סימן ז - דין ברכת אשר יצר כל היום אחר הטלת מים ובו ז' סעיפים

Siman 7: Laws of Asher Yatzar Throughout the Day After Using the Bathroom, containing seven seifim:

Recording: Seifim 1–7

1. All day, whenever he relieves himself, whether urine or solid waste, he blesses "Asher Yatzar"^[1].

But he need not bless "on netilas yadayim".

Even if his hands were soiled, because he rubbed with them or wiped with them.

And even if he wishes to study or pray immediately.

And although he cannot pray unless he has washed his hands with water, if he has water,

Nevertheless the Sages ordained a blessing on the washing only in the morning, because he has become like a new creation, as explained in Siman 4, and on washing the hands for eating, on account of the practice with terumah:

2. One who passed water and did not rub:

If he took care not to touch his private parts, he need not wash his hands at all, even if he wishes to pray immediately.

Nevertheless, it is proper that he wash his hands before he studies or mentions the Name.

As it is said: "הכון לקראת אלהיך ישראל" ("Prepare to meet your G‑d, O Israel") (Amos 4:12):

3. One who passed water and forgot to bless "Asher Yatzar".

Although he then put out of mind passing water again, and afterward changed his mind and passed water again, he nevertheless need not bless "Asher Yatzar" twice.

Rather, he blesses once, and it counts also for what he passed at first.

To what is this similar?

To one who ate and put out of mind eating further, and forgot and did not bless Grace after Meals, and afterward changed his mind and ate again, who need not bless Grace after Meals twice but once, and it counts also for what he ate at first:

4. There is no minimum measure for passing water.

For even for one drop he must bless.

For if the opening were blocked from letting out that drop, it would be hard for him, and he must give thanks.

Therefore, when a person wishes to go to the synagogue to pray, or is going to eat, and checks himself lest he need to relieve himself, and a little drips out, he must bless "Asher Yatzar", since his openings were opened:

5. He should not say "who heals the sickness of all flesh", but "who heals all flesh"^[2]:

6. One who drinks a purgative, intending to empty his bowels until the waste is finished from them, since he has not put relieving himself out of mind, should therefore not bless "Asher Yatzar" until the elimination is complete^[3]:

7. One who ate something that requires a closing blessing, and forgot and did not bless, and passed water, and remembered before he blessed "Asher Yatzar".

He should first bless "Asher Yatzar" and afterward the closing blessing.

Because the more frequent comes before the less frequent:

Notes

1. Asher Yatzar: The Rebbe writes: "בנוגע לשאלתו אם יש הגבלות בענין ברכת אשר יצר למי שזקוק לזה לכמה פעמים ביום, הנה אין לחלק בדבר" ("As to your question whether there are limits on the blessing Asher Yatzar for one who needs this several times a day, one should make no distinction in the matter") (Igros Kodesh, vol. 7, no. 1904).

2. Who heals all flesh: "Rav said: Who heals the sick. Shmuel said: Has Abba made everyone sick?! Rather: Who heals all flesh" (Berachos 60b).

3. A purgative: The Rebbe writes on the blessing Asher Yatzar: "ואם הוא ע"י סם המשלשל - יעוין אחרונים או"ח ס"ז" ("And if it is through a purgative, see the Acharonim on Orach Chaim, Siman 7") (Igros Kodesh, vol. 7, no. 1904).