When one performs Netilat Yadayim before eating bread, he pours water over his right hand three times, and then three times over the left. After washing, he must perform "Shifshuf," which means that he shakes his right hand three times to remove excess water, and he then shakes his left hand three times. One should then raise his hands in front of him, opposite his face. The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) writes that when one raises his hands, he should ensure that the entire length of the arms, from the elbow through the hands, is in front of him. The elbows should not extend to the sides or behind the body. The Ben Ish Hai further notes that some people have the practice of opening their hands when they hold them up opposite the face, in order to receive the bounty of blessing that descends from the heavens when a person performs the Misva of Netilat Yadayim.
After raising one’s hands, he should recite the Beracha of "Al Netilat Yadayim," and then immediately proceed to dry his hands.
There is a debate among the Halachic authorities regarding a case of a person who dried his hands and then realized that he had not recited the Beracha. One view claims that he should recite the Beracha, even though he already dried his hands, whereas the other view contends that once a person dries his hands he may no longer recite the Beracha. Following the rule of "Safek Berachot Le’hakel," which means that we do not recite a Beracha in situations of uncertainty, a person in such a case should not recite the Beracha. However, the Ben Ish Hai recommends that if a person forgot to recite the Beracha before drying his hands, he should deliberately touch his shoes so that he will have to recite the Beracha according to all opinions. Once he has touched his shoes, he must repeat the process of Netilat Yadayim and can therefore recite the Beracha according to all views without concern.
Summary: One washes Netilat Yadayim for bread by pouring water three times over the right hand and then three times over the left. He should then shake his right hand three times followed by the left to remove excess water, and then raise his hands opposite his face. At this point he should recite the Beracha and then dry his hands. One who dried his hands before reciting the Beracha should not then recite the Beracha. Preferably, however, he should deliberately touch his shoes and then repeat Netilat Yadayim with the Beracha.
