Q. In question # 461, the Rav discussed washing of the hands after having a blood test done...
2. A dentist will wash generally wash his/her hands with soap and water from a water tap or use hand sanitizer after each patient for hygienic reasons, but from a halachic standpoint, would rubbing the hands with sanitizer or washing (with water) without a vessel (kli) be acceptable?
3. If a Kli is needed, is there any benefit to washing 3 times on each hand in this case, or is once each hand truly enough?
Thank you so much
A. Please see question #1063 above that besides bloodletting, no other medical procedure, including operations or dental work require netilas yodaim afterwards.
However, when proper netilas yadaim is needed due to the ruach ra'ah descending on the hands, as when one awakens after sleep, you do require pouring water three times on each hand.
In regards to having to pour from a suitable vessel, although Bais Yosef (O.H. 4) quotes that the Zohar (Vayeshev) requires washing from a utensil, Shulchan Aruch and Remoh (O.H. 4: 7) rule that on the onset one should try to wash from a proper keli. When one is not available it is not essential.
Although some Poskim disagree, (See Yalkut Yosef – Netilas Yodaim 4:3. Ohr Yisroel p.82. Divrei Sofrim 62: 58,) Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is that a keli is needed only when the washing is done also for Tefilas Shacharis and a brocho will be recited. However, if one wakes up in the middle of the night to go to the washroom and will then continue sleeping, when he washes hands for ruach ra’ah, he does not require a keli even on the onset. Similarly, if one sleeps during the day, he does not require a utensil when washing three times after he wakes up.
Nonetheless, Poskim (O.H. ibid. 12, Mishna Berura 18) maintain that just immersing and scrubbing the hands in water is insufficient for removing ruach ra'ah,
As far as using water with soap or a sanitizing liquid, Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that for the removal of ruach ra’ah, water that is fit at least for an animal to drink is necessary, Washing three times each hand is also a requirement.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
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