hand washing

Avodah
1

The gemara (Shabbat 62b) states that being derogatory (mzalzel) concerning ntilat yadaim(hand washing) causes poverty. Rava then clarifies that this is only talking about the case where one doesn't wash at all. The gemara then rejects Rava's interpretation based on R' Chisda saying that he had washed his hands with a lot of water and got a lot of good (in return?).

As part of a broader shiur, I was wondering
:
1. Is it possible that water was not as readily available then and so this focus on the amount of water might not be applicable today?
2. Why would the gemara accept a rejection of Rava without a more specific refutation source?
3. How is R' Chisda's statement a source of rejection? (Rava could well agree that using more than the minimum is praiseworthy but still hold poverty only comes for those who don't wash at all)

That's enough to start :slight_smile:

KT
Joel Rich

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2

From R' Aviner:
Netilat Yadayim by a guest
Q: Should a guest avoid using large quantities of water for Netilat Yadayim, since it is at the host's expense?
(me-paradigm shift due to indoor plumbing? See shabbat 62b and S"A O"C 158:10)

Has anyone seen poskim who reflect the ready availability of water as a reason to differentiate from earlier authorities who focus on the amount of water to be used?
GCT
Joel Rich

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