Chapter 2

Before eating, [and upon waking in the morning,] the hands are to be washed. This is called netilas yodayim, literally “taking” or “lifting” the hands. There are two ways that this is done, one being the manner upon waking, the other being the manner before eating a meal [in which bread is consumed.].

In most aspects the two forms are similar.1 In both cases, the water is supposed to be clean and no labor is to have been done with it. The text of the blessing recited afterwards, as well as the fact that the water is to cover every portion of the hands, is also the same in both forms of netilas yodayim.

There is only one difference: After waking, the hands are washed alternately until each is washed three times. The exact process is as follows: The vessel with water is taken in the right hand and transferred to the left, after which water is poured [with the left hand] onto the right. [The vessel is then transferred to the right hand and] water is poured onto the left hand. This process is repeated until each hand has been washed three times.

When washing for a meal too, each hand is washed three times. However, the hands are washed consecutively and not alternately. The vessel is taken in the right hand and transferred to the left, after which water is poured three times consecutively on the right hand. [The vessel is then transferred to the right hand,] and the left hand is washed three times. After both hands are washed, and while still wet, they are rubbed together. Both hands are then lifted and the blessing for washing the hands is recited.

We must understand the significance of washing the hands upon waking, when one leaves an unclean place, and before beginning a meal. Why are the hands washed at all? Also, what is the difference between washing the hands in the morning (when they are washed alternately), and washing for a meal (when the hands are washed consecutively)? In both instances the vessel with water is taken with the right hand, and in both instances the right hand is washed first.

We must also understand why washing the hands is called netilas yodayim, “taking” or “lifting” the hands, rather than rechitzas yodayim, washing the hands, or shtifas yodayim, rinsing the hands. The latter terms are more indicative of cleaning the hands. Also, the word notleh is Aramaic for the water vessel with which the hands are washed. All three terms, “washing,” “lifting,” and “water vessel,” do not describe the process of netilas yodayim with the same accuracy as “washing” or “rinsing.” Perhaps one of these more logical terms should have been used?

The fact that the text of the blessing for washing the hands is referred to as netilas yodayim indicates that just washing the hands does not suffice; of primary importance is that the washing be performed in the manner of netilah. This means to say that there are two distinct manners of washing one’s hands, that of “taking” and that of “lifting.” Netilas yodayim is also to be performed from a notleh, i.e. the vessel from which the water is poured must be whole and able to hold water. The water itself must be poured manually,2 by an individual with intelligence.

In summary: There are two ways to wash the hands: a) in the morning, or when wakening from sleep, b) before eating [a meal with bread]. The primary difference is that after waking the hands are washed alternately, while before a meal they are washed consecutively. Netilah means “taking” or “lifting,” and also describes the water vessel used. Why is the text of the blessing netilas yodayim and not a phrase that would mean rinsing or washing of the hands? Why is it important for the vessel to be whole and able to hold water? Why is it necessary that the water be poured manually by an individual with intelligence?