Halacha for Sunday 18 Kislev 5777 December 18 2016

Question: If one removes the Mezuzah from one’s doorpost in order to have it checked and ascertain its validity, when one re-affixes it on the doorpost, must one recite the blessing of “Likbo’a Mezuzah” or not?

Answer: Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch (Chapter 8) writes that if one wears a Tallit and removes it with the intention of putting it back on immediately thereafter (such as one who lends his Tallit to a friend for several minutes), one must recite another blessing before wearing the Tallit again. The Rama writes that others say that as long as one had in mind originally to wear the tallit again, one does not recite another blessing. Most Acharonim agree with the Rama’s position on this matter and as long as one intends to wear the Tallit again very soon after removing it, one does not recite another blessing before wearing it again.

Although in general we follow all of the rulings of Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch, Maran Ha’Chida writes that in instances such as these where many Poskim disagree with Maran, we must be concerned with the prohibition of reciting a blessing in vain even in opposition of Maran’s ruling. Thus, halachically speaking, as long as one had in mind originally to wear the Tallit again soon after removing it, one does not recite another blessing.

It would seem that the same law should apply to Mezuzah and since one had in mind to re-affix the Mezuzah when originally removing it, one should not recite another blessing when re-affixing it.

Nevertheless, these situations are not exactly similar, for regarding a Mezuzah, one cannot know for certain that he will re-affix it to the doorpost, for one is removing it to have it checked; if the Mezuzah turns out to be invalid, one will have to affix another Mezuzah to the doorpost. Thus, it is unclear whether or not one will end up re-affixing this Mezuzah. In a situation like this, even regarding a Tallit, one would be required to recite another blessing, such as if one removes his Tallit and is unsure if he will wear it again soon thereafter or not; in this situations, if one does decide to wear the Tallit again, one must recite a new blessing according to all opinions. Based on this, the same applies to Mezuzah and since one is unsure if he will actually be re-affixing this Mezuzah, when one does so, one must recite another “Likvo’a Mezuzah” blessing.

Although some Acharonim write that even so, one should not recite a second blessing upon re-affixing the Mezuzah, nevertheless, the above distinction, that regarding Mezuzah, one is unsure if he will re-affix the Mezuzah, is halachically sound and one must indeed recite another blessing upon re-affixing it. Hagaon Harav Binyamin Aruatz writes likewise in a response quoted in the Sefer Admat Kodesh and he adds that this is the custom he has seen by great and righteous people. He writes that he has spoken this matter over with the great Rabbeinu Gedalya Hayun and the latter agreed and proceeded to support his opinion. Maran Harav Ovadia Yosef zt”l adds that the Sefer Ha’Eshkol writes so explicitly.

Thus, halachically speaking, if one removes a Mezuzah from one’s doorpost in order to ascertain its Kashrut and has in mind to re-affix it on the doorpost, one must recite another “Likvo’a Mezuzah” blessing before re-affixing it.

8 Halachot Most Popular

Parashat Naso in the Diaspora

(From the teachings of Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef ztvk”l) (written by his grandson HaRav Yaakov Sasson Shlit”a) (translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds UK) Trading Places! The Parashah states, “The sacred offerings of each individual remain his ......

Read Halacha

Taking Haircuts and Shaving During the Omer Period- 5786

Abstaining from Taking Haircuts During the Omer It has become customary among the Jewish nation to refrain from taking haircuts during the Omer counting period: According to the Ashkenazi custom, until the 33rd day of the Omer and according to the Sephardic custom, until the morning of the 34th day......

Read Halacha

The Omer Counting Period

The period of the counting of the Omer is exalted indeed and filled with sanctity, as the Ramban writes in his commentary on Parashat Emor that the days between the holidays of Pesach and Shavuot, i.e. the Omer counting period, retain the sanctity of Chol Ha’Moed and are not days of national t......

Read Halacha

The Holiday of Pesach- The Zodiac of Aries

The Torah (Shemot 12) states: “Speak to the community leadership of Israel and say that on the tenth of this month each of them shall take a lamb to a family, a lamb to a household. But if the household is too small for a lamb, let it share one with a neighbor who dwells nearby, in proportion ......

Read Halacha


Arriving Late to or Skipping Some Portions of the Megillah Reading

Every member of the Jewish nation is obligated to read the Megillah on the day of Purim. One must read it during the night and once again the next day, as the verse states, “My G-d, I call out to you during the day, and you do not answer; during the night I have no rest.” This verse is w......

Read Halacha

Leaning During the Seder

The Mitzvah of Leaning The Gemara (Pesachim 108a among other places) states that there are several things during the Seder that must be eaten or drunk while leaning, i.e. while leaning to one’s left side. Indeed, the Midrash states on the verse “And Hashem led the nation in a roundabout......

Read Halacha

Food Products for Pesach Use Nowadays

Beginning from thirty days before Pesach, the Mitzvah of eliminating Chametz takes effect. This includes all of the Pesach cleaning and all measures taken to ensure one does not transgress the prohibition of consuming or owning Chametz on Pesach. It is therefore incumbent on each of us to begin t......

Read Halacha

The Custom of the “Commemoration of the Half-Shekel”- 5786

In the beginning of Parashat Ki-Tisa, which we read again not long ago for Parashat Shekalim, the Torah commands the Jewish nation to donate a Half-Shekel during the times when the Bet Hamikdash stood. This Mitzvah was auspicious in that it protected the Jewish nation from all plague; indeed, the......

Read Halacha