Q&A: Mayim Acharonim and the Shulchan Arukh
Mayim Acharonim and the Shulchan Arukh
Question
What is your opinion of these words of the Shulchan Arukh: one who lets blood from the shoulders548 and does not wash his hands is afraid for seven days. One who gets a haircut and does not wash his hands is afraid for three days. One who cuts his nails and does not wash his hands is afraid for one day, and he does not know what he is afraid of.
And regarding mayim acharonim, if nowadays there is no Sodomite salt, is there still any point to it?
Answer
Usually, if I don’t know what I’m afraid of, I’m not afraid. I also don’t become afraid because someone tells me to.
As for mayim acharonim, there is the element of custom. It is not a completely foolish custom, because there is some point to having clean hands before the blessing. But one who is lenient has what to rely on (the view that exempts is already brought in the Shulchan Arukh).