The Time Limit for Asher Yatzar

Q. If one used the bathroom and forgot to recite Asher Yatzar, is there any time limit for its recitation?

A. There are three positions in the poskim. Mishnah Berurah (7:1) writes that the beracha may be said, even if a long time has elapsed, and according to the Pri Megadim (AA 7:1), the beracha can be recited the entire day. The Ben Ish Chai maintains that the beracha must be recited within 30 minutes of using the bathroom. However, Rav Ovadya Yosef zt”l (Yebia Omer 9:3) quotes sources in Rishonim (Nimukei Yosef and Ritva) that the beracha must be recited within 72 minutes. Sefardim today generally follow Rav Ovadya Yosef, while Ashkenazim typically follow the Mishnah Berurah. All poskim agree that beracha must be recited before the need to use the bathroom again. If the beracha was not recited then, the Shulchan Aruch rules (7:3) that one can make-up the missed obligation by reciting Asher Yatzar twice. The Mishna Berura (ibid 6) notes that many poskim disagree with this position and say that there is no make-up for a missed Asher Yatzar. Since this is a matter of dispute, we follow the rule, “safek berachos l’hakeil”, when there is uncertainty, a beracha should not be said. For this reason, the Mishnah Berurah (7:6) advises that it is best to recite the beracha as soon as possible, lest one might need to use the bathroom later and the beracha will be lost.

______________________________________________________

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.