Netilas Yadayim - Dry Skin

QUESTION: In the winter, I try to avoid washing hands more than I need to because I have dry skin. Would it be permissible to wear latex gloves when using the washroom and then simply removing them afterwards instead of washing? Would I still be permitted to say brachos afterwards?

ANSWER: In general, the rule regarding learning Torah and reciting brachos is that one may assume that their hands are clean unless they know specifically otherwise. Therefore, throughout the day, one may say brachos or learn Torah without washing their hands first. However, if one uses the washroom, one must assume they touched parts of their body that are ordinarily covered, and they need to wash their hands. However, if one wears gloves, this is not a concern (see Pri Migadim OC Eshel Avraham 4:1).

Although the Mishnah Berurah (4:40) writes that after entering a washroom even momentarily, one must wash his hands to remove ru’ach ra’ah (some form of evil or negative spirit). However, as was explained in an earlier halacha, many poskim write that today’s bathrooms do not have this ru’ach ra’ah and in cases of need one can certainly be lenient (see Halichos Shlomo 20:24).

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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.