Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 165 - Laws Governing One Who Relieves Himself and Desires to Eat [Afterwards]

SECTION 165 The Laws Governing One Who Relieves Himself and Desires to Eat [Afterwards]. (1–3)

1 One who relieves himself and desires to eat [bread immediately thereafter]1 should wash twice: the first time, washing in a manner that does not prepare him to eat, but merely cleanses his hands so that he can recite the blessing Asher yatzar,2and a second time, washing in a manner fit for the blessing Al netilas yadayim.3[This is necessary;] were he to wash only once, in a manner fit [for eating], and first recite the blessing Asher yatzar ([— which would be appropriate] since he was obligated in it first, and also because it is recited more frequently)4 — and [only] then the blessing Al netilas yadayim, there would be an interruption between washing and reciting the blessing [Al netilas yadayim]. And if he would first recite the blessing Al netilas yadayim and afterwards, Asher yatzar, there would still be an interruption5 between washing and reciting the blessing HaMotzi. [That is undesirable, because] there are authorities who forbid interrupting between the two with words or involvement in another matter, as stated in sec. 166[:1].

If the person desires to wash only once, he should recite Asher yatzar immediately after rubbing his hands together in order to cleanse them from their filth,6 after he poured the water of the first pouring over them. At that time, his hands are fit for the recitation of a blessing, but they are not [yet] fit to eat with until he pours the water of the second pouring over them. After [the second pouring], he should recite the blessing Al netilas yadayim when he dries [his hands].7 In this manner, there will be no interruption between the washing and the blessing recited over it, nor between the washing and the blessing HaMotzi. [This scenario is possible when the person] had water poured over both his hands at the same time. If that was not the case, he should not rub them together until he poured the water of the second pouring over them, as explained in sec. 162[:11].

Nevertheless, it is preferable to wash his hands twice, because most of the time, people are accustomed to pouring a reviis at once over both hands together or over each one individually in the first pouring. [In such an instance, according to the letter of the law,] the second pouring is not required to purify them. Hence there would be an interruption [between the washing and its blessing].

If one washed once in the appropriate manner and forgot to recite the blessing [Asher yatzar] until he poured the water of the second pouring, or he poured a reviis at one time, he should not recite the blessing Asher yatzar first and then wash again and recite the blessing Al netilas yadayim. [The rationale is that] he already fulfilled his obligation with the first washing and he may not recite the blessing Al netilas yadayim on the second washing alone, because he is not obligated in it [during this second washing]. If he would recite a blessing on the first washing after the second [after having made an interruption between them with the blessing Asher yatzar], he would be intervening between the washing and its blessing. Instead, he should first recite the blessing Al netilas yadayim on this washing alone and afterwards, the blessing Asher yatzar.8The blessing Asher yatzar is not considered an interruption between the washing and the recitation of the blessing HaMotzi, because it also comes [in association with] the purification of one’s hands.9

([This option is preferable, because] greater concern should be shown for an interruption between washing and its blessing, as stated in sec. 158[:16].10 Moreover, [otherwise, were he to recite the blessing Asher yatzar and then the blessing Al netilas yadayim,] there would be two interruptions, one between washing and its blessing and one between washing and the blessing HaMotzi.)

Those people who are careful not to speak between washing their hands and the blessing HaMotzi, but do speak between washing their hands and the blessing [Al netilas yadayim] commit an error. They should be cautioned not to speak at all.

If a person relieves himself in the middle of a meal, since he is not required to recite the blessing HaMotzi,11he is only required to wash once.12 He need not be concerned that the blessing Asher yatzar intervenes between washing and eating, since there are authorities who permit such a small interruption between washing and the blessing HaMotzi, as stated in sec. 166[:1]. Concern is given to the words of those who forbid [such an interruption] only between washing and [reciting] the blessing HaMotzi on the basis of our Sages’ statement:13 Whoever recites the blessing HaMotzi directly after washing will not suffer harm throughout that meal. When, however, the blessing HaMotzi is not recited [as in this instance], one need only be careful not to make a significant interruption [between washing and eating]. That is forbidden according to all opinions, because of the enactment of our Sages who ordained that the meal should follow directly after washing one’s hands, as stated there and in sec. 164[:1].

2 When a person ate food after which he is obligated to recite the blessing Borei nefashos rabbos, but forgot to do so, and then urinated, he should recite the blessing Asher yatzar first, and then Borei nefashos rabbos. [The rationale is that] the blessing Asher yatzar is recited more frequently and when a practice is more frequent than another, it is given precedence [over a practice that is less frequent].14

3 When many people eat a meal together, the person of greatest stature should wash his hands first, as an expression of respect.15 There are, however, some men of stature who follow the practice of washing last so that they will not make an interruption [between washing and HaMotzi] by waiting until all the others wash,16 nor by speaking about other matters [after washing], as explained in sec. 166[:1].