Are We Required to Wash Our Hands with a Cup After Using the Bathroom?

Hello,

According to the law, there is no need to wash hands with a vessel after leaving the bathroom, and one who is stringent to wash with a vessel is blessed.

Sources: This is indeed what the Eliyah Rabbah (Orach Chaim 4:12) and the M’hazik Bracha (there 6) wrote in the name of the Book M’kor Chaim by Rav Meir Chaim Cohen, that washing hands after leaving the restroom does not require a vessel. The same was stated in the book Od Yosef Chai (Parashat Vayetzei 5). It is also ruled in the book Or LeTzion Part 2 (Chapter 1 Responsa 15) that one who exits the restroom does not need to wash hands with a vessel by law. See also in the Responsa Ravvot Efraim Part 5 (Section 193). Furthermore, it was testified in the book Halacha Berura Part 1 (Section 7, Clear Halacha 3) about Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt”l, who although he was stringent to wash three times alternately after leaving the restroom, nevertheless did not insist on washing from a vessel. He also heard from him that one should be lenient in this regard.

Nonetheless, there is merit in washing with a vessel - see in the book Ta’ama D’Kra (in the instructions and rulings of Maran the Chazon Ish zt”l, Section 2) that the Chazon Ish zt”l, when he would leave the restroom, would wash his hands with a vessel. The same practice was followed by Rabbi Yaakov Kanivsky zt”l as mentioned in the book Aruchot Rabbenu Part 1 (Page 14). Furthermore, see in the Responsa Minchat Yitzchak Part 5 (Section 96) that it seems from his words that it is proper to be stringent to wash with a vessel whenever possible. Additionally, in the aforementioned Or LeTzion it was written that ideally it is good to wash with a vessel. Also, see in the Responsa VeYitzbor Yosef Part 2 (Section 1).

Best regards,
Hillel Meirs