Netilat Yadayim If One Remained Awake Throughout the Night

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 4:13) writes that it is uncertain whether one is required to wash Netilat Yadayim in the morning if he had not slept during the night. The Mishna Berura explains that this issue depends on the reason underlying the Netilat Yadayim requirement. According to the opinion that washing is necessary because the hands may have touched unclean body parts during sleep, this obligation does not apply unless one had slept. Likewise, according to the view of the Kabbalists, that Netilat Yadayim is required to eliminate the impurity that descends upon one's hands as he sleeps, this is unnecessary if one remained awake all night. Others, however, explain that we wash our hands to begin our day like the Kohanim washed when entering the Bet Ha'mikdash to serve, in which case this obligation would likely apply regardless of whether or not one had slept. Due to this uncertainty, the Rama ruled that one should wash without reciting a Beracha. The Mishna Berura, however, writes that many Aharonim concluded that if one remained awake throughout the night and uses the restroom in the morning, he should wash Netilat Yadayim with a Beracha. This is, indeed, the custom of many Ashkenazim. Sephardic practice, however, is to wash without a Beracha if one hadn't slept during the night, even after using the restroom in the morning. Indeed, on the morning of Hoshana Rabba and Shabuot, many Rabbis announce to their congregants who remained awake throughout the night to wash Netilat Yadayim but without reciting a Beracha. In theory, one could argue that a Beracha should be recited despite the uncertainty, as this seemingly qualifies as a situation of "Sefek-Sefeka" ("double-doubt"). There are two possible reasons to require washing. First, as mentioned, it is possible that the morning hand-washing obligation applies even if one had remained awake. Secondly, the Rambam maintained that one must wash with a Beracha before each of the three daily prayers, and according to this opinion, a Beracha is warranted before praying in the morning irrespective of the obligation to wash in the morning. Perhaps, then, in light of these two considerations, a Beracha is warranted. Nevertheless, the accepted Halacha is that we apply the rule of "Safek Berachot Le'hakel" – that we do not recite a Beracha when there is a question whether it is required – even in a case of "Sefek-Sefeka." Therefore, the accepted practice among Sepharadim is not to recite a Beracha over Netilat Yadayim if one had not slept at all during the night. Summary: According to Sephardic practice, one who had remained awake throughout the night washes Netilat Yadayim in the morning without reciting a Beracha.