1) A towel that is very wet (common in certain Shuls where they have one large towel for everybody to use) should not be used for drying the hands after Netilas Yadayim. (See Kaf HaChaim 162:46. Rav Shmuel Wosner Shlita in Shu"t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 7 Siman 21:1 maintains that today's days when most people wash with an abundance of water, it is only a problem if the towel is wet enough to actually make a dry hand wet with the water that is in it (Halchically known as Tofeach Al M'Nas L'Hatfiach)
2) The hands should not be dried with your shirt, and preferably not on any other articles of clothing either. (Mishna Berura 158:45. See Aruch HaShulchan 158:17 and Kaf HaChaim 158:87. B'Sha'as HaDchak when no towel is available, drying the hands with pants or skirt or other clothing is better than with your shirt, as with your shirt it is surely "Kashe L'Shikcha" and with other articles of clothing it is only a "Safek")
There is a debate amongst the Poskim if the above Halacha of not using cloting to dry the hands is only after Netilas Yadayim for bread or also for any time one washes the hands during the day. There is also a debate as to whether it is only prohibited while the clothing are being worn, or even if the clothing are not on you. It is best to be stringent. (See Shu"t Rivevos efraim Vol. 1 Siman126 at length.)
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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:
The Aruch Hashulchan writes that saying "Pitum Haktores" by mincha is a minhag yafeh (nice custom).
Ever since I saw that, I have been saying the parsha of pitum Haktores before mincha, although I daven nusach Ashkenaz. Is there any problem with saying it and why if the Aruch Hashulchan says it is a minhag yafeh do we not find nusach Ashkenaz people saying it before mincha.?
I was always told that we dont say it by shacharis before Aleinu because we may rush through it and it states, Iim Chisar Achas Mekol.......Chayav Misa.[ if one of the ingredients of Ketores was missing in the Bais haMikdash it was punishable by death, so too we refrain from saying the Parsha of Ketores if we are in a rush lest we skip one of the ingredients] Would this same theory apply to mincha? I dont know if people are as rushed by mincha as they are by shacharis in morning rushing off to work.
My Answer:
There is nothing wrong with saying Pitum Haketores before Mincha, even if you normally daven Nusach Ashkenaz (as the Aruch Hashulchan did!). Many people I know that daven Ashknaz do in fact say it, and certain Ashkenaz siddurim do in fact have it.
It is possible that the reason for many not saying it is indeed the same reason as by shacharis, as many people will rush by Mincha as well. ( I often see people rushing out of Shul by all three tefilos, yet never see these people rush into Shul)
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
