Washing of Hands
“I wash my hands in purity, and circle around Your altar, O Lord.
To proclaim thanksgiving with a loud voice and to recount all Your wondrous deeds” (Psalms 26:6-7).
Observant Jews would appear to be obsessive-compulsive about cleanliness. In fact, an observant Jew will often wash his or her hands (called "netilat yadayim") four times within an hour or so of waking up. Upon waking, after reciting Modeh Ani, a Jew is required to wash his hands. Then, after using the bathroom (and I don't mean that euphemistically; even if just to shave or anything else in the bathroom) one is religiously bound to wash his hands. Then, before praying morning prayers, one must wash his hands again. Finally, one will wash his hands before eating any meal containing bread.
In addition to these mitzvot, one must wash his hands after touching a dead body, leaving a cemetary, touching a part of your own body that is usually covered, scratching your head, and so on. (In these last categories, Halacha is rather lenient.)
It's interesting to note that during the Black Plague, the Jewish community was barely affected. This, of course, was because of all the handwashing. Unfortunately, neighboring communities saw this and assumed that the Jews must have been poisoning the water supply, so pogroms broke out and Jews were killed anyway.
But back to the point: there's a lot of handwashing!
To proclaim thanksgiving with a loud voice and to recount all Your wondrous deeds” (Psalms 26:6-7).
Observant Jews would appear to be obsessive-compulsive about cleanliness. In fact, an observant Jew will often wash his or her hands (called "netilat yadayim") four times within an hour or so of waking up. Upon waking, after reciting Modeh Ani, a Jew is required to wash his hands. Then, after using the bathroom (and I don't mean that euphemistically; even if just to shave or anything else in the bathroom) one is religiously bound to wash his hands. Then, before praying morning prayers, one must wash his hands again. Finally, one will wash his hands before eating any meal containing bread.
In addition to these mitzvot, one must wash his hands after touching a dead body, leaving a cemetary, touching a part of your own body that is usually covered, scratching your head, and so on. (In these last categories, Halacha is rather lenient.)
It's interesting to note that during the Black Plague, the Jewish community was barely affected. This, of course, was because of all the handwashing. Unfortunately, neighboring communities saw this and assumed that the Jews must have been poisoning the water supply, so pogroms broke out and Jews were killed anyway.
But back to the point: there's a lot of handwashing!