Question:
I know there is a proper order to wash body. Does this also apply to drying? Or is it okay to dry either side first?
And is law or just preferred behavior?
Answer:
The idea of washing our bodies according to order of prominence is mentioned in the poskim (Shabbos 61a, and Darcei Moshe O:CH 2-1, and M:D 2-7), however wiping our bodies is not mentioned. There is an idea regarding drying ourselves, (mentioned in Meseces Derech Eretz 2-2), however it only mentions drying our head before the rest of the body, but not regarding the right before the left. Hagaon R’ C. Kanievsky shlit”a (quoted in Daas Noteh 1-168) said that the right comes first even for drying ourselves, since the right comes first for everything, however this idea isn’t really mentioned by the other poskim.
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