The Laws of the Siddur - Halacha Yomit

The Laws of the Siddur - Halacha Yomit

The Laws of the Siddur - Halacha Yomit

The Laws of the Siddur - Halacha Yomit

The Laws of the Siddur - Halacha Yomit

Each morning when we wake up we are obligated to wash our hands and recite the bracha ‘Al Netilat Yadayim’. The question arises, though, where one should perform this mitvah as well as where is the appropriate place to recite the bracha upon it. The answer to those questions is the subject of today’s Halacha Yomit.

The Laws of the Siddur - Halacha Yomit

There are two special, complimentary brachot that we say each morning - ‘Asher Yatzar’ and ‘Elokai Neshama’. The first bracha relates to the wonder of the human body, the second expresses our gratitude for the human soul. Together, these two brachot encompass the human being as a whole. No wonder Chazal established that we recite both brachot first thing in the morning, as Rabbi Brovender relates in today’s Halacha Yomit.

Sometimes it’s not clear whether or not you have to say a bracha. For instance, what do you do in the following situation? You wake up in the middle of the night, wash your hands (without saying a bracha) and learn some Torah. You then go to sleep again, wake up after dawn and wash your hands again. Should you then say the bracha of ‘Al Netilat Yadayim’? As Rabbi Brovender explains in today’s Halacha Yomit - the answer is not so clear.

Each morning, immediately after we say ‘Modeh Ani’, a Jew is commanded to wash his hands and say the bracha of ‘Al Netilat Yadayim’. What is the reason for this Mitvah? Why is it so important that we wash our hands immediately upon rising? That is the subject of today’s Halacha Yomit.

Each morning we wake up and recite ‘Modeh Ani’. We do so even before we wash our hands or say any other bracha. Why is this the very first bracha we mention at the start of each day and why can we say it before we wash? Rabbi Brovender addresses these questions, and more, in today’s Halacha Yomit.