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Our Daf turns its attention to the need to wash hands both during the meal, for reasons of kashrut, and after the meal, for reasons of safety.
1. Mayyim emtza’iyim – washing during the meal
Rav Naḥman explains that one is not obligated to wash between different dishes in the course of the meal, unless both a cooked (meat) dish and cheese are both being served, in which case washing would be necessary.
2. Mayyim aḥaronim – washing after the meal
Rav Yehuda the son of Rabbi Ḥiyya explains that it is essential to wash hands after the meal, as the salt – Melaḥ Sodomit – could blind you if there is any left on your fingers. Abaye adds that even if a small amount of this type of salt would become mixed with ordinary salt it would pose a serious danger.
We explore hand washing in late antique period.