...Continued from previous week
1) When washing the hands upon rising in the morning (Negel Vasser) the cup should be held in the right hand and filled with water (or if it was already filled from the night before, it should initially be picked up with the right hand), then transferred to the left hand and the water poured on the right hand first. (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 4:10)
According to some Poskim, this applies to all washings of Netilas Yadayim throughout the day, and not just to Negel Vasser. (See Shu”t Be’er Moshe Vol. 2 Siman 3:3)
2) A left handed person follows the above mentioned order as well and washes the right hand first, as the primary reason the right hand is washed first is Al Pi Kabala, as we want the Ko’ach of the right hand (Chesed) to overpower the Ko’ach of the left hand (Din). (See Mishna Berura Siman 4:22 and Kaf HaChaim Siman 4:35)
3) When a man puts on his Talis in the morning, the Talis should initially cover his face, until his mouth. Those that throw the majority of the Talis over themselves and have it reach down way beyond their mouth are not doing a proper Atifa, wrapping. (Mishna Berura Siman 8:4. See also Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman 8:5 and Aruch HaShulchan Siman 8:5. Some Poskim, including the Chazon Ish, based on the Gaon of Vilna, do not agree with the Mishna Berura’s ruling to cover the face until the mouth, as they maintain that the eyes should not be covered, as doing so is not Atifas Yishmaelim, as they would be unable to see in this manner. Some suggest that the Mishna Berura means to do it loosely, so even though it reaches your mouth, you can still see. Other hold that the Mishna Berura means to wrap the Talis around your face/mouth, but indeed leave the eyes exposed)
During this procedure, part of the Talis must be on the back. If the entire Talis is draped over the neck like a shawl, the obligation has not been satisfied. (See Be’er Heitev Siman 8:3 quoting the Mogen Avraham. Unfortunately, I often observe people not being careful with this. Additionally, in certain communities the TaleIsim are small and worn as shawls around the neck only throughout the davening. This is not proper, at least for Ashkenazim. Some Sephardim have a different custom regarding this; See Ben Ish Chai Bereishis Siman 5)
4) The four strings of Tzitzis should then be taken and thrown over his left shoulder and remain that way for the amount of time it takes to walk four Amos (approximately 8 feet) (Mishna Berura ibid.)
The primary reason for the Tzitzis being placed on the left shoulder is Al Pi Kabala, and thus even left handed men should follow the above procedure. (See Shu”t Be’er Moshe Vol. 2 Siman 3:3)
Another reason given for this is that Tzitzis serves to combat the Yetzer Hara as it says in the Parsha of Tzitzis (Bamidbar 15:39) “V’Lo Sasuru Acharei Levavchem, you shall not err after your heart” and thus the Tzitzis are flung over the shoulder on the side of the heart. According to this reason as well, left handed men follow the same procedure. (See Shu”t Radvaz Vol. 3 Siman 571. See also Ben Ish Chai Parshas Bereishis 5, Kitzur Shnei Luchos HaBris (Shla HaKadosh) Hilchos Tzitzis and Sefer HaChinuch Mitzvah 386. See also Talmud Menachos 44a and Avoda Zara 17a)
After waiting the proper amount of time, the Tzitzis should be placed in their appropriate place (two in the front on the right and left side and two in the back on the right and left side) (Mishna Berura ibid.)
5) It is a Mitzvah for Jewish males to hold their Tzitzis in their left hands, near the heart, during the recitation of Krias Shma [of Shacharis]. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 24:2)
The reason for their being held in the left hand is due to the Posuk (Devarim 6:6) V’Hayu HaDevarim Ha’eileh...Al Levavecha, and these words...on your heart” (ibid.)
6) The Tzitzis should be held between the pinky and the ring finger for the entire Shma, and when reciting the Parsha of Tzitzis (V’Yomer) it should also be held with the right hand and gazed upon. (Mishna Berura Siman 24:4)
They should be held in this position until after the words “Ne’emanim V’nechemadim La’Ad” [in V'yatziv] are said. They should then be kissed and released from both hands. (Mishna Berura ibid. quoting the Arizal)
Since the reason for the left hand is due to its proximity to the heart, there is no difference in this Halacha between righties and lefties.
...to be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
