Q. Hello Rav, If someone speaks after saying "Al Netilat Yadayim" and saying Hamotzee, do they actually need to repeat the washing (without a bracha). It seems that many have this custom, but this just seems to add to the interruption. I'm wondering if the re-washing is halacha or a custom?
If it is a custom, then is it a custom that everyone should adopt? Or Is it a custom that people should stop? Or is it like one of those customs that you should only do if your family has done this for generations, but a baal teshuva should not necessarily adopt.
A. Mishna Berura (166: 6) rules that although on the onset one should be careful not to speak or even spend an unnecessary long time after reciting the bracha of netilas yodaim and saying hamotzi, after the fact one does not have to repeat the washing of hands, as long as he was not masiach daas or totally forgot about having washed hands.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is similar.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
