Today's Halachos are dedicated L'zchus H.S. bas S. May Hashem give her the strength to follow the right path and live her life B'Derech Hashem. May the merit of all the Torah learning generated by the daily Halacha email be a z'chus for her to make the right decisions.
Important Note: The Halachos we are currently learning are the Halachos of "Netilas Yadayim L'Seudah, the laws of properly washing the hands before eating bread". Please do not confuse this with the Halachos of "Negel Vasser- washing the hands upon waking up in the morning", as their halachos are not necessarily the same and may not always be applied interchangeably. For Halachos of Negel Vasser please see archives of Hilchos Tefilah HERE. Thank you.
1)As we mentioned in the Halachos of last week, it is a good idea to raise the hands upwards after washing them to ensure that the water touches every part of the hands.
If an abundance of water is used there is less of a concern that the water will miss any parts of the hands, and in that case it isn't as necessary to lift the hands.
However, according to kabalistic reasons, it is important to raise the hands upwards after washing them, even if a lot of water was used. (See Mishna Berura 162:9, Aruch HaShulchan 162:7 and Kaf HaChaim 162:6 and 7)
2) The hands should remain raised from immediately after being washed the second time until after they are dried (Mishna Berura 162:3)
It is important to keep in mind that if one is in a situation where he/she has less than a Revi'is of water with which to wash for Netilas Yadayim, then he/she must, Al Pi Din- according to the letter of the law, raise their hands in order that the water can trickle down and reach each and every part of the hand. (Mishna Berura 162:4 and 11)
If at all possible, it is always good to wash each hand with a Revi'is of water, as doing so will prevent many Halachic problems afterwards.
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QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and my Answers. Taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Today website. For study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be emailed to Halacha For Today)
Reader's Question:
Several related questions on Ma'aser:
It seems that you often need to know that you are using the money for maaser when you first give it. My brother lost his job and I gave him a "loan" several weeks ago. Can I tell him he doesn't have to return it and consider it maaser?
Similarly, I wrote a check last week for my daughter's upcoming year in seminary in Israel. Then I read your halacha that seminary tuition may be considered maaser. Can I now consider it as maaser?
If I give a large sum of money to maaser, and I don't yet owe that much money on maaser, can I keep a record, and as I earn income deduct what I owe in maaser from the maaser I already gave?
My Answer:
It is best to have in mind before giving the money that you want it to come from, and be counted toward, your Ma'aser.
However, regarding your brother, if you gave him the money as a loan, and now want to allow him to not repay it, you can think in your mind that when you tell him that he doesnt need to repay it, that should be an act of Ma'aser. if you already told him that he needn't repay it, it is more difficult halachically to allow you now to deduct it from Ma'aser.
Likewise, if you already paid the seminary, it is hard to be lenient retroactively and make it Ma'aser.
Regarding your last question, yes, you may give a large sum to Ma'aser and deduct from Ma'aser you need to give as the income comes in throughout the year.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
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