Sunday, 21 February 2016

Office Mezuza

Question: Does one say a beracha on affixing a mezuza to one’s office doorway?

Answer: The Gemara (Yuma 10a) teaches that a sukka does not require a mezuza since it is a temporary dwelling. Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (YD 286:11) writes that sukkos, boats and shops do not require mezuzos. Elsewhere, the Shulchan Aruch (YD 286:2) does require that one affix a mezuza to a storage room. The poskim have suggested different answers to explain the difference.

The Taz (YD 286:10) explains that one is more likely to access the storage area at any time of day and night. Shopkeepers do not typically go to their shops at night. As such, shops are exempt from mezuzos.

However, the Pischei Teshuva (YD 286:10) quotes R’ Dov Berish Gottlieb (Yad Haketana Mezuza 2:21) who writes that the Shulchan Aruch is referring to temporary market stalls, comparing them to sukkos that do not require mezuzos. A permanent shop, however, would require a mezuza (see Perisha 286:22).

According to the Aruch Hashulchan (YD 286:26), Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (11:14) and R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer YD 10:58:28) one should attach a mezuza with a beracha. However, the Ben Ish Chai (Rav Pealim YD 2:36; Ki Savo 2:22), R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 2:83; 4:89; 4:90; 10:96:3), R’ Moshe Stern (Baer Moshe 2:90), R’ Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 10:4:2) and R’ Moshe Sternbuch (Teshuvos Vehanhagos 1:647) write that the owner should affix a mezuza without a beracha.

Nonetheless, R’ Wosner adds that one does not need to protest those who do say a beracha, and R’ Ovadia Yosef writes that one does not need to protest those that do not say a beracha.

In conclusion, the general minhag in to affix a mezuza without a beracha, though some do recite a beracha.

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