[Avodah] Netillat Yadayim with no towel

[Joel Schnur]

> Washing before davening lacks the gravitas as before hamotzi

Not so according to the Vilna Gaon. In ois gimmel of the Maase Rav, it is
brought down that the Gra held that washing before mincha and maariv is
done in the manner one does before meals and is a chiyuv i.e. right hand
first, 2 pours and birchas al nitilas yadoyim. Btw, in the biur hagra,
he writes that on YK and TBA, one does NOT wash naigel vasser nor recite
al nitilas yadoyim in davening until after the fast. He held there was
no ruach hatumah to worry about on those days. One can only wash his
hands as is necessary if they get dirty. Also did not say sheassah li
kol tzorki until after he put his shoes back on at night


As an aside, he put on talis and tefiliin after morning kinos and before
chatzos and did NOT say KS after he put on his tefillin, just like the
MB later paskened. Seems that many ppl don't know this MB.

A most meaningful and easy fast to all!

___________________________
Joel Schnur
Senior VP
Government Affairs/Public Relations
Schnur Associates, Inc.
joel at schnurassociates.com 
www.schnurassociates.com