There are 3 reasons that the Poskim give for necessitating this washing:

 

a) A person’s hands are “busy” when he/she is asleep, and we assume that he/she surely touched an area of the body that requires the washing of the hands.

 

b) Each night when we sleep, our soul ascends to heaven. Thus upon waking, and re-receiving our soul, it is as if we are a “new creation”. Therefore we are required to thank Hashem for “creating” us for his glory, to serve Him and make blessing with His name. Therefore, before serving Hashem we must sanctify ourselves and wash our hands properly; much like the Kohen would wash himself before serving Hashem in the Bais Hamikdash. Our praying is considered “Avodah”- serving Hashem and is equivalent to the Kohen’s “Avodah” in the Bais Hamikdash!

 

c) When we sleep, a “Ruach Ra” (loosely translated as “impure spirit”) rests on our bodies, and in order to re-acquire our Ruach Kedusha (pure spirit) we must wash our hands. [There are many practical Halachic differences that result depending on which of the above reasons we wash our hands, (one who was up all night, one who slept with gloves etc.) but it is beyond the scope of this email to delve into all of them at this time]

 

2) Children from the age of Chinuch (from around age 5) also must wash Negel Vasser. Some Poskim (The Chazon Ish, The Steipler and others) were extremely stringent regarding children, and urged parents to wash their children’s hands from when they were newborn. Walking around without washing Negel Vasser is not something that should be taken lightly, as the Zohar and other Kabalistic sources write terrible things about people who are negligent in this matter. (In the next few days we will perhaps touch on some of these things more in detail) Wishing you all a restful and fulfilling Shabbos Nachamu.

 

Spiritual Tip #1: Please try and print out the Halachos from the past week(s), (which can be found in the archives on www.HalachaForToday.com) and review them with your family at the shabbos table!

 

This Shabbos is Tu B’Av (15th day of the month of Menachem av). The Mishna in Taanis states that there aren’t any Yomim Tovim as joyous as Tu B’Av and Yom Kippur! (See the Gemara Taanis 30 b for details about the many wonderful miracles that Hashem performed over the years for Klal Yisroel on this day). The Sefarim also write that Tu B’Av, much like its counterpart, Yom Kippur, is also a good day for reflection and atonement for our sins.

 

Visit my website http://www.HalachaForToday.com for archives, links,and other features. Halachos are for study purposes, and should not be relied upon for final Psak. I welcome all questions on any topic, anytime! Spread the word of Hashem! Tell your friends about this list and have them sign up too! Bracha V’Hatzlacha!

 

Today’s learning was dedicated by a group member L’Zecher Nishmas R’ Moshe Leib Ben Rav Yerucham Haleivi. His yahrtzeit is today, 14 Menachem Av. Please learn L’Ilui Nishmaso]