Template:Children Washing Netilat Yadayim upon Waking Up
From Halachipedia
- Children that have reached the age of chinuch should be trained to wash their hands upon rising in the morning and they should not touch food before washing hands.[1] Some say parents should try to wash the hands of their children, regardless of their age.[2]
- Children who have reached the age of chinuch should be trained to wash their hands after going to the bathroom [3] or touching parts of their body that are generally covered.[4]
- ↑ Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen (Children in Halacha page 14), Shulchan Aruch haRav 4:2.
- Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach in Halichot Shlomo 20:25 say that the obligation for children to wash begins at the age of chinuch as for other mitzvot which is approximately 5 or 6.
- Mishna Brura 4:10 says that one should be careful with young children, and doesn't clarify if this is only once they reach the age of chinuch (he only says they should be careful because they touch food)
- ↑ Shulchan Aruch haRav 4:2 says one should be careful starting after the brit milah to wash his son's hands. The Kaf Hachayim 4:23 and Ben Ish Chai (Toldot #10) say that even a newborn's hands should be washed by their parents.
- The Chazon Ish (cited by Daat Noteh p. 141, Dirshu 4:23) is strict as long as the baby is old enough to touch something. See further Rabbi Neustadt at torah.org
- Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer 7:2:10 says there is no obligation before the age of chinuch, but to get the child into a good habit, it is advisable to wash his hands even before the age of chinuch. However, do not put pressure on the child, but do it pleasantly as there is no issue if they touch food. Similarly, Halichos Bas Yisroel perek 1 footnote 22 quotes in the name of Rav Moshe Feinstein that although it is not required, it is a good idea to wash the hands of your children even before the age of chinuch. Yalkut Yosef Dinei Chinuch Katan pg. 23 agrees that it is a good idea to begin before the age of chinuch to raise the children with purity.
- Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky in Emet LeYacov 4:10 says that it begins when a child is old enough to say amen to a bracha or recite a pasuk in Torah.
- ↑ Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen (Children in Halacha page 15), Chinuch Yisroel page 63, Yalkut Yosef Dinei Chinuch Katan pg. 25
- ↑ Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen (Children in Halacha page 15), Chinuch Yisroel page 63
Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer 7:2:4 says one can still learn with a child who touches their scalp or shoes.
