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HaRav Netanel Levihim –
Question:
I took my mezuzah off the doorpost to have it checked by a sofer. He informed me it was completely kasher. Do I need to recite a new berachah when re-installing it?
Answer:
The question is rooted in a broader debate about Talit. The Tur (Orah Haim, Siman 8) rules that removing a Talit with intent to return does not require a new berachah. The Bet Yosef disagrees, citing Succah 46a: Rava recited a new berachah upon replacing his Tefillin after a restroom break. The Rama counters that Tefillin are forbidden in a restroom, making their removal a definitive hesech ha’da’at (mental interruption). A Talit, which is removed only because of custom, requires no new berachah if one intends to return it. The Mishnah Berurah adds that even according to the Rama, if there was a genuine hesech ha’da’at — such as folding the Talit or waiting a significant amount of time — a new berachah is required. The Yalkut Yosef (1:8) rules that waiting thirty minutes constitutes a hesech ha’da’at even if one intended to return to the Talit. The Yabia Omer (Y”D 3:17), Kaf HaHaim (8:52), and Ben Ish Hai (Bereishit 10) nonetheless follow the Rama, based on the Hidah’s principle of safek berachot lehakel even against Maran.
The Maharam Shik, Aruch HaShulhan, and Kaf HaHaim (Kol Yaakov 291:7) apply this logic to mezuzah: since the owner intended to return to it, no new berachah is required. However, R’ Shlomo Kluger (Shenot HaHaim 65) draws a crucial distinction: unlike Talit, when a mezuzah is handed to a sofer, there is real uncertainty whether this specific mezuzah will be returned — it may be declared pasul. This constitutes a true hesech ha’da’at.
The Yehaveh Da’at (3:90) holds like R’ Shlomo Kluger, adding that the established minhag of making a new beracha overrides safek berachot lehakel. The Kaf HaHaim holds, however, that if one reinstalls it immediately, it remains a safek and therefore no berachah should be recited. If, however, one waited was involved in other things causing a hesech ha’da’at, a new berachah should be recited. Also Ben Ish Hai, (Parashat Ki Tavo 8) says if one waited more than an hour or so, he should make a new beracha.