Netilas Yadayim - Distance to the Table

QUESTION: After netilas yadayim one is supposed to recite Hamotzi right away. Often the sink where one washes is not in the same room as the table where one eats. What should one do?

ANSWER: The Rema (OC 166:1) writes that if one waited the amount of time it takes to walk 22 amos (approximately 40 ft) between washing hands and eating bread, this is viewed as a delay. Considering that a person walks 2,000 amos in 18 minutes, a person can walk 22 amos in about 12 seconds. Although the Mishnah Berurah (166:6) writes that avoiding a delay is a “mitzvah lechatchila” – proper conduct – but even if one waited much longer, the netilas yadayim is still effective. 

What should one do if they want to avoid any delay? The Mishnah Berurah (166:4) writes that the 12 seconds begin from when one finishes drying one’s hands. Therefore, Rav Sternbuch (Teshuvos V’Hanhagos (1:169) writes in the name of the Chazon Ish (OC 22, end) that the proper way to avoid having a delay is to wash one’s hands and then recite the beracha, all before drying hands. After that, walk to the room where you will be eating and then dry your hands. This way as soon as you finish drying your hands, you can recite the beracha of Hamotzi. The Chazon Ish also writes that if the wait is a necessity of the meal (such as waiting on Shabbos for everyone to finish washing so they can all be included in the beracha on the lechem mishneh), this too is not considered a delay. The Aruch Hashulchan (166:2) writes that it is not considered a hefsek unless one delays needlessly, but walking from the room where one washed to the room where one eats is not considered a hefsek at all.

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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.