[Avodah] hand washing

[Rich, Joel]

The gemara (Shabbat 62b) states that being derogatory (mzalzel) concerning ntilat yadaim(hand washing) causes poverty. Rava then clarifies that this is only talking about the case where one doesn't wash at all. The gemara then rejects Rava's interpretation based on R' Chisda saying that he had washed his hands with a lot of water and got a lot of good (in return?).

As part of a broader shiur, I was wondering
:
1. Is it possible that water was not as readily available then and so this focus on the amount of water might not be applicable today?
2. Why would the gemara accept a rejection of  Rava without a more specific refutation source?
3. How is R' Chisda's statement a source of rejection? (Rava could well agree that using more than the minimum is praiseworthy but still hold poverty only comes for those who don't wash at all)

That's enough to start :)

KT
Joel Rich

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