May one wash hands with snow, hail, frost, or ice? With wine? With fruit juices or other beverages?
Synopsis
Snow/hail/frost/ice may be used if crushed into water. Wine: first opinion says only water qualifies; second opinion (Rashba) says wine is technically valid but forbidden l'chatchila out of respect; Rema adds beer and honey-water are permitted in times of need. Fruit juice: third opinion permits in emergencies.
More in Who Must Wash Hands for Bread
Does water that changed appearance on its own (not due to an external substance) disqualify it for hand-washing?
4 opinions
Does using water for labor (melacha) — such as soaking bread, cooling wine, or washing dirty vessels — disqualify it for hand-washing?
3 opinions
Is water in front of a blacksmith or barber disqualified for hand-washing?
1 opinions
Is water from which animals or birds drank disqualified for hand-washing?
3 opinions
Does melacha (labor) disqualify mikveh water or spring water that is still connected?
3 opinions
May one use fire-heated water (chamei ha-ur) for hand-washing, even when it is scalding hot (yad soledet)?
3 opinions
May one immerse hands in the hot springs of Tiberias (chamei Teveriah), and what are the conditions?
3 opinions across 3 eras
What is the reason geothermal spring water (like Tiberias) is invalid for vessel-based hand-washing, and does the dog-drinkability test apply to other bitter/hot springs?
3 opinions
Related from other topics
Is it forbidden to hold other sacred writings (Nevi'im, Ketuvim) with bare hands?
Aliyah Priority and Honor
Is it permitted or a sign of arrogance to wash hands for fruits?
Washing Hands for Bread
Can one wash hands for food dipped in liquid from plants (like fruit juices) rather than the seven liquids?
Washing Hands for Bread
May one pour water from cupped hands (not from a vessel) onto another person's hands for netilat yadayim?
Drying Hands After Washing
If one hand is washed via netilah (pouring from vessel) and the other is immersed (tevilah), are both hands valid?
Drying Hands After Washing
Must the person serving food (feeding others) wash their hands before touching the food?
Who Must Wash
Discussion
Discussion coming soon.
The Daily Law
One question. Every opinion. Every morning.
A new halakhic question and the full spectrum of rabbinic thought, delivered daily.