Q. I recently heard that if someone is late, he can wash his hands for davening by spitting on them, (based on a recent daf hayomi) is that true? Does it mean that if you are in the middle of shemonesrei and you clean a dripping nose with your hand, you should then spit into your hand?
A. Poskim disagree. Minchas Elozor (3: 54) debates whether one can use his own spit for netilas yodaim for tefila or maim acharonim, and rules that one should not use it. One reason being that Hashem considers spit repulsive, and should not be used for anything that demands kedusha, as washing hands is so described ("vehiskadashtem"). Although Talmud Zevachim (95b) teaches that saliva was used as a cleansing agent for the clothing of the Cohanim, Bikurey Chaim (4: 4) comments that from Rashi (ibid.) seems that saliva is by nature repulsive.
Similarly, Divrei Yoel (O.H. 1) mentions that on the contrary, some Poskim actually require netilas yodaim after touching saliva.
However, Eishel Avrohom (MiButach 93, 4) maintains that spit can be used being similar to mei peiros or fruit juice. Maharsham (3: 241) expresses a similar opinion. Some differentiate between ones own saliva and the spittle of others.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is that Poskim also disagree if one that touches nasal secretions requires hand washing at all, Remoh (O.H. 92: 7) is stringent, while Mishna Berura (ibid.) quotes Hagra and Shaarei Teshuva that are lenient. Yalkut Yosef (4: 65) further quotes Poskim that differentiate between solid or fluid nasal discharges. The Rov advises not to use saliva for netilas yodaim for tefila or maim acharonim. besides
the above reasons, it constitutes a repulsive image for many.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
