- Halacha
- The Meal and Mezuman
Distraction After Washing
Question
Why don’t we speak after washing for bread?
Answer
There is a dispute among Poskim if talking is allowed between washing hands and the Bracha on the bread.
According to the opinion of the Rambam and most Rishonim, as long as your mind is not distracted from the fact you're about to eat, it is permitted to talk about anything, and it's not considered a Hefsek. If someone was distracted, by speech or action, and he forgot he was about to eat, he needs to wash again. Many Yemenite Jews hold this Minhag and speak between washing and the meal.
However, some Rishonim (Tur following the Yerushalmi, and others) hold the opinion that one mustn't have any interruption in speech between washing and Hamotzi, only for something that's urgent for the meal one is allowed to speak, for example, if he's missing salt, or a knife or bread, he can ask for them.
The Shulchan Aruch (166:1) decreed that it's good to follow the stringent opinions that permit talking only if it's needed for the meal, but not for other things. The Rm"a adds that one should try not to have an intermission longer than the time it takes to walk 22 Amot (about 11 meters).
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed

baal tashchis
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tishrei 28, 5781

b’Reshus
Rabbi David Sperling | Shevat 26, 5778

benching on wine before havdalah
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Av 3, 5780

Eating Without a Yarmulka
Various Rabbis | 22 Av 5767

Various Rabbis
Various Rabbis including those of of Yeshivat Bet El, such as Rabbi Chaim Katz, Rabbi Binyamin Bamberger and Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblat and others.

A Convert Who Does Not Keep Shabbat
23 Cheshvan 5763

Kissing a Mezuzah or Sefer
3 Tishrei 5763

What is happening to me?
4 Cheshvan 5763

Becoming a Ger
1 Kislev 5763

Bracha on water
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | Cheshvan 16, 5769
Genesis 24: 2-9 – Put your hand under my thigh
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 26, 5770

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

Popcorn at the cinema
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 8, 5773

Writing in a Siddur
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tevet 19, 5783

Using Father's or Mother's Name in Judaism
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 4, 5783

Btselem
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 18, 5783
