Monday, December 5, 2011

Order of hand-washing for bread

Hi,

One should wash his right hand first when washing netilat yadayim for a meal. It is true that Kav haYashar (Rav Tzvi Hirsch Kaidanover, 1705) recommended that one wash the left first, for mystical reasons, but this is a minority view and it is not echoed by the normal halachic authorities.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:32)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

2 comments:

  1. If I've been washing left first for the past 20 yrs, should I change?

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  2. This doesn't seem to be a matter of personal custom, so it seems to me that one ought to change. However, please do consult a competent rabbi who knows you personally, for advice that will be more appropriate for your case and consistent with the local mitzvah-observant community.

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