The Blessing
In Hebrew:
Al netilat yadayim
עַל נְטִילַת יָדַיִם
Full formula:
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al netilat yadayim.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדַיִם
Translation:
“Blessed are You, Lord our God, Sovereign of the universe, who has sanctified us with commandments and commanded us regarding the washing of hands.”
Basic Steps
1. Get water — Use a cup, pitcher, or faucet. The water should be clean.
2. Pour water over your hands — Pour water over the top of your right hand (some say to start with the right, some don’t distinguish). Then pour over your left. The standard is to cover the entire hand up to the wrist.
3. Say the blessing — Most communities bless after washing, not before. (There is a minority view to bless before, but the customary practice is after.) You may bless before drying or after drying; if you forgot, you can still bless before eating bread.
4. Dry your hands thoroughly — This is important. Wet hands should be dried well before breaking bread, because eating without drying is considered eating “contaminated bread.”
5. Break bread — Now you are ready to eat.
Important Distinctions
When netilat yadayim is required:
- Before eating any bread on which you would say HaMotzi (the standard blessing for bread)
- Also before foods dipped in liquids
When it is NOT required:
- For small rolls, pastries, or bread products that you don’t establish a full meal on — these do NOT require hand-washing
- Some say if eating less than the volume of an egg, you wash but do not bless
If you washed hands during the meal (e.g., you touched something unclean):
- You must wash again, but you do not repeat the blessing
Custom Variations
- When to bless: The widespread practice in both Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities is to wash, lift the hands, and recite the blessing before drying them.
- How much water: Many are careful to pour from a cup with at least a revi’is (roughly 3–4 oz) of water, twice over each hand.
Sources
Educational note: Rebbe.IO is an AI study companion, not a posek. Practices and customs vary by community; for a personal halachic ruling, please consult your rav.
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