When water is scarce and one cannot wash both mayim rishonim and mayim achronim, which takes priority?
Synopsis
If a person has only enough water for one washing, whether they should use it for the pre-meal washing (mayim rishonim) or post-meal washing (mayim achronim).
More in Bread and Meal Boundaries
Is washing hands after a meal (mayim achronim) obligatory or merely optional?
4 opinions across 3 eras
Must mayim achronim be washed into a vessel, or may one wash directly onto the ground?
3 opinions
May hot water (that would scald the hand) be used for mayim achronim?
2 opinions
How far up the hand must one wash for mayim achronim?
2 opinions
When multiple people dine together, what is the order for washing mayim achronim?
1 opinions
Is a blessing (berachah) recited over mayim achronim?
2 opinions
Must the hands be dried (niggub) after washing mayim achronim before reciting birkat hamazon?
2 opinions
How much water is required for mayim achronim?
2 opinions
Related from other topics
What is the principle regarding which hand is washed first when water is poured?
Washing Hands for Bread
May one immerse hands in spring water (mayim chayyim) for netilat yadayim even if there is not forty se'ah?
Drying Hands After Washing
May one immerse hands in forty se'ah of drawn water (mayim she'uvim) that is collected in the ground?
Drying Hands After Washing
Is water from which animals or birds drank disqualified for hand-washing?
Who Must Wash Hands for Bread
When whole wheat bread and whole barley bread are both present, which takes precedence?
What Counts as Bread
When non-Jewish bread and Jewish bread are both present, which takes precedence in blessing?
What Counts as Bread
Discussion
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