Handwashing in Judaism

Jewish law and custom prescribe ritual hand washing in a number of situations. This practice is generally known by the Hebrew term נטילת ידיים‎ (netilat yadayim), which literally means taking up of the hands.

The Talmud used the requirement of handwashing in Leviticus 15:11 ("The person who is touched by one who has a discharge without rinsing his hands in water must wash their clothes and bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening") as a hint for general handwashing law, using asmachta (a Biblical hint, rather than an explicit requirement).