by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com
l’ilui nishmas the author’s father R’ Nosson Yoseph ben Moshe, whose yartzeit is today, 5 Iyar.
It happens every so often, that one does not have water available. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 4:22) addresses this issue and writes that in such a situation one should use a midi d’menaki – an item that cleans. The question is, however, how is this done? Does one merely wipe both sides of the hands, on the front and back? Or must a person also wipe in between the fingers?
Some Poskim have stated that one must wipe in between the fingers. When the question was posed to Maran Rav Chaim zatzal, he ruled that there is no need to do so.
For more rulings from Rav Chaim go to orchotyosher.org
The author can be reached at [email protected]
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
2 Responses
Is the author talking about washing to eat bread..? It was unfortunately very unclear
Washing to eat bread without water usually means not touching the bread, but holding it in its wrapping – paper or plastic and making HaMotzi.