Siman 4
Presented here for study, not as a practical ruling. The Shulchan Aruch rules by Sephardi custom, the Rema's glosses by Ashkenazi custom, and the Kitzur follows Ashkenazi custom. For a practical question, ask your rabbi.
א יִרְחַץ יָדָיו וִיבָרֵךְ עַל נְטִילַת יָדָיִם: הַגָּה: וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים גַּם אֲשֶׁר יָצַר וַאֲפִלּוּ לֹא עָשָׂה צְרָכָיו וְכֵן נָהֲגוּ (אַבּוּדַרְהַם) מַיִם הַפְּסוּלִים לִנְטִילַת יָדַיִם לִסְעֻדָּה לְקַמָּן סִימָן ק"ס, כְּשֵׁרִים לִנְטִילַת יָדַיִם לִתְפִלָּה, מִיהוּ יֵשׁ מִי שֶׁאוֹמֵר דְּלֹא מְבָרֵךְ עֲלַיְיהוּ.
1 The Laws of Washing One's Hands. Containing 23 Se'ifim: One should wash his hands and recite the blessing "... concerning the washing of the hands". Rema: Some say to also recite "Who created...", even if one did relieve himself, and that is our custom (Abudraham). Water that is invalid for washing one's hands for a meal, [which is discussed] below in siman 160, is valid for washing one's hands for prayer. However, there is an opinion that says one should not recite a blessing upon it.
ב יְדַקְדֵּק לְעָרוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם מַיִם ג' פְּעָמִים לְהַעֲבִיר רוּחַ רָעָה שֶׁשּׁוֹרָה עֲלֵיהֶן.
2 One should be careful to pour water on them three times in order to remove the evil spirit that rests on them.
ג לֹא יִגַּע בְּיָדוֹ קֹדֶם נְטִילָה לַפֶּה, וְלֹא לַחֹטֶם, וְלֹא לָאָזְנַיִם, וְלֹא לָעֵינַיִם.
3 One should not touch his hands to his mouth, nose, ears, or eyes before washing.
ד אֲפִלּוּ מִי שֶׁנָּטַל יָדָיו, לֹא יְמַשְׁמֵשׁ בְּפִי הַטַּבַּעַת תָּמִיד, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁמְּבִיאָתוֹ לִידֵי תַּחְתּוֹנִיּוּת. וְלֹא יִגַּע בִּמְקוֹם הַקָּזָה, שֶׁמִּשְׁמוּשׁ הַיָּד מַזִּיק לַחַבּוּרָה.
4 Even one who washed his hands should never touch his anus since it causes hemorrhoids. One should [also] not touch a scab because that causes damage to the wound.
ה לֹא יִגַּע בְּגִיגִית שֵׁכָר, שֶׁמִּשְׁמוּשׁ הַיָּד מַפְסִיד הַשֵּׁכָר.
5 One should not touch a barrel of beer [before washing their hands] since touching it will spoil the beer.
ו אֵין צָרִיךְ רְבִיעִית לִנְטִילַת יָדַיִם לִתְפִלָּה.
6 One does not need a revi'it (a fourth of a log) [of water] for washing their hands for [the purpose] of praying.
ז טוֹב לְהַקְפִּיד בִּנְטִילַת יָדַיִם שַׁחֲרִית בְּכָל הַדְּבָרִים הַמְעַכְּבִים בִּנְטִילַת יָדַיִם לִסְעֻדָּה הַגָּה: מִיהוּ אֵינוֹ מְעַכֵּב לֹא כְּלִי וְלֹא כֹּחַ גַּבְרָא וּשְׁאָר דְּבָרִים הַפּוֹסְלִים בִּנְטִילַת הַסְּעֻדָּה (מָרְדְּכַי רֵישׁ פ' אֵלּוּ דְּבָרִים תְּשׁוּבַת רַשְׁבָּ"א סִימָן קצ"א).
7 It is good to be insistent regarding washing one's hands in the morning [to be careful] with all the things that prevent [one from fulfilling the mitzvah] of washing one's hands before a meal. ( Rema: Nevertheless, these things do not prevent [one from fulfilling the mitzvah of washing in the morning] - [for example,] not using a utensil, not [pouring the water] through a person's force, and other things which invalidate a person's washing for a meal. (Mordechi - beginning of chapter "Eilu Devarim"; Teshuvot HaRashba - siman 191)).
ח נְטִילַת יָדַיִם שַׁחֲרִית אֵין נוֹטְלִין עַל גַּבֵּי קַרְקַע, אֶלָּא לְתוֹךְ כְּלִי.
8 [Regarding] washing one's hands in the morning, one should not pour the water over the ground, but rather into a vessel.
ט מַיִם שֶׁל נְטִילַת יָדָיִם שַׁחֲרִית, אָסוּר לֵיהָנוֹת מֵהֶם, וְלֹא יִשְׁפְּכֵם בַּבַּיִת, וְלֹא בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁעוֹבְרִים שָׁם בְּנֵי אָדָם.
9 [Regarding] water which was used for washing one's hands in the morning, it is forbidden to derive any benefit from it, and one should not pour it inside the house nor any place where people pass by.
י נוֹטֵל כְּלִי שֶׁל מַיִם בְּיַד יְמִינוֹ, וְנוֹתְנוֹ לְיַד שְׂמֹאלוֹ כְּדֵי שֶׁיָּרִיק מַיִם עַל יְמִינוֹ תְּחִלָּה.
10 One should pick up the utensil of water with his right hand and then give it to his left hand so that he can pour water onto his right hand first.
יא לֹא יִטֹּל מִמִּי שֶׁלֹּא נָטַל יָדָיו שַׁחֲרִית.
11 One should not have his hands washed by someone who has not washed their [own] hands in the morning.
יב אִם שִׁכְשֵׁךְ יָדָיו לְתוֹךְ כְּלִי שֶׁל מַיִם, עָלְתָה לוֹ נְטִילָה לִקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וְלִתְפִלָּה, אֲבָל לֹא לְרוּחַ רָעָה שֶׁעֲלֵיהֶם. אִם שִׁכְשֵׁךְ יָדָיו בְּשָׁלֹשׁ מֵימוֹת מְחֻלָּפִים, יֵשׁ לְהִסְתַּפֵּק אִם עָלְתָה לוֹ לְהַעֲבִיר רוּחַ רָעָה שֶׁעֲלֵיהֶם.
12 If one dipped their hands into a vessel of water, it counts for K'riat Shema and prayers, but not for [removing] the evil spirit which is on them. If one dipped their hands into 3 separate [vessels of] waters, there is an uncertainty whether it counts for removing the evil spirit which is on them.
יג אִם הָיָה נֵעוֹר כָּל הַלַּיְלָה, יֵשׁ לְהִסְתַּפֵּק אִם צָרִיךְ לִטֹּל יָדָיו שַׁחֲרִית לְהִתְפַּלֵּל וּלְהַעֲבִיר רוּחַ רָעָה מִיָּדָיו: הַגָּה: וְיִטְּלֵם בְּלֹא בְּרָכָה (הָרֹא"שׁ כְּלָל ד' וְרַשְׁבָּ"א סי' קצ"א).
13 If one stayed up all night, there is an uncertainty if he must wash his hands in the morning for prayers and to remove the evil spirit from his hands. Rema: (He should wash without reciting the blessing). (Ro"sh - Principle 4; Rashb"a - Siman 191).
יד הִשְׁכִּים קֹדֶם עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר וְנָטַל יָדָיו, יֵשׁ לְהִסְתַּפֵּק אִם צָרִיךְ לִטֹּל יָדָיו פַּעַם אַחֶרֶת כְּשֶׁיֵּאוֹר הַיּוֹם, לְהַעֲבִיר רוּחַ רָעָה הַשּׁוֹרָה עַל הַיָּדַיִם: הַגָּה: וְיִטְּלֵם בְּלֹא בְּרָכָה.
14 If one woke up at dawn and washed his hands, there is an uncertainty if he must wash again after daylight comes in order to remove the evil spirit which rests on them. Rema: And he should wash without reciting the blessing..
טו יָשַׁן בַּיּוֹם, יֵשׁ לְהִסְתַּפֵּק אִם צָרִיךְ לְעָרוֹת מַיִם עֲלֵיהֶן ג' פְּעָמִים וְיִטְּלֵם בְּלֹא בְּרָכָה.
15 If one slept during the day, there is an uncertainty if he must pour water over his hands 3 times (and he should wash without reciting the blessing).
טז דָּוִד הָיָה נִזְהָר שֶׁלֹּא לִישַׁן שִׁתִּין נִשְׁמִין (פֵּרוּשׁ שִׁשִּׁים נְשִׁימוֹת), כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִטְעֹם טַעַם מִיתָה: הַגָּה: וּבַגְּמָרָא פ' הַיָּשֵׁן מַשְׁמָע דְּדַוְקָא בַּיּוֹם הָיָה נִזְהָר (דִּבְרֵי עַצְמוֹ וְעַיֵּן בְּבֵית יוֹסֵף).
16 King David was careful to not sleep "60 breaths" in order to not taste death. Rema: In the Talmud, chapter "HaYashan", it's implied that it was only during the day that he was careful (his (the Rem"a's) own opinion; see further in Beit Yosef)
יז יֵשׁ נוֹהֲגִין לִרְחֹץ פִּיהֶם שַׁחֲרִית מִפְּנֵי הָרִירִין שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַפֶּה.
17 Some have the custom to rinse out their mouth in the morning due to the saliva/mucus that is in their mouth.
יח אֵלּוּ דְּבָרִים צָרִיךְ נְטִילָה בְּמַיִם. הַקָּם מֵהַמִּטָּה וְהַיּוֹצֵא מִבֵּית הַכִּסֵא. וּמִבֵּית הַמֶּרְחָץ. וְהַנּוֹטֵל צִפָּרְנָיו. וְהַחוֹלֵץ מִנְעָלָיו. וְהַנּוֹגֵעַ בְּרַגְלָיו. וְהַחוֹפֵף רֹאשׁוֹ, וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים אַף הַהוֹלֵךְ בֵּין הַמֵּתִים. וּמִי שֶׁנָּגַע בְּמֵת. וּמִי שֶׁמְּפַלֵּא כֵּלָיו. וְהַמְשַׁמֵּשׁ מִטָּתוֹ. וְהַנּוֹגֵעַ בְּכִנָּה. וְהַנּוֹגֵעַ בְּגוּפוֹ בְּיָדוֹ. וּמִי שֶׁעָשָׂה אַחַת מִכָּל אֵלּוּ וְלֹא נָטַל, אִם תַּלְמִיד חָכָם הוּא תַּלְמוּדוֹ מִשְׁתַּכֵּחַ. וְאִם אֵינוֹ תַּלְמִיד חָכָם יוֹצֵא מִדַּעְתּוֹ.
18 These are the things that require one to wash their hands with water: One who gets out of bed, one who exits the bathroom or bathhouse, one who cuts their nails, removes their shoes, touches their feet, scratches/washes their head, and some say one who walks among corpses. One who touched a corpse, checked his clothing for lice, had marital relations, touched a louse, or touched his body with his hand. And one who did any of those things - if he is a Torah scholar, he will forget his learning; if he is not a Torah scholar, he will go out of his mind.
יט הַמַּקִּיז דָּם מֵהַכְּתֵפַיִם וְלֹא נָטַל יָדָיו מְפַחֵד שִׁבְעָה יָמִים. הַמְגַלֵּחַ וְלֹא נָטַל יָדָיו מְפַחֵד ג' יָמִים. הַנּוֹטֵל צִפָּרְנָיו וְלֹא נָטַל יָדָיו מְפַחֵד יוֹם אֶחָד, וְאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ מִמָּה מְפַחֵד.
19 One who lets blood from his shoulders and does not wash his hands will be fearful for 7 days. One who shaves and does not wash his hands will be fearful for 3 days. One who cuts his nails and does not wash his hands will be fearful for 1 day and will not know what he fears.
כ הָרוֹחֵץ פָּנָיו וְלֹא נִגְּבָם יָפֶה, פָּנָיו מִתְבַּקְּעוֹת אוֹ עוֹלֶה בָּהֶן שְׁחִין, וּרְפוּאָתוֹ לִרְחֹץ הַרְבֵּה בְּמֵי סִלְקָא.
20 One who washes his face and does not dry it well, his face will get chapped or will produce boils. And the cure for it is to wash well with beet juice.
כא צָרִיךְ לִזָּהֵר בִּתְפִלָּה אוֹ בַּאֲכִילָה וְע"ל סִי' קס"ד (וְע"ל סִי' צ"ב ס"ז) שֶׁלֹּא לִגַּע בְּשׁוֹק וְיָרֵךְ וּבִמְקוֹמוֹת הַמְכֻסִים בָּאָדָם, לְפִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם מִלְמוּלֵי זֵעָה. (מִלְמוּלֵי זֵעָה פי' זוֹהֲמָא כְּעֵין שְׂעוֹרִים קְטַנִּים) וְכֵן שֶׁלֹּא לְחַכֵּךְ בְּרֹאשׁוֹ אֲבָל מְקוֹמוֹת הַמְגֻלִּים בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וּבְפָנָיו וּמָקוֹם הַמְגֻלֶּה שֶׁבִּזְרוֹעוֹתָיו אֵין לְהַקְפִּיד.
21 One must be careful during prayers and while eating (see below in siman 92, se'if 7; as well as siman 164) to not touch his calf or thigh or [other] parts [of the body] that are [normally] covered since there are "crumb-like" particles of sweat there ("milmulei zei'ah" means filth that looks like tiny grains of barley). Similarly, one should not rub/scratch his scalp/head. But [regarding] the parts that are [normally] exposed on his head and face, as well as the exposed parts of the arms - there is no concern there.
כב אִם אֵין לוֹ מַיִם יְקַנַּח יָדָיו בִּצְרוֹר אוֹ בְּעָפָר, אוֹ בְּכָל מִדֵּי דִּמְנַקֵּי, וִיבָרֵךְ עַל נְקִיּוּת יָדַיִם, וְיוֹעִיל לִתְפִלָּה אֲבָל לֹא לְהַעֲבִיר רוּחַ רָעָה שֶׁעֲלֵיהֶן.
22 If one does not have water, he should clean his hands with pebbles, or earth/dust, or any material that cleans, and recite the blessing "On the cleansing of the hands". This is effective [to enable one] to pray, but not to remove the "evil spirit" that's on them.
כג לֹא תִּקְּנוּ נְטִילַת יָדַיִם אֶלָּא לִקְרִיאַת שְׁמַע וְלִתְפִלָּה, אֲבָל בְּרָכוֹת דְּשַׁחֲרִית יָכוֹל לְבָרֵךְ קֹדֶם נְטִילָה, אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הוּא יָשֵׁן עַל מִטָּתוֹ עָרֹם, שֶׁאָז אָסוּר לְהַזְכִּיר אֶת הַשֵּׁם עַד שֶׁיְּנַקֶּה אוֹתָם:
23 The sages only enacted [the requirement of] washing one's hands for reciting Shema and [the Shemona Esrei] prayer. But [regarding] the morning blessings, one may recite them before washing, unless he slept in his bed naked, for then it is forbidden to mention the Name [of Hashem] until he washes.