עברית
Halachot and Customs
How Should One Wash Hands After Using the Bathroom?
Question
After using the bathroom, should one wash hands: right right right left left left, and then recite the blessing of Asher Yatzar? If not so, then how and what blessing should be recited? Thank you for the help.
Answer
Greetings, In principle, it is sufficient to wash the hands once after leaving the bathroom; nevertheless, it is proper to be stringent and wash the hands three times alternately, that is, right, left, and so forth.
Sources: See the Mishnah Berurah (Orach Chaim 4:39), who writes this, and the book Heichal HaKodesh who is stringent that one leaving the bathroom should wash his hands three times. The Magen Avraham (Orach Chaim 7) also conceals this in his words. Additionally, see Machzik Beracha (Orach Chaim 4:66), who wrote that upon leaving the bathroom, we find that the sages would wash three times. See also Halacha Brura part 1 (Orach Chaim 7, clarification 3), which testifies that this was the practice of his father, the Chazon Ish Rabbi Avraham Yosef, of blessed memory, to be stringent and wash three times alternately. See there further notes on this matter.
Blessings, Hillel Meirs
