B"H
Shalom Dan,
Keep in mind that the B. Talmud is a compilation of different thoughts and teachings from the various sages and rabbis. Much of it is different rabbis and sages debating various aspects of a
life. Therefore, just because something is stated in the Talmud doesn't mean that every person quoted there is in agreement...for often they are quite opposed. It is not like other books, like the Bible, where the writers have to agree with each other and not contradict each other. I guess I am trying to communicate that one shouldn't judge all the contents of the Talmud based on what just one teacher or sage was recorded saying.
Reading the Talmud is like sitting down to study with the rabbis and sages of old, or at least overhearing their conversations and studies with each other. There is much wisdom and understanding to be gleamed from these discussions. It is true that within the Talmud and Mishnah there is some superstitious none-sense, but this doesn't mean that all of Judaism, the rabbis, and sages agree with these things. Furthermore, not all of Judaism agrees with Kabbalistic teachings, nor is it accepted by all in Orthodox Judaism...But, some of the teachers found on the internet won't mention any of this because they often have a axe to grind against Judaism, Rabbinic Judaism, against the Jewish people, or are simply quote people who have this bent (and don't realize it) or are just ignorant and they take quotes from the Talmud out of context to cast traditional or Orthodox Judaism in a negative light because they really believe this is what they all believe. Therefore, I would be cautious about believing some of the conclusions that some of these teachers are coming to without fully studying these things for youself and getting fully into the texts in question.
In regards to the quote and the superstitious understanding that is attributed to the custom of n'tilat yadaiyim, it was not uncommon during those days for some to come up with wild stories steeped in superstition or "bubbe meises" (old wives tales) to reinforce a practice or even a mitzvah that people where not observing. In other words, a practice or custom often pre-exists the superstitious story (like the one you quoted above), and not the other way around, and later the creative story is told to scare the people into being more observant. I believe this was likely the case in regards to the story you quoted.
Yeshua, understanding some of the stories, likely used them to his advantage to make a point in that particular case. But, as Yedidyah pointed out, it was likely that Yeshua himself washed his hands, along with other (albeit not all) talmidim of his. If we actually read completely through the talmud and through the writings of the sages we know that this story is not the only reason given for the washing of the hands in Jewish history. It is only one story that is brought up often to discredit Judaism or Orthodox practice.
Jewish rabbis and sages also teach the following in regards to n'tilat yadaiyim....Shemot (Exodus)19:6 states, “And you will be a kingdom of Cohanim (priests) for me…”. Because Adonai exhorted all of the people of Yisra'el to be Cohenim (Priests), they often followed after the example of the Levi'im (Levites) and Cohenim that served in the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple). Indeed, the Levi'im were supposed to be the
teachers unto Yisra'el, and thus, in addition to becoming more and more like a Nation of Cohenim, it would be natural for Yisra'el to emulate many of the examples and practices of the Cohenim who served in the Beit HaMikdash.
What was one of those practices?...Before the ancient Cohanim (priests) came into the presence of Adonai they would wash their hands and feet (Shemot/Exo. 30:19). Thus, the sages teach us that the reason we wash our hands is to follow in the holy practice of the Cohenim (priests) who washed their hands and feet before approaching HaShem to offer prayer and make offerings to Him. On this note, the sages teach us that our table can be compared to an altar, and when we come before HaShem and bless Him for our food, we should do so with clean hands, just as the holy Cohenim of old did. Likewise, we are taught that if we gather at our table to eat and we don't share words of
, it was as if we offered in unclean thing on the altar of HaShem, and had defiled it.
Sha'ul (Paul) teaches us that the
is spiritual (Romans 7:14). This precept of washing (as found in the
) teaches us spiritual principles. Each time we wash our hands and bless Adonai before we eat...it is a physical reminder of a spiritual truth. Tehillim (Psalms) 24:3-4 states, "Who may go up to the mountain of HaShem? Who can stand in his holy place? Those with
clean hands and
pure hearts...". And, Ya'akov (James) 4:8 exhorts us to, "Come close to God, and he will come close to you.
Cleanse your hands, sinners;
and purify your hearts, you double-minded people!".
Yeshua wanted to get the same point across that Tehillim 24:3-4 and Ya'akov 4:8 was trying to get across...that the true meaning behind the cleansing of the hands was to exhort us to purify our hearts. Often we need physical reminders as a catylist to lead us to spiritual truths that we often forget or neglect.
I truly don't believe Yeshua was against observing n'tilat yadaiyim with the right heart...but, apparently in the particular case that is recorded...that particular group of individuals were not doing it with the right heart, and thus he used the opportunity in the passage in question to address some wrong understandings about n'tilat yadaiyim.
L'chaim b'Yeshua!
R' Reuel
- there are 70 faces to 
So if we wash our hands, give thanks to the Father than how could this be a bad thing? We don't see such acts in pagan culture so I don't see anything wrong with this tradition. To answer the question that if our current cleanliness practices already fullfil this, I think that should be up to the person. If I am at a meal with fellow Jews I am going to make sure to wash my hands in the traditional way and even do the traditional prayer for I see nothing wrong with thanking the father for cleanliness. The 
. I would leave it up to the person and if they feel convicted to do so. Pray about it and ask that the Father will reveal to you what it is you seek. Shalom! 
