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If you forgot to say Asher Yotzar and remember a while later, is there a time limit as to when you are allowed to say it?

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3 Answers

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The Shulchan Aruch O.C. 7:3 says that a person who went to the bathroom a second time after forgetting to say Asher Yatzar the first time must say Asher Yatzar twice.

The Mishna Berura 7:6 there understands this as a "make-up" bracha (tashlumin) similar to missing Tefilla. He rejects the S.A., (because of safek berachos lehakel) in favor of those who only apply tashlumin under the korbanos category, like tefila, whereas one bracha of hoda'a would suffice for both "bathroom breaks".

This is somewhat inconsistent with the M.B.'s own remark in 7:1 where even though there is no specific time limit to say Asher Yatzar (Pri Megadim), you lose the bracha once you need to go to the bathroom again (Shaarei Teshuva/achronim).

I recall somewhere (I can't remember where) that once you need to go to the bathroom, you cannot make the bracha lechatchila because you need to go to the bathroom. This catch 22 would seem to require you to rely on your Asher Yatzar following the 2nd bathroom and would make the M.B. in 7:1 consistent with M.B 7:6.

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Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 4:6 says that you only say the blessing once if you forgot and went to the bathroom again. kitzur.net/main.php?siman=4&black=false&nk=1 – Menachem Sep 2 '11 at 17:23
@Menachem - That does not appear to affect the deadline, assuming that one may have the first instance in mind as well when he says the b'racha. – WAF Sep 4 '11 at 16:54
@WAF: I agree. From his wording it seems that as long as you didn't go to the bathroom the second time you could still make the blessing. – Menachem Sep 4 '11 at 17:02
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Yechawe Daat 4:5, Yabia Omer 8:22 Rav Ovdaia writes you have 72 minutes, however I believe the Or Lesion writes only 30 minutes (see Kaf HaHaim 7:7).

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R' Karo's SA does not say that. Are you referring to another by the same name? A commentary on the SA? Are you confusing this with digestion? – YDK Dec 16 '11 at 4:07
My bad that is not the correct source in the Shulhan Aruch – Hacham Gabriel Dec 16 '11 at 4:46
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I believe it's until the next time you need to use the restroom.

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Do you have a source for this? – Gershon Gold Sep 2 '11 at 13:38
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Isn't it normally until there is a hefsek, or 72 minutes? – avi Sep 2 '11 at 14:46
It is either until the next time you need to use the restroom, or until the next time you actually do use the restroom. See Mishna B'rura 7:1. – jake Sep 2 '11 at 15:57

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