Hanging Mezuza

Question: The top nail came out of our mezuza case causing the mezuza to hang upside down on the bottom nail. Do I need to recite a new beracha when reaffixing it?

Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 8:15) writes that if one’s tallis accidentally slipped off, one should recite a new beracha when putting it back on. The Pischei Teshuva (YD 289:1) and the Aruch Hashulchan (YD 289:4) compare this to a mezuza that fell, writing that one is required to recite a new beracha upon replacing a fallen mezuza.

However, R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer YD 3:17:11) writes that one does not recite a new beracha, arguing that there is a fundamental difference between tzitzis, which one is no longer obligated to wear when they are no longer wearing a tallis, and a mezuza, which must be affixed to one’s doorway at all times.

Nonetheless, the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (11:7), Chayei Adam (Kuntres Hamezuza 289:7) and R’ Menashe Klein (Mishne Halachos 7:186) write that one does say a new beracha if the mezuza had fallen.

R’ Moshe Stern (Baer Moshe 6:6) quotes his father (Shulchan Eish OC 8:15) who questions whether one recites the beracha if the mezuza partially falls. He explains that this doubt would not apply in our scenario where the mezuza was hanging upside down or if the mezuza was hanging freely on the top nail. In such cases, one would have to affix it with a new beracha. Similarly, R’ Yaakov Yeshaya Blau (Chovas Hadar 11:15:n29) writes that one recites a new beracha even if the mezuza did not totally fall.

In conclusion, if one’s mezuza fell so that it was not hanging properly, one must affix it and recite a new beracha. Some Sephardim do so without reciting a beracha.