Washing Hands in a Sink in the Bathroom

In a bathroom and toilet where there is also a sink. Is it permissible to wash hands in the sink?

Hello,

In cases of great necessity, washing hands in the bathroom can be considered effective. Ideally, one should dry their hands outside the bathroom.

Explanation: Washing hands in the bathroom is not effective, as one who exits the bathroom is obligated to wash their hands.

However, this applies to bathrooms from the times of the Sages. Among the poskim, there is a discussion about whether modern bathrooms are considered bathrooms in this regard.

It is stated (Berachot 26): These Persian bathrooms, even though they have waste, are considered closed. Meaning, a bathroom made in a deep pit, where the waste immediately rolls away and does not remain in place, is not considered a 'bathroom' according to the law.

Also, in our bathrooms, the waste is flushed away within a short time and does not remain in place. Additionally, waste that rolled down a slope would leave dirt in its path, whereas with us, the flushing leaves no dirt at all.

On the other hand, there the waste rolls and falls immediately, unlike with us, where it is removed from the room only after flushing the water.

Therefore, one should not initially rely on washing in our bathrooms, but in cases of necessity, one can rely on the fact that the place is not considered a bathroom.

An additional leniency can be applied in cases of necessity when washing hands inside the bathroom and then drying them outside. Since drying is part of the washing and the completion of hand cleaning, as explained in the laws of the meal, drying outside can be considered washing outside the room.

Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Laws of Conduct in the Morning, Siman 4, Seif 18

These things require washing with water: one who rises from the bed; and one who exits the bathroom, etc.

Chazon Ish, Orach Chaim, Siman 17, Seif 4 and 11.