Mayim Aḥaronim

("Latter waters"). Symbolic washing of the fingers prior to the recitation of Grace After Meals. This practice evidently derives from ancient table manners: since only a knife and the fingers were used at meals, no Grace could be recited until each diner had cleansed his hands (Ber. 53b). According to the rabbis (Ber. 46b), both forms of ritual ablution must be performed by everyone at table in order of seniority. One explanation given was that the condiment known as "salt of Sodom" included an admixture of Dead Sea potassium chloride and, unless the hands were thoroughly washed, it might be rubbed into the eyes and lead to blindness (Er. 17b; Ḥul. 105a-106a). However, improved hygienic conditions in the West, coupled with the fact that "salt of Sodom" was not used by medieval French Jewry, led Rabbenu Tam to declare mayim aḥaronim superfluous (Tos. to Ḥul. 105a). While no benediction is prescribed for this ritual, the Shulḥan Arukh nevertheless insisted on its continued validity (Oḥ 181:7,10), a position adopted by later authorities such as Elijah Gaon of Vilna and the ḥafets ḥayyim. Those Orthodox Jews who follow their ruling use cold water and wash each hand in turn, up to the second joint of the fingers, allowing the water to drip into a vessel. Some make use of a finger bowl, others prefer a specially designed unit cosisting of a miniature bowl and pitcher.

---