Birchat Asher Yatzar
From Halachipedia
After relieving oneself, one is obligated to say the bracha of Asher Yatzar. Chazal instituted that one should recite Asher Yatzar after relieving oneself. The bracha was instituted for a person to give praise to Hashem for creating man with great wisdom. [1]
Obligation
- Any time one goes to the bathroom (urinating or moving one's bowels) one is obligated to say the bracha of Asher Yatzar. [2]Asher Yatzar is said every time that one releases excrement, even if it was a minute amount [3] This applies to both solid and liquid waste. [4]
- One should say Asher Yatzar immediately after using the bathroom. [5] However, if one did not say it immediately, many authorities hold that one can still say it for 72 minutes after going to the bathroom. [6] Yet, other authorities say that one should not say it if 30 minutes past after going to the bathroom.[7]
- If one used the bathroom and forgot to say Asher Yatzar and then used the bathroom again, only one bracha should be recited to cover both uses. [8] Additionally, the Aruch HaShulchan says that if one went to the bathroom but forgot to say Asher Yatzar and subsequently needed to relieve oneself again, one should first relieve oneself and then say one bracha of Asher Yatzar [9]
- A person who still feels an urge to go to the bathroom again immediately after using the bathroom (diarrhea), should only say Asher Yatzar when he feels like he has cleared his bowels. [10]
- Women are obligated to say Asher Yatzar as well. [11]
- If a person is unsure whether he recited Asher Yatzar or not, he should not recite it. [12]
- If no water is available to wash one's hands after relieving oneself, one should wipe one's hands on a piece of cloth or rub them against a hard surface such as a wall, and then recite Asher Yatzar. Later, when water becomes available, one should wash one's hands, but not repeat Asher Yatzar. [13]
Asher Yatzar as Part of Birchot HaShachar
- In the morning, one who goes to the bathroom should make the bracha of Asher Yatzar. If one slept (more than 30 minutes) then, according to Ashkenazim, one should make the bracha of Asher Yatzar even if one did not go to the bathroom. [14] One must have slept in one's bed for at least a half hour after halachic midnight. [15] </ref>
According to Sephardim, one should not say Asher Yatzar unless one went to the bathroom.[16]
- If one woke in the middle of the night and went to the bathroom, one should make Asher Yatzar then and another Asher Yatzar in the morning. Cite error: Closing
</ref>missing for<ref>tag One reason for this type of formulation is because it is not respectful to talk about relieving oneself overtly [17] - A lot of meaning is contained within Asher Yatzar, for example, as we have seen there are 45 words corresponding to the numerical value of the word "ADAM" [18]
- Numerous explanations are given for the word beChachma. Rashi [19] explains based on Bereishit Rabba 1:4 that it is referring to the fact that Hakadosh Baruch Hu can keep air inside a person even though we have so many holes in our bodies. Tosafot [20] explains that it refers to the fact that G-d created man's sustenance before he created him. The Maharsha [21] explains that it is referring to man, and that he was created as an intelligent being. The Lavush explains that it refers to the many different processes that are involved in man's digestion and excretion; including taking in the food, holding the food, absorbing the nutrients, and excreting the waste [22]
- Nekavim mainly refers to the mouth and the organ used for excretion but is written twice to include every orifice [23]
Links
- Ten Minute Halacha on The Beracha of Asher Yatzar by Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz
Sources
- ↑ S”A 7:1, Ben Ish Chai Vayetseh #15
- ↑ S”A 7:1 based on a statement of Abaye in Brachot 60b he writes that anytime one goes to the bathroom one is obligated to say Asher Yatzar.
- ↑ Shulchan Aruch 7:4, Aruch HaShulchan 7:5, Teshuvot Harosh 4:1
- ↑ Aruch Hashulchan 7:1
- ↑ Mishna Brurah 7:6.
- ↑ Halacha Brurah 7:5 writes that one has up to 72 minutes after having used the bathroom. Sh"t Yechave Daat 4:5 says that if you only remembered after 72 minutes, one should say the bracha without Shem U'Malchut.
- ↑ Rivevot Efraim 8:2 writes that he originally ruled like Rav Ovadyah wrote in Yachave Daat (see previous note) that one may say it up until 72 minutes, however, after seeing many others who argued he said that one should be concerned for the opinion that says that one should not say it past 30 minutes after going to the bathroom. See also Rav Ovadyah in Yabia Omer 9:3 in his response to the author of the Revivot Efraim on this issue. See also Ben Ish Chai (Vayetze #12) who writes that one should not say Asher Yatzar 30 minutes after having gone to the bathroom.
- ↑ Shulchan Aruch 7:3 says that Asher Yatzar should be recited twice. However, most achronim including Mishna Brurah 7:6, Kaf Hachayim 7:5, and Aruch HaShulchan 7:4 quote both possibilities and conclude that because of Safek Brachot Lehakel one should not say more than one bracha.
- ↑ Aruch HaShulchan 7:4.
- ↑ Mishna Brurah 7:2, Kaf Hachayim 7:2
- ↑ Ben Ish Chai Vayetze Halacha 15
- ↑ Birkei Yosef 7:3
- ↑ Birkei Yosef 7:3, S”A 4:22
- ↑ Rama 4:1 writes that one should make Asher Yatzar even if one did not go to the bathroom. Mishna Brurah 4:3 comments that this is only true if one slept at night. This is based on the pasuk: Emunatecha Rabba LeBekarim Chadashim, They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Eicha 3:23).
- ↑ Igrot Moshe 1:4:1, Kesot HaShulchan, 5:2
- ↑ Kaf HaChaim 4:9
- ↑ Aruch HaShulchan 6:1
- ↑ Ben Ish Chai Vayetze: Halacha 15 as quoted in Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen, Laws of everyday living. This gematria is only accurate for Sephardim who have 45 words in their version of Asher Yatzar
- ↑ Berachot 60b "Umafli"
- ↑ Berachot 60b "asher"
- ↑ Berachot 60b "asher"
- ↑ Aruch HaShulchan 6:2 brings all of these explanations
- ↑ Aruch HaShulchan 6:2
