Halachot and Customs
Do We Say Modeh Ani After an Afternoon Nap?
Halacha About Modeh Ani and Hand-Washing After a Nap
Question
Sorry to keep flooding you with questions on this topic, but it is really important for me to know. When waking up from an afternoon nap, do we say Modeh Ani? And do we also wash our hands? If so, do we recite a blessing over the washing?
Thank you very much.
Answer
Shalom u-vracha,
First, you do not need to apologize at all, and we will be happy to help and answer any question, בלי נדר.
To the point:
1. Modeh Ani is said only after nighttime sleep. After an afternoon nap, however, there is no need to say Modeh Ani (the responsum of R. Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, ztz"l, cited in Sefer Tefillah Ke-halakhah, p. 138, letter 3. See also the responsum of R. Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, in Sefer Da'at Noteh, part 1, p. 15, responsum 36 and note 32, and also in Shu"t Adret Tiferet, part 5, siman 1, where the matter is discussed at length).
2. After an afternoon nap, one should wash one’s hands without a blessing (see Shulchan Aruch and Rama, Orach Chaim 4:15).
With blessing,
Hillel Meirs
