Dose of Halacha

Question: We have just signed a year’s lease on a new flat. When should we affix our mezuzos ? Answer: The Gemara (Menachos 44a) teaches that while one who rents a home in Eretz Yisrael must affix a mezuza immediately, one who rents a home in chutz la’aretz is not obligated to affix a mezuza for the first thirty days. Thus, one who rents a holiday home in chutz la’aretz for a week or two has no obligation to affix a mezuza . When the rental is for more than thirty days, however, there is a machlokes as to when the mezuza should be affixed and when the beracha should be recited. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe YD 1:179) cites R’ Yaakov Tzvi Mecklenburg (Derech HachaimMezuza 16), who maintains that one renting a property for permanent residence is obligated to affix a mezuza immediately. Although most poskim disagree, R’ Moshe considers it appropriate to follow this view, and notes that this is the common practice. Regarding the beracha , R’ Moshe cites R’ Tzvi Hirsch Ei...

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...