Ask The Rabbi

Ask The Rabbi

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NETILAT YADAYIM WHILE HOLDING THE CUP WITH A TOWEL

I saw someone washing the ritual washing for the morning while holding the handles of the cup with a towel, as is done when washing the hands for bread. Is this necessary for the morning washing, or just before bread?

The practice of Chassidim is that the ritual washing of hands next to the bed in the morning does not have to be done while holding the cup with a towel, but the second handwashing before the morning blessings is done holding the towel, as well as when washing for bread. This is a custom, not an obligation.

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