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Q: If I take my Tefillin off to go to the bathroom, do I have to recite a Beracha when I put them on again?
A: Yes. However, it is best to make a condition before reciting the Beracha that you do not intend the Beracha to carry on if you take them off to go to the bathroom. Maran rules[1] that any time one removes their Tefillin, even if he has in mind to put them back on, he must recite a Beracha again. The Rama argues, and writes that if one had in mind to put the Tefillin back on then he should not recite a Beracha again. While the Minhag is to follow the Rama in this Halacha and not to recite a Beracha if one had in mind to put them back on[2], the Poskim write that everyone agrees that if one went to the bathroom, one must recite the Beracha again upon returning[3].
The reason most Aharonim[4] give is that since one cannot wear Tefillin when he goes to the bathroom, it breaks the Beracha despite one’s intention to wear them again. However, the Magen Avraham[5] suggests that the reason may be because the bathrooms in those days were very far, and thus, going to the bathroom would constitute a big hefsek. This reason would not pertain to our bathrooms which are conveniently located in the Bet Kenesset building.
Most Poskim do not follow the opinion of the Magen Avraham[6], and require one to recite another Beracha even when the bathroom is close by. Still, the Ben Ish Hai and others[7] are concerned about an unnecessary Beracha. To satisfy their opinion, one can make a condition before wearing Tefillin that he does intend that the Beracha will carry on if he removes his Tefillin to go to the bathroom[8] (making the condition one time would suffice). Rabbi Ariel Ovadia
Sources:
[1] או”ח סי’ כה סי”ב
[2] כה”ח שם אות ע”ח בשם מאמ”ר, כנה”ג, חס”ל, בא”ח ועוד רבים
[3] מ”ב שם ס”ק מ”ו, ובביה”ל משם ב”ח, ע”ת, ט”ז וא”ר
[4] מ”ב שם
[5] ס”ק כ”ב
[6] ט”ז, ח”א, קצשו”ע, ביה”ל, הגרע”י ביבי”א (ח”ח או”ח סי’ ב’ אות ז’ בהערה), ובהלי”ע (ח”א עמ’ כ’) ועוד
[7] ש”א וירא אות י”ג, וכ”פ כה”ח שם
[8] פסקי תשובות בשם הגר”מ שטרנבוך שליט”א