Dear Rabbi
I am not Jewish but I wonder if it is true that Jewish people do not get out of bed in the morning without washing their hands first? How are you supposed to do this unless you have a sink next to your bed?
Yvonne
Dear Yvonne,
You’ve obviously never visited a Jewish bedroom. Some have sinks built into their beds. Others simply never get out of bed! Seriously, there is a Jewish law which says that one should not walk more than four cubits (approx. 6 feet) in the morning before washing their hands. The reason for this is because one is regarded as being in an impure state during the course of the night, whilst the body is virtually non conscious. In the morning, (or any other time) upon awakening, the spiritual impurity leaves the body through the hands. Some remnant remains hence we wash our hands before we handle anything so as not to transmit that impurity. It is therefore referred to as negel vaser – or nail water. Many are especially stringent to ensure not to step out of bed before washing their hands and will therefore have the cup and bucket next to their bed. For the record, the washing is done by way of pouring the water over your hands three times nately. [This as opposed to when we wash for bread when the water is poured onto each hand individually].
You’ve obviously never visited a Jewish bedroom. Some have sinks built into their beds. Others simply never get out of bed! Seriously, there is a Jewish law which says that one should not walk more than four cubits (approx. 6 feet) in the morning before washing their hands. The reason for this is because one is regarded as being in an impure state during the course of the night, whilst the body is virtually non conscious. In the morning, (or any other time) upon awakening, the spiritual impurity leaves the body through the hands. Some remnant remains hence we wash our hands before we handle anything so as not to transmit that impurity. It is therefore referred to as negel vaser – or nail water. Many are especially stringent to ensure not to step out of bed before washing their hands and will therefore have the cup and bucket next to their bed. For the record, the washing is done by way of pouring the water over your hands three times nately. [This as opposed to when we wash for bread when the water is poured onto each hand individually].