[Avodah] Netillat Yadayim with no towel

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, Jul 23, 2012 at 07:07:33PM -0400, Zev Sero wrote:
> I don't understand the question.  Since when is drying the hands part
> of the mitzvah? ...

The Rama says so -- OC 158:11.

The MB (s"q 42) says this is another reason why we make the berakhah
before drying. Because that's the most oveir la'asiyasan, right before
completing the qiyum hamitzvah. (The primary reason is given by the
Mechaber, that it's better to make the berakhah with clean hands.)

-Micha