Al Netilat Yadayim: A Guide to Washing Your Hands

Did you know that...

... if you eat something wet, which is usually eaten with your hands, you must first wash your hands

Question: If I washed an apple to eat and didn't wipe it off, do I have to wash my hands?

Answer: Yes. If the fruit (or other food item) is so wet that it can make something else wet, you must wash your hands before eating (in the same manner as you would wash your hands before eating bread). No brachah is recited.

If you first dry off the food, you do not need to wash your hands.

... if your hand is bandaged, you can still wash — but how?

Question: If I cut myself and have a band-aid on my finger, do I have to remove it before washing my hands for a meal? What if the wound is still bleeding?

Answer: If you can remove the band-aid, you must do so before washing your hands, as it is a barrier preventing the water from reaching all parts of your hands. If you cannot remove it (due to pain or fear of infection etc.), you should wash your hands together with the band-aid. You don't need to ensure that the band-aid area is washed, but you must ensure that you pour at least a revi'it (around 3oz) of water on your hand in one go.

The Chazon Ish states otherwise: He rules that if a band-aid or other bandage cannot be removed, the person should cover that hand entirely with a cloth or glove, and be careful to keep the hand covered throughout the meal and until after reciting Birkat Hamazon.

On Shabbat, one should try to ensure that the band-aid or bandage does not become soaked and the water squeezed out, as this could involve a Shabbat violation.

If the band-aid or bandage falls off during the meal, both hands must be washed again.

... if you can't wash one hand at all, you must cover it

Question: If I can't wash one of my hands at all (due to an injury etc.), what should I do?

Answer: If you cannot wash one hand at all, you must cover that hand with either a cloth or a glove and wash only the other hand. The covering must remain in place until after Birkat Hamazon.

... if you touched someone's hands when yours are still wet, you may have to wash again

Question: If I wash my hands for a meal, and while my hands are still wet, I accidentally touch someone else's hand, do I need to wash again?

Answer: If the other person has not washed his hands, you should dry your hands and rewash them (as the water transferred the impurity on the other person's hands to yours). If the other person had washed his hands, there's no need for you to rewash. (This only applies to touching the hand itself and not the arm.)

This also applies if you touched your unwashed hand with your wet washed hand!

Furthermore, in public places, one should avoid drying one's hands after washing for bread on a damp towel, as it is possible that the dampness in the towel can transfer impurity.

If you need to rewash before reciting the brachah "Al Netilat Yadayim," you should first touch an impure part of your body such as the sole of your foot and then wash and recite the brachah. If you have already recited the brachah and now need to rewash, you should not repeat the brachah.

... you must recite Hamotzi immediately after washing your hands

Question: If I forgot to do something after washing my hands but before reciting Hamotzi and eating a piece of bread, can I first run and do it?

Answer: No. You should not pause between washing and reciting Hamotzi, unless there is a great need. One may, for instance, go and fetch salt which is needed immediately for the meal, or bring a knife. But in general, anything unrelated to the meal must be postponed until after reciting Hamotzi and eating a kezayit of bread.

... if you become impure during the meal, you have to wash your hands again

Question: If I use the bathroom or accidentally touch a shoe, etc., during a bread meal, what should I do?

Answer: You must stop eating and drinking and wash your hands again. Even if you only touched something that confers impurity with one hand, you should rewash both hands.

If you have food in your mouth and accidentally become impure, you should preferably wash your hands before swallowing, although if this is difficult you may swallow.

No new brachah Al Netilat Yadayim is recited; nor is the Hamotzi brachah repeated.