...Continued from previous week
1) Unlike Shemona Esrei, Krias Shema, as well as other brachos and learning Torah may be recited, if necessary, if the usage of the restroom can be postponed for 72 minutes. (See Mishna Berura Siman 92 S”K 7. He does quote some Poskim who are more stringent. See also Shulchan Aruch Harav Siman 92:1 who rules to be stringent L’chatchilah)
If, however, one knows that he will be unable to postpone using the restroom for more than 72 minutes, it is forbidden to recite krias shema, any brachos or learn Torah. (Some only forbid saying the names of Hashem while learning but allow other Torah learning. See da'as Torah Siman 92:1. Some allow thinking in learning or listening to divrei Torah, while others forbid it all while in this state.)
2) Even if by using the restroom in such a case, where you cannot postpone using the restroom for 72 minutes, it will cause you to miss z'man krias shema or z'man tefilah, it is still forbidden to recite the shema, just as it is forbidden to recite shemona esrei. (See Aruch Hashulchan Siman 92:1, that the urge for gedolim is more stringent than that of ketanim. See also Mishna Berura Siman 92 S”K 5)
3) If one started shemona esrei, shma or any bracha when they were forbidden to do so, as they urgently needed the restroom, they must stop mid-bracha and use the restroom before resuming. (This is surely the case when one had an urge for gedolim and may also be the case, according to many Poskim when the urge was only for ketanim. See Mishna Berura Siman 92 S”K 8 and 9)
4) If one did not stop davening shemona esrei, as he was supposed to, it must be repeated. (Surely for gedolim, and possibly also for ketanim. See Mishna Berura Siman 92 S”K 2 and Biur Halacha dibur hamaschil v'tzarich lachzor. Some Poskim rule that when the urge was for ketanim, he should repeat the shemona esrei as a tefilas nedava, a non-mandatory recital of shemona esrei. See Sefer L'shichno Tidreshu vol. 1, hilchos Tefilah 28 quoting Rav Yosef shalom Elyashiv Zatzal)
However, if one did not stop saying shema or other brachos, including birchas hamazon, as he was supposed to, he does not need to repeat it. (See Mishna Berura Siman 92 S”K 6 and 7 and Biur Halacha dibur hamaschil afilu)
5) If one started Shemona Esrei while not having any urge to use the restroom, and during Shemona Esrei the urge arose, he/she should not interrupt the davening, even if he/she cannot postpone it for 72 minutes, but should rather finish Shemona Esrei and then immediately use the restroom. (Mishna Berura Siman 92 S”K 8. He may not wait until after Kedusha, but must go immediately after he finishes his silent Shemona Esrei. If the urge is so great that he must go immediately, and he can't concentrate on davening, he may go even in the middle of Shemona Esrei. See Rama Siman 92:2 and Mishna Berura S”K 11 for a discussion about this.)
However, if in the middle of Shma or its Brachos the urge arose, he may (and according to some Poskim, if the urge is for gedolim, he must) stop and use the restroom before continuing, or alternatively he may (surely for ketanim, but here too, possibly not for gedolim) continue until Shemona Esrei and then use the restroom.
Shemona Esrei, however, may not be started while in this state, as we learnt previoulsy. (See Mishna Berura Siman 92 S”K 9 and 12 and Biur Halacha Dibur Hamaschil Ya'amid Atzmo and Aruch HaShulchan Siman 92:7. See also Shulchan Aruch HaRav Siman 92:2 and Kaf Hachaim Siman 92:9)
If the urge arose in middle of Pesukei D'Zimra, he/she may finish Pesukei D'Zimra, but may not begin the Brachos before Krias Shma, or even respond to Barchu. (See Mishna Berura ibid. and Mekor Chaim Siman 92:2. see also Shulchan Aruch HaRav ibid.)
6) The rule of thumb is: If you started something before the urge to use the restroom arose, you may finish that subject which you started, but may not start a new subject (Some examples of individual "subjects": Pesukei D'Zimrah, Birchos Krias Shema and Krias Shema, Shemona Esrei, Halel, Birchas Hamazon, Krias Megilah, Learning a particular subject of Torah etc.)
7) If the Ba'al Kriah, the one reading the Torah, or the Oleh, the one who received an Aliya to the Torah, have an urge to use the restroom, even if they cannot withhold it for 72 minutes, they are permitted to read the Torah and recite Barchu and the Brachos on the reading, respectively, due to Kavod Habriyos, as it would be extremely embarrassing to require them to stop. (See Biur Halacha Siman 92:1 Dibur Hamaschil Haya tzarich)
8) This applies as well to other Devarim Shebikedusha, such as a Shliach Tzibur in middle of Hallel, a Ba'al Kriah in middle of reading the Megilah, the leader of the mezuman in middle of Birchas hamazon, and the like.
This also applies to one who is giving a Torah lecture. (See Mishna Berura Siman 92 S”K 7)
...To be continued next week B’Ezras Hashem
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