by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Feb 4, 2010
for part 1 click here for part 2 click here for part 3 click here for part 4 click here Washing Before Davening There is a Halachic requirement to wash one’s hands before davening. This applies to all three prayers. There are two reasons for this cited in the...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Jan 22, 2010
for part 1 click here for part 2 click here for part 3 click here There are other situations that necessitate Halachic hand washing. Several are due to Ruach Ra’ah, which rests on ones hands in certain situations much as after sleeping, although the washing need not...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Jan 15, 2010
for part 1 click here for part 2 click here Before washing hands one should not touch any food, because he will impart the Ruach Ra’ah to the food. If one touched food, whenever possible (i.e. it won’t ruin the food) the food should be washed three times. The minimum...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Jan 8, 2010
For part 1 click here The concept of Ruach Ra’ah, which we discussed in Part I, seems to be the primary reason for the great rush to wash ones hands in the morning. The Gemara uses strong language, saying that the hand that touches the eye, nose, ears, mouth or any...
by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Haber | Dec 25, 2009
It is well known that one must wash their hands before eating bread, and make a blessing. This is by Rabbinic edict. There is then another Talmudic rule that one should make the blessing of ‘Al Netilas Yadayim’ in the morning as well. Although no reason is given, the...
