Halachot and Customs
Washing Hands, the Blessing of Asher Yatzar, and Several Other Topics
Question
Hello, rabbi,
My name is Daniel, I am 16 years old, I am in the process of becoming more observant, and I am in a secular environment, so I do not really have anyone to consult about these matters. I have several questions on a number of topics, and I would be grateful for help. I also apologize in advance for the large number of questions:
Washing hands:
1. It is permitted to wash hands using cups, right? I would prefer that my family not know right now that I am becoming more observant, so it is better not to talk to them about buying a handwashing cup. The reason I do not want to tell them is mainly because of my father; once I told him that I was not prepared to eat bread on Passover, and he laughed at me. (We were at the Sea of Galilee.) I would rather not tell my mother for now; when the day comes that I tell her, I will do so. Until now I have been using a regular drinking cup, washing my hands in the kitchen, reciting the blessing, and drying my hands.
2. Is it also possible to wash hands using a disposable cup?
3. I understood that in the morning one washes hands in the following way: take cup or a handwashing cup, hold it in the right hand, fill it with water, pass it to the left hand, pour on the right hand, then on the left, like this 3 times, meaning right, left, right, left, right, left. After that, raise the hands upward, recite Baruch atah on washing hands, and dry the hands. It is important that the water wet the entire hand, and it is also important to note that there is nothing dirty on the hand. Is what I described correct, or did I make some mistake at some stage?
4. I understood that in washing hands before a meal, one needs to wash hands in the following way: hold cup or a handwashing cup in the right hand, fill it with water, pass it to the left hand, pour 3 times, and each time one pours, the hand should be tilted a little to the left. After that, do the same with the right hand. If one is eating bread in the meal, one needs to go recite the blessing on washing hands in the same way I mentioned earlier, then dry the hands, recite hamotzi, and eat. If one is not eating bread, one does not recite a blessing on washing hands. Is that correct? Is there something I forgot? Am I doing something wrong?
5. I understood that in the following cases: touching used socks, shoes, parts of the body beneath clothing, when cutting nails, every time one leaves the bathroom, and every time one gets a haircut, one needs to wash hands, and it is not necessary to use a vessel. How does one wash hands without a vessel? Is it enough to wash hands with soap? If not, can I wash my hands with soap before washing hands?
6. Continuing from question 5, before washing hands, even with a vessel, can I wash my hands with soap as needed?
7. In what other cases does one need to wash hands?
8. Is there anything else I need to know about this whole subject?
Asher Yatzar:
1. How does one wash hands before the blessing? Is it enough to wash hands with soap? If not, how does one wash hands properly, and is it possible to wash hands with soap before the washing?
2. If I forgot to recite the blessing, left the bathroom (the bathroom is in another room), and then remembered that I had forgotten to recite the blessing, am I permitted to recite it?
3. When I read about Asher Yatzar, they cited there the blessing in the Sephardi Nusach - "we could not exist even for one hour". I recently discovered that this is the Sephardi Nusach and not the Ashkenazi one. I am already used to the Sephardi Nusach; is that critical?
4. Is there anything else I need to know about this subject?
Blessing without a kippah:
1. As you surely understood, it is a bit difficult to obtain a kippah or to conquer. Is it permitted to recite a blessing without a kippah?
2. I understood that one can cover the head with a sleeve and that this can be a substitute for a kippah. If I have a long sleeve, should I simply put the piece of fabric on the head?
3. What is preferable: to recite a blessing without a kippah, or not to recite a blessing at all?
4. Is there anything else I need to know about this subject?
A close relative who passed away:
1. Not long ago my grandfather passed away. When I was very young, I remember that he promised me that he would come to me in a dream and tell me what there is in heaven, and I would tell the whole family. About two months have passed, and it has not happened. What is the reason for that? It is a little discouraging for me in terms of becoming more observant.
2. Continuing from the previous question, perhaps the reason is that he is suffering? Perhaps he does not have the merit to come to me in a dream? What can actually be done to help him and advance him in heaven?
That is all. I hope you can help me. I am truly, truly sorry for my long message and for so many questions.
Thank you very much for reading everything, and thank you in advance.
Answer
Hello and Blessings,
We are very happy to stand by you, we see this as a great privilege, and we are very happy to answer the question.
Washing hands:
1. It is permitted to wash hands using cups, correct.
2. It is also possible to wash hands using a disposable cup.
3. Indeed, one takes cups or a handwashing cup, holds it in the right hand, fills it with water, passes it to the left hand, pours on the right hand, then on the left, like this 3 times, meaning right, left, right, left, right, left. After that, one raises the hands upward, recites Baruch atah on washing hands, and dries the hands. It is important that the water wet the entire hand, and it is also important to note that there is nothing dirty on the hand.
4. In washing hands before eating bread, pita, and so on, one needs to wash hands in the following way: hold cup or a handwashing cup in the right hand, fill it with water, pass it to the left hand, pour 3 times, and each time one pours one should tilt the hand a little to the left. After that, do the same with the right hand. Then one recites the blessing on washing hands and dries the hands, recites hamotzi, and eats.
If one is not eating bread, there is no need to wash hands.
5. I understood that in the following cases: touching used socks, shoes, parts of the body beneath clothing, when cutting nails, every time one leaves the bathroom, and every time one gets a haircut, one needs to wash hands, and it is not necessary to use a vessel. The meaning is that one can wash the hand three times at the faucet alternately, right left; one can wash hands with soap before washing hands.
6. Also before washing hands, even with a vessel, you can wash hands with soap as needed.
7. Yalkut Yosef, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim, siman 4 - laws of morning handwashing
8. These are things that require washing hands with water: one who rises from bed, one who leaves the bathroom and the bathhouse, one who cuts his nails, one who removes his shoes, one who touches his feet, one who washes his head, one who walks among the dead, one who has touched a dead body, one who folds his clothes, one who engages in marital relations, one who touches lice, and one who touches his body in covered places.
Asher Yatzar:
1. One washes hands before the blessing from the faucet alternately as written above. It is possible to wash hands with soap before the washing.
2. It is permitted.
3. You can remain with that Nusach.
Blessing without a kippah.
1. Since you are covering it with a long sleeve, you place the hand on the head with a bit of the sleeve and recite all the blessings.
A close relative who passed away
1. & 2. Apparently he does not yet have the merit to come. After death there is no free choice, and they cannot do whatever they want. They need special permission to come down here, and they do not always receive it. Continue in your becoming more observant; that is the only thing that helps him in the World of Truth.
Good luck,
Binyamin Shmueli
