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...
Preparing for Shabbat on Friday
Avoiding Anger on Mosa’eh Shabbat
Carrying in the Public Domain Before Shabbat Starts
If a Person Did Not Recite Habdala on Mosa’eh Shabbat
Is It Permissible for Everyone On The Table To Eat From Their Own Bread After Hearing HaMotzih On Shabbat Before Eating From The Bread Of The Mekadeshv
Speaking Before the Person Reciting Kiddush or Habdala Drinks the Wine
Drinking the Cup of Birkat Ha’mazon After Se’uda Shelshit
Eating and Drinking Before Habdala
Using A Light Bulb for the Habdala Candle; The Habdala Candle on Mosa’eh Yom Kippur
May a Person Recite the Beracha of “Besamim” if He Cannot Smell?
The Beracha Over the Besamim at Habdala
The Procedure for Habdala
Remaining Silent and Attentive Throughout Habdala
Shabbat Havdalah- Proper Use of Wine and Haddasim
Reciting Ata Honantanu on Mosa’eh Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found