Avoiding Hand-Washing

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?

(A subscriber’s question)

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).

However, there is still another concern. 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, many poskim write that today’s bathrooms do not have the same status. Though it is meritorious to wash one’s hands after leaving the washroom even though one’s hands remain clean, it is not required (see Halichos Shlomo 20:24), and one can be lenient in case of need.

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.