History

• The first written records of ritual washing in Judaism are found in the Jewish Bible, including both full body cleansing and hand washing alone. While the details of the history are disputed, it is agreed in most sectors of Judaism that this practice was put in place to rid one of contamination before an important or holy activity. The first verse that mentions hand washing as ritual in the Jewish Bible is in Exodus 30: 18-21, and it says: "And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, You shall also make a basin of bronze, and its pedestal also of bronze, to wash with; and you shall put it between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it. For Aaron and his sons shall wash there their hands and their feet..."
  
  

How Performed

• Ritual hand washing in Judaism can be performed with tap water and from a common cup, namely because believers are asked to perform it after or before several daily tasks. The practicer pours water from a cup on each hand three times, alternating between hands. Because no soap or special solution is used, this washing stands as a symbolism for spiritual cleanliness rather than sanitation or disinfection.
  
  

When Performed

• This ceremony is performed before a number of spiritual and common tasks. Believers perform ritual hand washing before prayer, before a priestly blessing, after sleeping, after going to the bathroom, after cutting the hair or nails, after being involved with the preparation of a corpse, a funeral procession or leaving a cemetery and after touching the scalp, inside of the nose or ear.
  
  

Differences

• Depending on what sector of Judaism a person follows, she may be required to wash the hands and the body more or less often. Typically, the more conservative his practice, the more frequently a believer will be required to wash himself. Conservative Judaism asks followers to engage in full-body ritual washing after common activities such as after a woman experiences her monthly period or after engaging in intercourse with her husband.