Netilat Yadayim upon Waking Up: Difference between revisions

# One may not derive benefit from the water that one washed one's hands with.<Ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 2:4</ref>

# One should wash one's hands immediately after one's recitation of [[Modeh Ani]]. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 4:1 </ref>

# According to Ashkenazim, if one needs to go to the bathroom upon [[waking up]] and after going to the bathroom one will be ready for [[davening]], one should wash without a bracha upon [[waking up]] and after having gone to the bathroom wash again with the bracha of Al [[Netilat Yadayim]]. <ref> Magen Avraham 4:1 quotes the Ketavim of the Arizal as saying that one should wash with the Bracha and then go to the bathroom, however he disagrees and feels that it would be preferable to wash with a Bracha after going to the bathroom. He adds that if one needs to go to the bathroom, then it is forbidden to wash with a Bracha before going to the bathroom. The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 2:7 and Mishna Brurah 4:4 agree with the Magen Avraham; one should wash with a Bracha after going to the bathroom. They add that one should also wash without a Bracha before going to the bathroom. </ref>

# According to Sephardim, one may get dressed, go to the bathroom, and then wash and make the Bracha of [[Al Netilat Yadayim]]. However, it is preferable upon [[waking up]] to wash without a Bracha and then after having gone to the bathroom to wash again with a Bracha unless one has an urgent need to go to the bathroom, in which case one should go to the bathroom before washing one's hands. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef (vol 1, pg 384). Rav Ovadia Yosef in Halichot Olam (v. 1, p. 32) disagrees with the Ben Ish Chai (Toldot #6) who says that one should not touch one's clothes before [[Netilat Yadayim]]. This is quoted by [https://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?PageIndex=119&ClipID=1521 Rabbi Mansour on dailyhalacha.com]. Halacha Brurah 4:4 writes that if one needs to go to the bathroom one should first go to the bathroom and then wash one's hands with a Bracha of Al [[Netilat Yadayim]]. However, some are strict to wash twice, once before going to the bathroom and once afterward and only make the Bracha the second time. If the need to go to the bathroom is urgent then certainly one should go to the bathroom and only wash afterwards. </ref>

# It is permissible to say [[Modeh Ani]] before washing hands. <ref> Mishna Brurah 1:8, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 1:2, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 1:6 </ref>  

# It is not permissible to learn or even think Torah before washing one's hands. <ref> Mishna Brurah 1:8, Shulchan Aruch HaRav 1:6 </ref>  

# One should not touch any foods before washing one's hands. If one did unintentionally, the food should be washed three times. If this is impossible, one should preferably refrain from eating it. If necessary though, one can eat it without washing it. <ref> Yabia Omer 4:1, Otzrot Yosef 1:10 </ref>

# Before [[Shacharit]] or [[Mincha]] (specifically the [[Shemoneh Esrei]]) one should wash hands if there was a long interruption from the time of the original washing upon rising. <ref> Shulchan Aruch 92:5 writes that if there was an interruption between the washing upon rising in the morning and praying, one should wash one's hands if water is available. This is brought down in Yalkut Yosef (Tefilah pg 330). </ref>  If water is not available one does not need to wash one's hands, but only to rub them against something hard. <ref> Mishna Brurah 92:26 writes that since one cannot find water for Stam hands one does not need to wash them, but rather rub them against that which cleanses them. </ref>

# If one actually touched an unclean part of the body or went to the bathroom, one must search and find water to wash one's hands for [[Shemoneh Esrei]]. <ref> Mishna Brurah 92:27 writes that this applies only if one has Stam hands. Shulchan Aruch is lenient and states one does not have to search for water if it is not around, however if there is a certain impurity such as if one touched an unclean area or went to the bathroom, one certainly must wash hands. Kaf Hachayim 4:86 writes that if one is in the middle of the [[Shemoneh Esrei]] and one realizes one touched something that would obligate one to wash, one should just wipe one's hands on "midi diminakei" such as one's clothes, wood, or stone. </ref>

# If one slept in a bed during the day, one should wash [[Netilat Yadayim]] without a Bracha. <ref> Halacha Berura 4:47 </ref>

# If one slept less than 30 minutes <ref> Kitzur S”A 2:8, Dinei Nieyor Kol HaLaylah (pg 42) in name of Rav Chaim Kanievsky </ref> or slept in a temporary fashion (putting one’s head on the table, <ref>Ishei Yisrael 2:33 note 110, Piskei Teshuvot </ref>, or on a couch or chair) <ref> Halacha Berura 4:47 </ref> in the morning, one should wash without a Bracha. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 4:27, Ishei Yisrael 2:33, Birkei Yosef 4:5 </ref>  

# If one woke up and has in mind to go back to sleep, one should wash without a Bracha and then when one wakes up the second time one should wash with a Bracha. <Ref> Piskei Teshuvot 1:6 writes that it is preferable to wash when one wakes up the first time, however, it makes sense not to make a Bracha since one is not ready to daven as in Beiur Halacha 4:1 s.v. Afilu. Halichot Shlomo ([[Tefillah]] pg 170) agrees. </ref>

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# The minhag is to make the Bracha of Al Netilat Yadiyim between washing and drying one’s hands. <Ref> S”A 158:11 writes that the Bracha of [[Netilat Yadayim]] is like most other [[Brachot]] that have to be made prior to completing the mitzvah. Therefore concludes S”A the practice is to rub one’s hands to clean them (so one can make the Bracha), then make the Bracha prior to washing. However, Mishna Brurah 158:41 writes that the minhag of the world is to make the Bracha after washing but before drying like the Rama writes is permissible. </ref>

# If one forgot to make the Bracha of Al [[Netilat Yadayim]] before drying one’s hands, according to Ashekazim one is permitted to make a Bracha of [[Netilat Yadayim]] until one makes the [[Hamotzei]]. However, Sephardim hold that once one’s hands are totally dry one may not make the Bracha. <Ref> Rama 158:11 writes that if one forgot to make a Bracha before drying one’s hand one can make the Bracha after drying. Mishna Brurah 158:44 supports the Rama by saying that [[Netilat Yadayim]] is different than other [[Brachot]] and may be made after the mitzvah is completed. Mishna Brurah writes that even though the Taz forbids making the Bracha after drying hands, since most achronim hold like the Rama one should act according to the Rama, but one should be careful to avoid such a situation. For Sephardim Ben Ish Chai Shemini:Halacha 7 and Chacham Ovadia Yosef in Halichot Olam 1:page 317 rule that once you dry your hands you can no longer make the beracha. </ref>