[Avodah] What is the basis of the requirement to wash ones hands upon awakening

Professor L. Levine llevine at stevens.edu
Wed Sep 5 12:15:43 PDT 2018


>From yesterday's OU Kosher Halacha Yomis


Q. What is the basis of the requirement to wash ones hands upon awakening (negel vasser)?



A. There are three opinions:

  1.  According to Rosh, one must wash his hands prior to davening since one’s hands are constantly in motion and may have invariably touched areas of the body which are normally covered and may not be clean (Mishnah Berurah 4:1).
  2.  Rashba maintains that when one awakens from his nightly slumber it is as if he was created anew, and he must thank and praise Hashem. Before doing so, he must sanctify himself by washing his hands – like the Kohen of old in the Bais Hamikdash who sanctifies himself by washing his hands before performing the avodah (Mishnah Berurah ibid.).
  3.  When one sleeps, a ru’ach ra’ah descends upon the body, and when he awakens, the ru’ach ra’ah remains on his hands, and is removed by the ritual of washing the hands three times (Bais Yosef O.C. 4 from Zohar and Mechaber 4:2 with Mishnah Berurah s.k. 8).


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