Two Hand Washings in the Morning?
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Question
Hello Rabbi, Question 1: What is the difference between the morning hand washing and the hand washing for prayer mentioned in Maran Siman 4? And why does Maran mention a blessing only for the hand washing before prayer and not for the morning hand washing?
Answer
Peace and blessings
There are two reasons for washing hands in the morning: one is to remove an evil spirit, and the second is before prayer.
In the Shulchan Aruch, both washings are combined, as explained at the end of Siman 4, and a blessing is recited for this.
It is common among us that between the washing and the prayer, the hands become dirty again by touching covered places, entering the bathroom, etc., so we delay the blessing until the washing close to the prayer.