DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 396 KB)
Should One Make Borei Nefashot First Before Asher Yatzar If Having Gone To the Bathroom Before Reciting Borei Nefashot

Rabbi Chayim Palachi (Rabbi of Izmir, Turkey, 19th century) raises the question concerning one who ate and must recite a Borei Nefashot, but before reciting the Beracha uses the bathroom. So after he uses the bathroom, he has two blessings he must recite: Borei Nefashot for the food he had just eaten, and Asher Yatzar which is the Beracha one recites after performing his bodily functions. Which Beracha does he recite first?

The majority of the Poskim (authorities on Halacha) rule that Asher Yatzar takes precedence.

One rationale given for this ruling is the principle in Halacha known as "Tadir Ve’she’eno Tadir, Tadir Kodem" – meaning, precedence is always given to the more frequent Mitzva. Some Poskim apply this rule in our case, and therefore maintain that one recites Asher Yatzar before Borei Nefashot. But not everyone agrees with that logic. The reasoning above assumes that Asher Yatzar occurs more frequently than Borei Nefashot. Many other Poskim however, question this assumption, noting that it is very possible for a person to drink more frequently than he uses the bathroom, in which case he is obligated to recite Borei Nefashot more frequently than he must recite Asher Yatzar.

Rabbi Chayim Palachi provides another explanation for this ruling. He cites that the obligation of Asher Yatzar is the one which is more immediately pressing. The individual has already lost the opportunity to recite Borei Nefashot immediately upon being obligated in this Beracha. Asher Yatzar, however, can still be recited at its optimum time which is the moment one exits the bathroom. Therefore, he says one should seize this opportunity and recite Asher Yatzar first.

Thus, a person who must use the bathroom before reciting Borei Nefashot should, after leaving the bathroom, first recite Asher Yatzar, followed by Borei Nefashot.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Situations Requiring Netilat Yadayim
Is A Person Required To Say Asher Yatzar Every Time If Using The Bathroom Excessively Due To An Illness
Should One Make Borei Nefashot First Before Asher Yatzar If Having Gone To the Bathroom Before Reciting Borei Nefashot
Is It Permissible To Answer Amen To Kadish, Nakdisach, or Barechu While Reciting Asher Yatzar
Does The Beracha of Me’en Shalosh Fulfill One’s Obligation If Said By Mistake Instead of Birkat HaMazon
Is One Required To Make Netilat Yadayim Before Eating Cereal and Before Dipping Crackers Into Butter
Does One Have To Repeat The Birkat HaMazon If He Is In Doubt If He Said Ritze VeChalitzenu on Shabbat
Birkat Hailanot
Netilat Yadayim When Waking Prior To Alot Hashachar
What Is The Proper Procedure Of Washing When Coming From The Bathroom And Eating Immediately Thereafter
Who Should Say The Hamotzih When Sitting Among Many People?
Is It Permissible to Say Hashem's Name in A Bathroom Or In A Mikveh
A Comprehensive Understanding of the Beracha of Asher Yasar
Yom Tov- The Proper Beracha for Aliyat Maftir on Shabbat Hol Hamoed
Treating Hol HaMoed Properly
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found