[Avodah] Hand Washing During a Drought

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, Dec 06, 2010 at 11:21:54AM -0500, Zev Sero wrote:
>> You *define* zilzul mitzvah as using the minimum shiur.

> No, *Rashi* defines it that way, and he is brought lehalacha in, e.g.,
> Seder Netilas Yodayim 1:1

In the sugya on Shabbos 62b, Rashi mentions revi'is once. Rava says
that the mezalzel bentilas yadayim that R' Avohu says causes poverty is
someone who neglected to do it, NOT someone who is "masa velo masa". On
which Rashi writes, "that he didn't wash and scrub well, but uses a little
water like a revi'is metzumtzam". (I repeat my question about whether this
is a bare revi'is, or a minimalist definition of revi'is.) But he too does
not say the lack of water is the definition of zilzul. Rather, a mezalzel
doesn't really wash his hands, including using a minimum of water.

The gemara rejects rava, implying that it is someone who is masa velo
masa. This is where R' Chisda says that he pours generously, and HQBH
repays him in kind.

There is nothing there saying that using a revi'is metzumtzam *defines*
someone who does but doesn't wash. Rather, someone who doesn't really
wash will be someone who uses the least water and won't make sure his
whole hand gets wet (she'eino rocheitz umeshafasheif yafeh -Rashi).

(BTW, if you learn the gemara, any married man who uses extra water in
order to get a berakhah over wealth should also not be cheap in budgeting
for cosmetics and clothing for his wife -- if it is possible to find the
money. Adjacent items on R' Avohu's list, both expounded on by Rava and
the chakhamim.)



In any case, we're also still carrying RET's question... So, don't use
the minimum of water. Instead of using a CI revi'is of 150cc, use 175.
That shows a lack of minimalist attitude -- more than the largest accepted
revi'is. Where does that become an obligation to use 500 - 750 cc that
we find in most cups sold for the purpose?

(Translation for Americans who didn't take enough engineering or medical
courses to think in cc: The CI revi'is is a little over 5 oz. If you used
a small drinking cup, say the 6 oz plastic cup you see at kids parties or
in a shul with a tight soda budget, you're still 10% over the minimum even
if the cup is only "almost full". So, where does the notion of not using
the minimum obligate using those huge two-handle cups of 16 to 25 fl oz?)

This distinction is why I noted the separation of the berakhah associated
with washing berevakh (R' Chisda) from the zilzul / qalalah described
by Rava.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             It is a glorious thing to be indifferent to
micha at aishdas.org        suffering, but only to one's own suffering.
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