Does one need to dry his hands after the washing, before reciting the blessing? [1]
One does not need to dry his hands after washing upon awakening, and he may thus say the blessing over the washing, as well as any other blessing, while his hands are still wet. [As well, he may touch any area of his body, even though his hands are still wet.[2] The Chabad custom however is to dry the hands prior to reciting the blessing.[3]]
| Summary:
The Chabad custom is to dry the hands prior to reciting the blessing. |
[1] Kama 4:7
Background:
Source of Admur’s ruling: The Seder Hayom rules that immediately after washing the hands a blessing is to be said and one is not to delay it until after the hands dry. This is because according to the Arizal the impurity leaves the hands immediately upon being washed a third time, even before the drying and hence the blessing is not to be delayed. So is explicitly written in the Siddur Rashash. [Ben Ish Chaiy Toldos 5; Kaf Hachaim 4:8; Ketzos Hashulchan 2 footnote 23 thus negating the opinion of Mahram Nigrin] The M”A 4:6 thus rules one does not need to dry his hands prior to the blessing and so rules Admur ibid. It thus seems the source of the ruling of the M”A and Admur is from the Seder Hayom. To note however that Admur does not write that one must say the blessing prior to drying but rather it is not necessary to dry it. This implies that one can delay the blessing if he so chooses, as rules the Machazik Bracha. Vetzaruch Iyun. See Peri Megadim 4 A”A 6. The Rambam in Peir Hador 104 and his son in 82 rules one may never say a blessing once the hands have dried. [See Yabia Omer 9:85]
Other Poskim: There are Poskim who rule that one must dry the hands prior to the blessing, being that according to them the impurity does not leave the hands until the water of the washing is dried. [Machazik Bracha 4:1 in name of Oar Tzaddikim in name of Mahram Nigrin; Shaareiy Teshuvah 4:1] The following Poskim rule that the blessing is said prior to the drying: Seder Hayom; Kneses Hagedola; Siddur Rashash; M”A 4:6; Olas Tamid 4:2; Elya Raba 4:5; Birchas Avraham 3; Beir Heiytiv 4:1; Ben Ish Chaiy Toldos 5; Ketzos Hashulchan 4 footnote 23; Kaf Hachaim 4:8; Yabia Omer 9:85.
[2] Ketzos Hashulchan 2 footnote 23 based on Michaber 554:11
[3] Sefer Haminhagim p. 5 [English] The custom of the Rebbe Rashab was to dry his hands prior to reciting the blessing over the morning washing. This was different than his custom regarding washing for bread in which case he dried the hands only after the blessing. [Likkutei Dibburim Likut 23 p. 633]
Source of our custom: Seemingly the reason behind our custom is because we follow the ruling of the Machazik Bracha ibid that the impurity does not leave until after the drying. [See Background]