Not to pour onto the ground: One may not pour the water used for morning washing onto the ground.[2] Rather one is to pour it into a vessel. [Thus when preparing the water before going to sleep the water filled vessel is to be placed into an empty vessel, in which one will pour the water into.[3]]
What type of vessel is to be used? It is proper[4] that the lower basin [used to pour the water into when washing] be a disgusting vessel.[5] [One however is not to have repulsive vessels near his bed, such as a potty and the like, unless the vessel is covered.[6]]
Q&A
May the basin that was used to pour the water into be used for food?
Some Poskim[7] rule that after one washes out the basin it may be used for food.[8] However there are Poskim[9] which severely warn against using, for foods, the basin which contained the impure water, as doing so causes great illnesses and maladies.
May one use a pot as a basin to pour the water in if he has no other vessel available?
Seemingly one may be lenient in this case to use a pot. However he must make sure to wash out the vessel prior to using it again.[10] Furthermore, if possible, one should line the inside of the vessel with a plastic bag or the like in order to prevent the water from touching it.[11]
If one does not have a vessel available may he pour the water on the ground?[12]
One may only pour the water into an area that people do not commonly walk in.
If one has a sink near his bed must he nevertheless prepare a basin with water inside a vessel before he goes to sleep?[13]
If he can wash without placing his feet on the ground then there is no need to prepare a basin and he is to wash in the sink in the morning.[14]
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[1] Kama 4/8; Seder Hayom
[2] The reason for this is because the water is impure and needs to be discarded in an area away from people in order so they don’t get injured. [Shulchan Gavoa 4/11] Alternatively, this is based on the Zohar which requires two vessels to be used when doing this washing, as brought in Seder Hayom [see below]. Based on this latter reason one is to pour into a vessel even if he is in an area that people are not found and hence they will not come in contact with the water. [Kaf Hachaim 4/29]
[3] Seder Hayom ibid
[4] Lit. Tov
[5] Admur ibid; Seder Hayom ibid states: “The water filled vessel is blessed while the empty vessel is cursed. It is a very good practice to use an empty vessel that is broken and disgusting.” This based on the Zohar brought also in Beis Yosef.
[6] Tziporen Shamir 7 brought in Ketzos Hashulchan 2/4; The reason for this is because such vessels bring evil spirits which can cause a person to have nocturnal emission. [ibid]
[7] Ashel Avraham Butchach 4/9
[8] As it is no different than a vessel which had a cold Issur food inside of it in which case we rule the vessel is to be washed and may then be used. [ibid]
[9] Amudei Kesef [author of Misgeres Hashulchan] on Shut Min Hashamayim writes as follows: “Majority of the illnesses come as a result of pouring the Mayim Achronim water or morning washing water into a vessel and then using that vessel for food. This applies even if one washes the vessel in-between, nevertheless it does not suffice. Therefore one must designate specific vessels for this purpose and not use them for other matters.” [Brought in Piskeiy Teshuvos 4 footnote 137]
[10] Relying on the Ashel Avraham ibid, brought in the previous Q&A.
[11] In order to suspect for the second opinion brought in the previous Q&A.
[12] Kaf Hachaim 4/29; Chayeh Adam Klal 2/1
[13] Yabia Omer 5/2; Piskeiy Teshuvos 4/7 and 13; As the sink itself can be considered a vessel.
[14] As the sink itself is considered a vessel and hence one fulfills the statement brought in Seder Hayom to have two vessels, one empty and one full, before going to sleep. [ibid]
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