Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Asher Yatzar Time Limit

Here is a halacha that applies to each and every one of us unless we are angels - אשר יצר after taking care of personal needs. How long does one have to make the bracha?

The BEST thing to do is to make it immediately and everything remains simple.

If one doesn't there are some Sefardi poskim who say that you have a half an hour.

Rav Ovadiah Yoseph [יביע אומר ח"ח סי' כב וחזר בו ממש"כ בחלק א] found a Ritva in Maseches Pesachim [מו] who implies that one has 72 minutes and so he ruled.

I cannot describe fully the "rischa di'oraisa" - the fire of Torah, that was spawned by Rav Ovadiah's understanding - or as many would have it "misunderstanding" - of the Ritva. There is a sefer called "Birkas Eitan" on the bracha of Asher Yatzar [654 pages!!] that details the intellectual brawl that broke out. Whew, those rabbis take their Torah seriously...

Bottom line - if you are Ashkenazi you may say the bracha until the next time you feel a need to go in line with the ruling of the Mishna Brura. If you are Sefardi then what you should do is ..... No way! I am NOT getting involved in this fight [although as usual I have an opinion:-)].

Ask your local Chacham. Chazak Ubaaaaruch! Yishtabaaaachhhhh Shemoooooo laaa'aaaad! I love you guys:-)

And PLEASE peruse this [I recently misused the word peruse to mean to take a cursory glance but was informed by R' Yonatan Shai Freedman that the word means to read thoroughly. Thanks to him and anyone else who corrects me].