Yadayim

Yadayim is the Hebrew word for hands and is the common plural form of the noun yad, meaning “hand.” In Modern Hebrew, yadayim refers to hands in general and appears in everyday speech, literature, and media. In Biblical Hebrew, yad and yadayim also designate hands and occur throughout narratives, legal texts, and poetry, where they can convey action, capability, or possession.

One of the most recognizable uses of the term in Jewish practice is netilat yadayim, the ritual washing of the hands. This ritual is customary before eating bread in many Jewish communities and in some cases is observed at other times of the day or upon waking. It is typically performed from a vessel or jug, with water poured over the hands, sometimes in a prescribed sequence, and is often accompanied by a blessing such as al netilat yadayim. Practices vary among Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and other communities regarding when the blessing is recited, how the water is poured, and how many times each hand is rinsed.

Beyond ritual use, yadayim appears in secular and literary contexts as the ordinary term for hands. It can be used metaphorically to signify human labor, action, or manual skill, and features in idiomatic expressions and descriptions across modern Hebrew writings.

In sum, yadayim denotes hands in Hebrew, with netilat yadayim highlighting a notable ritual practice tied to daily sustenance and Jewish legal tradition. See also: yad (singular), ritual purification practices.