Question:
Following up on this question. If an ashkenazi chooses to wash for challah and then make kiddush, are those listening to the kiddush (also ashkenazi) allowed to say l’chaim after savri m’ranan (as sefardim do) or is this considered a hefsek?
Question:
May one wash for challah and then make kiddush and drink wine and then say hamotzi and eat the challah or is this considered a hefsek?
Answer:
Washing our hands before making kiddush is the subject of some controversy. The Shulchan Aruch O:CH 371-12 says that we should wash specifically after saying kiddush, and one of his reasons is because it is a hefsek ( See M:B 371-58). However the Rema says that it is permitted to do it this way, and there are indeed people that have the minhag to wash for the meal on Shabbos eve before kiddush. According to the Rema it isn’t considered a hefsek since the kiddush is needed for the meal (see M:B 371-61).
Best wishes
Answer:
Thank you for your question.
After washing our hands netilas yodayim, although we try not to talk out, we are technically allowed to say things that are pertinent to the meal, and it isn’t considered a hefsek between the washing and making the bracha al netilas yodayim. Regarding your question, although Ashkenazim should keep to their minhagim, if they did say l’chaim, it isn’t considered a hefsek, because it is like taking out in a way that is pertinent to the meal.
Best wishes
Sources:
O:CH 167-6, Kaf Hachayim 167-108.
