Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim · Siman 181

Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim 181 — English translation

Translation: Sefaria Community Translation. Section numbers match the Hebrew text above.

1. 1Laws of Mayim Achronim. Contains 10 paragraphs: 1. Mayim Achronim (washing after a meal) is mandatory
2. 22. Mayim Acharonim should not be done over the ground, rather into a vessel since ruach ra’ah rests on the water; if one does not have a vessel he should wash over small pieces of wood or something similar.
3. 33. One does not perform netilah (ritual washing) with water so hot that the hand is scalded by it, because it causes the hands to blister [the bracketed gloss explains: mefa'af'in means meva'be'in, from the language of shechin ava'bu'ot — boils and blisters] and does not remove the grime
4. 44. One does not need to wash any further than the second knuckle
5. 55. One needs to lower the tips of his fingers down so that the dirt comes off
6. 66. If those reclining [at the meal] are many — up to five, they begin [the washing] with the one who recites the blessing [i.e., the one who will lead birkat hamazon]. And if they are more than five, they begin with the least distinguished [literally: 'the smallest'] and wash in the order of their seating, and they do not honor one another [by deferring the washing, saying 'you first'] until they reach the final five. And once only five remain who have not yet washed, they begin [again] with the one who recites the blessing
7. 77. One doesn't make a blessing on Mayim Achronim.
8. 88. There are those who say that mayim acharonim do not require drying [of the hands afterward], but according to the Rambam, one dries [the hands] and afterwards recites the blessing [birkat hamazon].
9. 99. Mayim acharonim — one may wash with any kind of liquid.
10. 1010. There are those who are not accustomed to perform mayim acharonim. And even according to those who follow this practice [of not washing], a person who is fastidious [istenis] and is in the habit of washing his hands after a meal — for him, [his] hands are considered mezohamot [soiled], and he must wash his hands before birkat hamazon.

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