Corridor to a Bathroom
Question: We have just installed an en-suite bathroom, and there is a small corridor leading to it from the bedroom. Does this corridor require a mezuza ? Answer: The Gemara (Yoma 11a) teaches that a toilet room, bathhouse, tannery and mikve are exempt from mezuza . The Ritva explains that it is undignified for a mezuza to be situated in a place where people stand unclothed. Rashi, however, explains that such a place is not appropriate for kavod Shamayim . The Shulchan Aruch (YD 286:4) follows Rashi’s reasoning, ruling that these places are exempt because they are not diras kavod , a respectable dwelling. The Shach (YD 286:11) adds that even covering the mezuza does not help. The exemption is not merely because of the bizayon of the mezuza ; the place itself is not included in the mitzva . Therefore, one should not affix a mezuza there (see Aruch Hashulchan YD 286:5) . R’ Shmuel Wosner (Shevet Halevi 7:171) extends this principle to a corridor leading to a bathroom. He di...