עברית
Prayer and Blessings
Removing Tallit and Tefillin to Enter a Bathroom: Is a Second Blessing Needed?
Question
When one removes one's tallit and tefillin before entering the bathroom, is one required to bless over them again after exiting when putting them on once more? Please provide an answer according to Ashkenazi customs. Thank you.
Answer
Greetings,
Regarding the tallit, one does not recite a blessing, since technically there is no prohibition against entering the bathroom with the tallit. It is simply not proper to do so, and therefore it does not constitute a complete interruption (Mishnah Berurah, Orach Chaim 8:37).
However, one must recite a blessing over the tefillin, even if you intend to put them on immediately after exiting the bathroom, because it is prohibited to enter the bathroom with tefillin, and thus it is regarded as a complete interruption (Ibid, and Orach Chaim 25:47, and Biur Halacha there, s.v. v'yeish omrim).
There are, however, some Ashkenazim who do not recite a blessing when entering purely for the needs of young children (see Responsa Shevet Halevi, part 9, section 3, and Sefer Daas Notzer, part 3, page 180), especially if they went to a place designated only for children (see Responsa Teshuvos V'hanhagos, part 1, end of section 43).
Best regards,
Hillel Meirs
