Washing After Touching Shoes

Q. Shulchan Aruch (OC 4:18) writes that after touching shoes, one’s hands must be washed before reciting berachos or learning Torah. If I will not be reciting a beracha for a while, must I wash my hands right away, or can I wait and wash later?

A. The answer to this question depends on the reason for washing our hands after touching shoes.

In general, there are two situations where hand-washing is required: a) washing to remove uncleanliness, and b) washing to remove ru’ach ra’ah (an impure and harmful spirit). Before reciting a bracha, davening or studying Torah one must wash for cleanliness, but otherwise there is no need to do so. However, washing to remove a ru’ach ra’ah should be done at the first opportunity (Mishnah Beurah 4:38), because ru’ach ra’ah may predispose one to sinful behavior (M.B. ibid 47).

In which category of washing does touching one’s shoes belong? This is a matter of dispute.

The Mishnah Berurah (4:41) writes that the requirement to wash one’s hands after touching shoes is for cleanliness and not to remove ruach ra’ah. (It is assumed that shoes pick up dirt and grime, and touching shoes will dirty one’s hands.) Therefore, the Mishnah Berurah writes, there is no need to hurry to wash one’s hands. Furthermore, if water is not available, one may wipe their hands with a damp towel or anything else that cleanses (see Mishnah Berurah 4:39). However, the Shulchan Aruch Harav (128:27), Pri Megadim (4:15) and many others write that there is also a concern of ru’ach ra’ah. According to this view, one should wash hands immediately after touching shoes, even if the person does not intend to recite a bracha anytime soon. In addition, water must be poured on the hands, because ru’ach ra’ah can only be removed in this manner (Shulchan Aruch Harav 4:18).

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.