Community Magazine February 2014

The Top 10 Questions & Answers on custom and laws of RABBI DANIEL D. LEVY Dedicated in loving memory of HachamNissim benMazal a.h The Morning Netilat Yadayim 1 WHY DO WE WASH OUR HANDS IN THE MORNING? Several reasons have been given to explain the requirement to wash one’s hands in the morning. The Rosh (Rabbenu Asher ben Yehiel) explains that while sleeping people are prone to touching parts of the body that are normally covered, thus necessitating washing the hands in the morning before praying. The Rashba (Rabbi Shlelomoh ben Aderet of Barcelona) explains that just as a kohen would have to wash his hands before serving in the Bet Hamikdash to spiritually prepare himself, we, too, must wash our hands to elevate ourselves before beginning to serve Gd each morning. A third reason is that a harmful spirit descends upon a person’s hands overnight and it must be removed in the morning through washing. One should not walk more than four amot, which is approximately 8 feet, without Netilat Yadayim . For these reasons, one should wash immediately upon arising to help ensure that one does not to touch any body part which has an opening, such as the eyes or nose, before washing netilat yadayim in the morning. 2 WHAT IS THE PROPER PROCEDURE FOR THE MORNING NETILAT YADAYIM? One should take with his right hand a washing cup filled with water and then transfer it to the left hand. (The Mishna Berurah explains that one should begin by holding the cup in the right hand to demonstrate that hesed , which is represented by the right, should overpower din (judgment), which is represented by the left.) After pouring onto the right hand, one then passes the cup back to the right hand and pours onto the left. This process is repeated three times. (This sequence should be followed even by those who are Left-handed.) The water used for washing is considered impure and must be discarded and never used for any other purpose ( Shulhan Aruch 4:10). 3 HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD ONE USE FOR THE MORNING WASHING? One must use at least a revi’it (approximately 2.9 oz.) of water, but it is preferable to use copious amounts of water, as doing so is a segulah (“charm”) for earning abundant blessings. One must wash the entire hand until at least the knuckles closest to the wrist but preferably the entire hand should be washed, until the wrist, on both sides. 4 WHEN SHOULD ONE RECITE THE BLESSING OF “AL NETILAT YADAYIM” ? One should preferably recite the blessing before drying his hands. The Ben Ish Hai explains one should hold up his hands across from one’s face with his fingers facing up until the end of the blessing with his palms open to receive bounty from above. If one dried his hands before reciting the berachah , he may still recite it afterward, but should try to do so as soon as possible. (The morning washing differs in this regard from netilat yadayim before a meal, when the berachah cannot be recited after the hands are dried.) 5 IF ONE AWAKES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND WANTS TO DRINK WATER, MUST HE FIRST WASH HIS HANDS? One is not required to wash his hands before drinking in such a case, but he should first wipe his hands on a wall or garment and then recite “shehakol” and drink. He should ensure not to touch the water before drinking it. (See Rabbi David Yosef, Halachah Berurah 4:5.) 6 WHAT SHOULD ONE DO IF HE DOES NOT HAVE WATER AVAILABLE FOR WASHING WHEN HE WAKES UP IN THE MORNING? If one does not have water with which to wash in the morning, he should wipe his hands on anything that can clean them, such as a wall, wooden beam, tablecloth, garment, or even hand sanitizer. Although it suffices in this situation to wipe only once, it is preferable to wipe the hands three times. One should wipe both sides of his hand, until the wrist, but if he did not wipe the entire hand, he has neveretheless satisfied the requirement, provided that he wiped at least until the last knuckles. One does not recite any berachah when cleaning one’s hands in this fashion in the morning. As wiping does not suffice to eliminate the harmful spirits from the hand, one must wash his hands with water in the usual manner (three times on each hand in alternating fashion) as soon as water becomes available without a berachah . (See Halachah Berurah 4:66.) 48 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE