Today's Halachos are dedicated by a daily reader Y.L., L'Refuah Shelaima of the following people:
Tova Riva bas Marim, Sara Pesha bas Yaffa Esther, Rochel bas Chana, Refael Yehuda ben Dina, Shalom ben Rivka, Avigdor Avrohom ben Chana B'Soch Sha'ar Cholei Yisroel
1) The hands must be dried very well after washing [and reciting the Bracha].
Chazal (Talmud Sotah 4b)say that one who eats bread with wet hands is as if he is eating impure bread, because some of the water that became impure due to the [first]washing will ultimately transfer some of the impurities onto the bread. (See Mishna Berura 158:45)
The above applies even if a lot of water was poured on the hands at once (and thus the water never becomes impure), as eating with wet hands is considered repulsive (Mishna Berura 158:46 quoting the MaHarshal that this is the primary reason, and not the reason of impurity, based on Rashi Sotah 4b)
2) The hands must be dried with a towel [or similar cloth], as the act of drying the hands helps to clean the hands properly.
Letting the hands dry on their own or via an electric air blower is not L'Chatchilah. (See Shulchan Aruch HaRav 158:17. See Shu"t Az Nidberu Vol. 8 Siman 52 and Vol.9 Siman 64 where he tries to find a leniency for using the air blowers. Similarly other Poskim say that B'Sha'as HaDchak the air blower should be used, rather than letting the hands dry on their own)
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QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and my Answers. Taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Today website. For study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be emailed to Halacha For Today)
Reader's Question:
Regarding the Q&A corner [from a while back, where you said to wash Negel Vasser before using the bathroom], if I'm not mistaken the Mishne Berura writes that if you need the bathroom urgently you should go [before Negel Vasser] then wash so as not to push it off you might be over a lav.
My Answer:
The Poskim do indeed say that in cases of extreme urgency you may indeed use the bathroom first. However, you must be extremely careful not to touch any parts of the body that have holes in them, while using the bathroom, lest the Ruach Ra (which hasn't yet been removed via washing the hands) take hold over the entire body
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
