Forgetting Asher Yatzar

Q. What should one do if he forgot to recite Asher Yatzar, and by the time he remembers, he needs to use the bathroom again?

A. The Mishnah Berurah (7:1) writes that poskim argue about this case. The Pri Megadim maintains that he may still recite Asher Yatzar. (It should be noted that one who is desperate to use the bathroom is forbidden from davening and reciting any beracha whatsoever.) However, the Sharei Teshuva cites many poskim who disagree. They argue that as soon as one needs to use the bathroom again, the original beracha may no longer be said.

Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach explains that this disagreement hinges on whether Asher Yatzar is a birchas ha’shevach or birchas ha’nehenin. If it is a birchas ha’shevach, one must still praise Hashem, even if he needs to use the bathroom again. However, if it is also a birchas ha’nehenin, it would be like one who took a drink and forgot to recite Borei Nifashos. Once he becomes thirsty again, the beracha is lost. One can no longer recite the birchas ha’nehenin, since the benefit that they received is now gone. The Mishnah Berurah elsewhere (7:6) indicates that we are strict to follow the Sharei Teshuva quoted above. This proves that Asher Yatzar certainly has an element of birchas ha’nehenin.

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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.