Chapter 40 – Washing Your Hands Before Meals
40.1) Wash your hands before eating bread over which the benediction Hamotzi (blessing over bread) is said.
40.2) Wash your hands in water poured from a vessel that is perfect.
40.3) A vessel not designed to hold water for washing should not be used as such.
40.4) The quantity of water to be used to wash hands is controversial.
40.5) Raise your hands upward after washing them and rubbing them together.
40.6) If one of your hands touches the other before washing is complete, the water is considered contaminated.
40.7) You may dip your hands into a stream or a ritually fit tank when no vessel is available for washing.
40.8) If unnatural substances are introduced into water during a ritual washing, the water may not be used.
40.9) Water is not defiled just because someone touches it.
40.10) If water is unfit for a dog to drink, it is unfit for ritual washing.
40.11) Remove all jewelry or other substances from your hands before washing.
40.12) Dye on your hands is not considered an obstruction to ritual washing.
40.13) Water must be spilled manually for ritual washing.
40.14) Do not eat without washing your hands.
40.15) Wash your hands and say the benediction if you relieve yourself before eating.
40.16) Wash your hands without saying the benediction if you touch yourself while eating.
40.17) If food is dipped in a liquid during eating, you must wash your hands without saying the benediction.
40.18) Liquids are listed in this precept.
40.19) Fruits preserved in sugar do not require ritual washing of the hands before eating.
40.20) Any finger foods require ritual washing of the hands.
40.21) Everything formed by water is considered water so if you dip something in it, you do not need to wash your hands.