The Use of Hands in Ritual

(11) One should recite the blessing before the washing, as one recites all blessing before performing them. And it was customary to not bless until after washing because at times one's hands weren't clean. And therefore one makes the blessing after he rubs his hands as his hands are then clean prior to rinsing them a 2nd time. Rama: One can also make the blessing before drying, as drying is also a part of the mitzvah; and in so doing this is reciting the blessing before the mitzvah. And if one forgot to say the blessing until after drying, he should recite then.

The reason for the ordinance of washing is for 2 reasons. 1: the custom of trumah. Since hands are active and touch all things, in the the time when the laws of ritual purity were practiced (tumah and tahara) and the priests ate Trumah, they were required to wash their hands according to rabbinic law prior to eating Trumah so that they wouldn't render it impure through their contact. And so that the priests would be accustomed in this, it was enacted on each individual who eats bread, that he is forbidden to eat until he washes his hands. And now that priests don't eat trumah because of impurity, this edict was not cancelled, so that Jews will be used to eating in purity when the 2nd temple is built (quickly in our days). 2: another reason - cleanliness and holiness, and these are related in the Gemara (Brachot 51).

(1) There are those who say that one need not be careful about pausing between washing and [the Brachah of] Hamotzi, and there are those who say that one needs to be careful [and there are those who say] it is good to be careful. Walking 22 cubits is considered a pause (Tosefos Perek Elu Ne'emarim).

(2) If many people are at a meal, the most important one should wash first. And the Rosh was careful to wash last in order that he should not have a pause, and he should not speak [between washing and eating bread].

(1) When one comes to eat bread that we bless on it "HaMotzi", one should wash their hands, even if one does not know that [your hands] have any impurity, one should bless: "al n'tilat yadayim"/"regarding washing of hands". But bread that we do not bless "HaMotzi" on it, for example, little rolls, (explanation: satorti in another language), or bread that comes as dumplings (explanation: bread that is made with sugar, almonds, and nuts), and one does not establish a meal with them, one does not need to wash their hands.

(2) Some say that if one is only eating an amount that's less than [the equivalent of] an egg, wash your hands and don't say a blessing.

One should eat immediately and not speak between the blessing (Hamotzi) and eating. And if one spoke, you must repeat the blessing, unless the speech was related to that which you are making a blessing on - such as when making a blessing on bread and before you eat, you say bring the salt or the dip, give some food to Mr. Smith, or give food to the animal, and similar things, you don't have to say the blessing again.