The Mishnah on Handwashing

m. Yadayim 1:1–4

70–220

1. One fourth of a log [is the minimal amount] of water that should be used for [ritually] washing hands for one, or even two people. Half a log may be used for three or four people. A log [or more] may be used for five, ten, or [even] one hundred people. R. Yosi says: As long as they do not leave less than one fourth of a log for the last person.¹ People may use additional water after the second washing, but they should not use additional water after the first washing [lest this new water touch a part of the skin that was not washed by the first washing and the skin is therefore still impure].

2. Any vessel may be used for washing the hands, even vessels made of dung, vessels made of stone, and vessels made of clay [all of which cannot become impure]. People should not wash their hands by using [only] the sides of vessels, or the sides of a ladle, or the stopper of a barrel. One should not wash another person’s hands using their own hands [as a vessel], because it is not permitted to fill, or sanctify, or move water of purification,² or to [ritually] wash hands except with a vessel. Only vessels [as opposed to other objects] can be saved [from impurity transmitted by a corpse] by having a tight seal, and only vessels can save [from transmitted impurity contained in] an earthenware vessel.

3. Water that is unfit for an animal to drink: if it is in a vessel, then it is unfit [for washing hands], but if it is on the ground, it is fit [for washing hands]. If black ink, gum resin, or vitriol fall into [water] and the appearance [of the water] changes color, it is unfit [for washing hands]. If one used [water] for labor or soaked his bread in it, it is disqualified. Simeon the Yemenite says: If one intended to soak [bread] in one [vessel of water] and [the bread] fell into a second [vessel of water], they are both fit [for washing hands].

4. If one used [water] for washing vessels or for rubbing [vessels used for] measurements, it is unfit [for washing hands]. If one used [water] to wash already-washed vessels or new [vessels], it is fit [for washing hands]. R. Yosi declares [water used to wash] new vessels unfit [for washing hands].

Translated by Matthew Goldstone.

Notes

[Ideally, people would wash multiple times. During the first washing, the water would become impure due to the impurity of the hands, and during the second washing, the new water would wash away the impure water from the first washing.—Ed.]

[Literally, “water of sin-[removal].” This refers to specially designated water used to remove impurities (see Numbers 19).—Trans.]

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 2: Emerging Judaism.