since hand washing is a generic word used for different types of hand washing and each specific hand washing has its own specific laws on how it should be performed e g with or without a vessel three intermittent times in the morning and with a vessel in most customs etc the detail of the mitzvah can only be learned in the main body of the article customs also differ with different jewish ethnic groups i think that negel vasser and the three pourings is the generally accepted practice in the morning in most jewish homes although the kabbalists add a fourth pouring this as noted is explained in the body of the main article