 views

Should you greet a non-jew after washing netilat yadayim?

If you wash netilat yadayim and then a non-Jew says "hello" to you, should you: say "hello" back and wash again? try to acknowledge him without actually talking? or ignore him (doesn't seem right)?
9 votes
2 answers
414 views

Does one need dry hands before washing?

I've always noticed people that make sure their hands are perfectly dry before washing (i.e. washing for eating bread). Why do people do so? Where does this apparent stringency come from?
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8 votes
3 answers
472 views

Can you use carbonated water for washing?

Inspired by this question but I believe different because its not related to drinking. Can you use carbonated, and even flavored clear water (seltzer) to do things that require water such as washing ...
7 votes
2 answers
604 views

Washing after the bathroom from a running faucet -- any point?

After using the bathroom some folks let the water run (without opening and closing the faucet) and pass each hand under the faucet 3 times alternating between the right and left hands. Since there's ...
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7 votes
2 answers
176 views

Does Ruach Ra'ah transfer between people

If one washes netilays yadaim in the morning and thus eliminates their ruach ra'ah and then someone who has not yet washed their hands touches you do you have to wash again?
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7 votes
2 answers
756 views

Can you fulfill Netilat Yadayim by dipping your hands in a sink?

According to the Gemara in Hullin on 107a, if there's a vessel with a hole in it, and there's a "stream" (more than a drip but not necessarily the "sheffoferet hannod" required for a real mikveh) ...
6 votes
2 answers
722 views

Al Netilas Yadayim in morning and after bathroom

Are you supposed to say the bracha al netilas yadayim after doing negel vasser after waking up or going to the bathroom?
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6 votes
2 answers
327 views

What is a source that allows one to treat one's house as all within four amos?

I am after a source that allows one to treat one's house as all within four amos l'chatchila, with respect to nagel vasser (hand washing in the morning).
5 votes
2 answers
243 views

Touching the forearm when putting on Tefilin

If one has touched his forearm while placing the arm-Tefilin (I see that it's a very common case), is he obligated to wash his hands immediately, as he has to say a Beracha on the head-Tefilin? If so, ...
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5 votes
1 answer
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If I wake up before dawn, do I wash my hands with a blessing?

If one wakes up in the middle of the night or at least before dawn, does he wash and make al netilat yadayim? Also, at what point can one say birkot hashachar? I'd like to wake up extra early to do ...
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4 votes
2 answers
233 views

Beracha on washing hands in a natural body of water

Does one recite a different beracha when immersing ones hand in a natural body of water directly? I vaguely remember that there is a beracha of "על טבילת ידים" although I'm unsure.
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4 votes
2 answers
327 views

Touching one's hair while putting on Tfillin

I remember to have read (in the Shulchan Aruch I believe) that after doing the Netilat Yadayim one can't touch one's hair, because that would make you impure again. But when I put on and accommodate ...
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4 votes
1 answer
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Why are we impure when we wake up?

I've heard from morim and shiurim that when we wake up we're impure, or at least our hands are impure. That's why netilat yadayim should be one of the first things he do when we wake up. But I've also ...
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4 votes
1 answer
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Going to the bathroom, Netilas Yadayim, and Hamotzi

If a person needs to move their bowels before a meal and consequently must wash their hands afterwards, can that hand washing satisfy for Hamotzi as well? Assuming that is the case, would they say ...
3 votes
2 answers
608 views

where there isn't a vessel available for washing with is there another option available for someone to eat bread?

where there isn't a vessel available for washing with is there another option available for someone to eat bread? Or said another way if the only option for washing my hands is the sink but no cup ...
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3 votes
1 answer
118 views

What is the origin of washing hands in the morning?

According to the Tur (OC 4:1), the reason that we wash our hands in the morning is because of the "evil spirit" (רוח רעה) that had settled on them during the night. Is this custom referenced prior to ...
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3 votes
1 answer
397 views

Using soap at Netilat Yadayim to clean your hands?

I started reading Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. In the second chapter I noticed that I have to clean my hands when I wake up, then I say a blessing (netilat yadayim). Am I allowed to use soap with water when ...
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2 votes
1 answer
441 views

Rules about Handles on the Vessel for Netilas Yadayim

I am wondering about the vessel used in hand washing, I see the ones with two handles online and in shul etc is it ok to use 'any' vessel to wash the hands or does it have to be one with two handles? ...
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1 vote
1 answer
157 views

Water as a chatzitzah

I learned that Birkei Yosef holds that non-mikvah water may be considered a chatzitzah. That is why we make sure our hands are completely dry before we wash them ritually. It may be why some are ...
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16 votes
2 answers
499 views

Netilas Yadayim with automatic sinks

It seems there is precedent to allow for netilas yadayim when you don't have a cup, by turning the sink on and off for each rivi'is per hand. By employing this method you satisfy the requirement of ...
15 votes
4 answers
637 views

Women and Mayim Acharonim

I very often eat at meals where after the meal, all of the men wash mayim acharonim, but none of the women do so. I am aware of a number of halachic sources that say both men and women should wash ...
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11 votes
4 answers
431 views

Washing for bread before Kiddush. Convenient for sukkos?

There is a custom followed by Jews of German extraction to wash for Hamotzi before making Kiddush. See OC 271 (12) MB{61}. This is very convenient for those who have an outside sukka and don’t want ...
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

Why is washing one's hands called "netilas yadayim"?

The brachah made on washing one's hands is "al netilas yadayim." Why do we call it "taking the hands" instead of "washing the hands" (rechitzas yadayim)? Notice that at the Seder we call the washing "...
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9 votes
2 answers
388 views

Is Mayim Achronim required before Al Hamichya?

As the title asks: is it required or recommended before Al Hamichya (or for that matter, borei nefashos as well). And if yes or no, why or why not?
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8 votes
3 answers
148 views

What if, when the Kohanim washing their hands, less than ten remain?

Before Birkas Kohanim, the Levi'im wash the Kohanim's hands. In many communities, this occurs during the chazzan's repitition of Shemoneh Esrei, and in a room outside the main shul. Normally, there ...
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8 votes
2 answers
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What is the source for washing Mayim Acharonim with only a few drops of water?

OC 181 (4) MB [10] says that when washing mayim acharonim one must wash up to the second knuckle and using a few drops does not fulfill the mitzvah at all. Shulchan Oruch HaRav 181 (4) says there is ...
7 votes
1 answer
609 views

After cutting my hair, how many times must I wash my hands?

Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 4:19 says: One who takes a haircut or shaves and does not wash his hands, will be scared for three days [...] and [...] will not know what he is scared of. (Translation ...
7 votes
1 answer
1k views

What should you do if you accidentally talk between Al Netilas Yadayim and Hamotzi?

Assuming one has the minhag not to speak between netilas yadayim and hamotzi...What should one do if one accidentally speaks during this time? Should one wash again? With or without a blessing? --Or ...
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7 votes
1 answer
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Washing Kohen's Hands

Following kedusha during mussaf on a day when there is birchas kohanim (duchening), the Leviyim and Kohanim assemble at the sink and a Levi washes each Kohen's hands. What procedure of hand-washing ...
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6 votes
3 answers
495 views

What are the parameters for washing after excusing one's self in the middle of the meal?

If I recall correctly from Chayei Adam and elsewhere, if you're in the middle of a bread-based meal and excuse yourself to defecate, first of all you should wash with soap and water for hygienic ...
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5 votes
2 answers
193 views

Which authorities do not require a vessel (keli) for washing before praying?

Rav Aryeh Lebovitz in his shiur at around 6'58'' quotes authorities that do not require washing with a vessel (keli) for washing before praying. (I do not have the sefer he quotes. ) Who are these ...
5 votes
1 answer
169 views

Source for using a cloth between the hand and negel vasser cup when washing?

I used to use a cloth between the hand and negel vasser cup when washing because I saw others (chassidim) doing it in Monsey, but I stopped because I've never seen a reason for it in halacha. I'll ...
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5 votes
3 answers
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Washing feet before coming inside: Avraham vs. Lot

When the angels came to visit Avraham, he asked them (Bereishis 18:4) to "Bathe your feet, and recline under the tree". Rashi explains: He thought that they were Arabs, who prostrate themselves to ...
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