ועוד נסתפקנו במים אחרונים, כי יש מהחכמים האומרים שאין בינינו מצוי שמן ערב ואין לחוש למים אחרונים וע"ז שאלתי אם יש ממש בדבריהם או לאו:
We are also unsure regarding 'mayim acharonim', the hand-washing at the end of the meal. There are some sages who hold that since we no longer use fine oils1 to anoint hands during the meal, see Berachot 53b:31, we thus do not need to meticulous about the final hand-washing. I asked [in my dream] regarding this, whether they had anything to rely on in saying so or not.*Some contemporary sources use similar language but cite the lack of dangerous 'Salt of Sodom' [and not the lack of oil] as the reason not to be meticulous about washing hands (Tosafot on Berakhot 53b:32). See also Rosh on Berakhot 8:6 for a similar argument regarding lack of oils.
2
והשיבו מי זה אמר ותהי ה' לא צוה ומים ראשונים ואחרונים דבר שבקדושה וכל דבר שבקדושה המקיל בו מקילן לו ימיו ושנותיו. כך השיבו באמת:
They responded: "Who is this who has spoken that which God has not commanded?" (Eicha 3:37) The final hand-washing is an act of sanctity, and as with all acts of sanctity, Heaven is lenient with the lifespan of those who are lenient in this regard. This is what they truly responded.*See Tur Orach Chaim 181 and Raavad on Mishneh Torah Blessings 6:2 who quote Gaonim that insist on a final hand-washing with a blessing.
ועוד נסתפקנו במים אחרונים, כי יש מהחכמים האומרים שאין בינינו מצוי שמן ערב ואין לחוש למים אחרונים וע"ז שאלתי אם יש ממש בדבריהם או לאו:
We are also unsure regarding 'mayim acharonim', the hand-washing at the end of the meal. There are some sages who hold that since we no longer use fine oils1 to anoint hands during the meal, see Berachot 53b:31, we thus do not need to meticulous about the final hand-washing. I asked [in my dream] regarding this, whether they had anything to rely on in saying so or not.*Some contemporary sources use similar language but cite the lack of dangerous 'Salt of Sodom' [and not the lack of oil] as the reason not to be meticulous about washing hands (Tosafot on Berakhot 53b:32). See also Rosh on Berakhot 8:6 for a similar argument regarding lack of oils.
והשיבו מי זה אמר ותהי ה' לא צוה ומים ראשונים ואחרונים דבר שבקדושה וכל דבר שבקדושה המקיל בו מקילן לו ימיו ושנותיו. כך השיבו באמת:
They responded: "Who is this who has spoken that which God has not commanded?" (Eicha 3:37) The final hand-washing is an act of sanctity, and as with all acts of sanctity, Heaven is lenient with the lifespan of those who are lenient in this regard. This is what they truly responded.*See Tur Orach Chaim 181 and Raavad on Mishneh Torah Blessings 6:2 who quote Gaonim that insist on a final hand-washing with a blessing.