והתקדשתם והייתם קדשים כי קדוש אני (שמיני יא:מד)

Chazal say (ברכות נג): that the word והתקדשתם refers to מים ראשונים – washing one’s hands before eating bread and והייתם קדושים refers to מים אחרונים – washing after eating bread, before Benching.

Harav Reb Moshe Rokeach zt”l, son of Maran Reb Aharon of Belz zt”l, said that his father kept 300 “chumros” (stringencies) regarding halachos of נטילת ידים – washing one’s hands before eating bread.

R’ Shmuel Porgesz z”l, a devoted shamash (attendant) of Maran Reb Aharon of Belz, related that Maran instructed him: “I have many chumros in Netillas Yadayim, but you don’t have to accept them all upon yourself.  But before you serve me, please wash your hands.”

Maran once said he washes his hands often because “if you would learn the halachos of Netillas Yedayim well, you would understand why!”