Netilat Yadayim

Dose a כלי לנטילת ידיים need 2 handles or 1 is enough

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

As you note, the washing of the hands before bread requires the use of a cup or vessel. As long as the vessel is whole, not broken, and can hold a minimum of 5 oz or so, then it may be used. Handles are not truly needed at all.

However, most washing cups do indeed have 2 handles. Not one and not three or more. Why is that?

After the first hand is washed, it is clean and pure. The unwashed hand is still impure. So le'chatchillah we don't want the unwashed hand to touch the washed hand.

As such, we use a two-handled cup to make the washing process easier and better ensure that the two hands do not touch.

However, if there is only one handle, one must be sure to wash the first hand with at least a revi’it of water (about 5 oz). and lechatchillah should then dry the hand first before continuing, however, bedieved once the first hand was washed with at least that amount of water there is no need to worry about touching the wet handle when passing the washing cup to the other hand. But, as mentioned, there is value in ensuring that the washed hand does not touch the unwashed hand.

That being said, if there were handles and one broke off, such a vessel has a status of a “Gistra” and there is some discussion whether it should be used or not. The consensus of authorities is that as long as water does not leak out in any way, it may be used. But better to always use a vessel that has no breaks of deficiencies whatsoever regardless of whether it has one or two handles.

OC 162 with commentaries