Washing Hands with a Disposable Cup

Greetings,

A disposable cup is valid for handwashing. However, there is still an enhancement not to wash with it.

Sources: Seein Teshuvot Tzitz Eliezer part 12 (siman 23), which validates a disposable utensil for handwashing. So too was the view of the gaon of Papa (Rav Yosef Grunwald) zt"l (cited in Teshuvot Sheraga HaMeir part 1, siman 55, subsection b). This is likewise written in Teshuvot Az Nidberu part 6 (siman 48) and in Teshuvot Vayeshev Moshe part 2 (siman 65). See also Teshuvot Shaalat Shaul part 1 (siman 36). This was also ruled in the book Chazon Ovadia Shabbat part 2 (page 56). This is likewise written in Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Yalkut Yosef (siman 159, subsection 12).

However, since there are great poskim who wrote that these utensils should not be used in the first place for handwashing, as written in Teshuvot Sheraga HaMeir (there) and in Teshuvot Kinyan Torah part 1, in halacha (siman 49, subsection b). Also in the above-mentioned Teshuvot Az Nidberu it is written that if he has another cup, then ideally, as an enhancement of the mitzvah, he should not use a cup that is destined to be thrown into the trash. More than this, Or LeTzion part 2 (chapter 11, responsum 6) wrote that one should not wash with a disposable cup if he intends to discard it, and after the fact, if he has no other utensil, he should wash his hands without a blessing. It is better to designate the utensil for regular use, and then he may wash his hands with it with a blessing. See also Teshuvot Minchat Yitzchak part 10 (siman 23), which appears to hold that even after the fact a disposable utensil is invalid for handwashing. Therefore, it is preferable to be stringent not to wash with a disposable cup so as to satisfy all opinions.

With blessings,

Hillel Meirs