עברית
Prayer and Blessings
Is One Required to Recite the Blessing Again After Removing Tefillin to Use the Bathroom?
Question
Greetings esteemed Rabbi, and thank you in advance for your response.
When I have the tefillin on and need to relieve myself (urinate), I remove them. Upon returning from the bathroom, am I required to recite the blessing again when putting on the tefillin?
Thank you very much.
Answer
Greetings, One must recite the blessing again, even if one intended to immediately put the tefillin back on after leaving the bathroom, and even if the bathroom was close by. The rationale is that it is prohibited to enter the bathroom while wearing tefillin; therefore, this is considered a complete interruption (see Mishnah Berurah, Orach Chaim 8:37 and 25:47, and Biur Halacha there under "VeYesh Omrim," and Shu"t Yabia Omer, part 8, Orach Chaim 2, note). However, some among the Ashkenazim do not recite the blessing if one enters solely to relieve themselves through urinating (see Shu"t Shevet HaLevi part 9, section 3, and Sefer Da'at Nota part 3, page 90), especially if one went to a place designated solely for the purpose of urinating (see Shu"t Teshuvot VeHanhagot part 1, end of section 45).
With blessing,
Hillel Meirs
