DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 598 KB)
Performing Netilat Yadayim with Cloudy Water

Halacha requires that when one washes his hands before partaking of bread, he must use clear water (Orach Hayim, Siman 160:1). The question thus arises in situations where the water appears "cloudy" when it first comes from the tap, whether a person must wait for the water to clear before performing Netilat Yadayim.

Rabbi Yitzchak Weiss (Galicia-Israel, 1902-1989), in his work Minchat Yitzchak, in Helek 9 Siman 13, addresses this question. He rules that preferably one should wait a few minutes until the water clears up and then make Netilat Yadayim. He concedes, however, that if one used the water while it was cloudy, BeDiavad he doesn’t have to wash again. However, Hacham Ben Tzion Abba Shaul in Ir L’Tzion, Helek 2, Peek 11:7, rules leniently even Lechatchila. This leniency is also the ruling of Hacham Ovadia Yoseph in Halichot Olam, Helek 1, page 336.

As for the final Halacha, one may perform Netilat Yadayim with water that appears cloudy upon leaving the tap, and does not have to wait, but it is nevertheless preferable to wait a minute or so to allow the water to become clear before washing one's hands, in order to satisfy all opinions.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Reaping Benefits of Birkat Kohanim When Praying Alone
Why Do We Recite the Beracha “Le’hani’ah Tefillin” and Not “Le’hani’ah Totafot”?
Customs in Halab Relevant to Rosh Hodesh
Skipping Ashreh When Arriving Late for Minha
When Must the Kohanim Begin Walking to the Front of the Synagogue for Birkat Kohanim?
Birkat Kohanim – The Introductory Beracha; A Kohen Who Dislikes the Congregation
Announcing Rosh Hodesh
Reciting Birkat Ha’mazon After Se’uda Shelishit When Rosh Hodesh Begins on Mosa’eh Shabbat
The Proper Procedure for One Who Forgot to Recite Arbit on Rosh Hodesh
Reciting Birkat Ha’lebana When a Thin Cloud Covers the Moon
Reciting Minha When the Congregation Recites Arbit; Participating in the Congregation's Minha After One Has Recited Arbit
Ya’ale Ve’yabo on Rosh Hodesh
Reciting Keri'at Shema with the Te'amim, in Translation, and in an Audible Voice
Should a Congregation Omit Tahanunim When Praying Before a Siyum?
Having in Mind the Ten Commandments While Reading the Shema
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found