Sodomite salt and mayyim akhronim TB Eiruvin 17

With today’s daf TB Eiruvin 17 we finish the first chapter of massekhet Eiruvin. Tradition delineates two types of wars. The first kind war is an obligatory war (מלחמת חובה). These are wars commanded by God like the original conquest of the land of Israel by Joshua or defensive wars in any era. The second kind of war is a voluntary war (מלחמת רשות) whose sole purpose is territorial expansion. The last Mishna of this chapter deals with the four exemptions for soldiers who are fighting in a voluntary war. “MISHNA: The Sages exempted a soldier in a military camp in four matters: One may bring wood for kindling from any place with no concern that he is stealing wood from its owners; and one is exempt from ritual washing of the hands before eating; and one is exempt from the separation of tithes from doubtfully tithed produce [demai], i.e., produce purchased from an am ha’aretz, one who is not diligent in separating tithes; and one is exempt from establishing an eiruv.” (Sefaria.org translation)

When Sefaria.org translated the Mishna concerning the ritual washing of hands, it incorporated the Gemara’s understanding even before we see it in the text. “”We learned in the mishna that in a military camp one is exempt from ritual washing of the hands. Abaye said: They taught this exemption only with regard to first waters, i.e., hand-washing before eating. However, final waters (mayyim akhronim- מיים אחרנים gg), i.e., hand-washing after eating and before reciting Grace after Meals, is an obligation even in a military camp.

“Rav Ḥiyya bar Ashi said: For what reason did the Sages say that the final waters are an obligation? It is due to the fact that there is the presence of Sodomite salt, which blinds the eyes even in a small amount. Since Sodomite salt could remain on one’s hands, one must wash them after eating. This obligation is binding even in a camp because soldiers are also obligated to maintain their health.”

So according to the Talmud, the washing of the hands after a meal, mayyim akhronim, is obligatory for everybody including soldiers on a campaign because of health reasons! Even for all of us who still wash our hands ritually before making the blessing over bread, most of us don’t wash her hands after the meal ritually with mayyim akhronim. Perhaps you’re like the Greene family and the only time you wash your hands before Grace after meals is at the Passover Seder.

Tosefot who lived some eight centuries ago commented on this phenomenon of not washing one’s hands ritually after a meal. “Now we do not observe the custom of mayyim akhronim because Sodomite salt is not common by us. Also we don’t regularly dip our fingertips into salt after eating.” Since the underpinning reason of the rabbinic law no longer exists, they felt comfortable in disregarding a Talmudic prohibition. This is just one more example how Jewish law evolves and is never static. I always say the Torah and the Talmud are the first words in Jewish law, but not the last.