Dear Rabbi Simon
As I understand it, we say berachot (blessings) such as asher yatzar (recited after using the privy) outside of the toilet room itself.
But in Tractate Berachot the gemara discusses in detail where we can/can’t say berachot and it seems more lenient i.e if there is waste/foul smell then we don’t say Keriat Shema etc.
If that is the criterion, with modern plumbing, if a toilet room is clean, and there is no foul smell, would it be permissible to say a berachah in the room, or not? Sometimes people wash for bread in a WC so is it required to say the berachah outside even if the WC is clean?
Thank you for clarifying this
Asher
Dear Asher,
Thank you for your question.
You are correct about the relevance of the cleanliness and absence of malodour WRT reciting blessings (also Shema, etc.). However, the Talmud also refers to a permanent or established privy, which retains the status of the prohibition of blessings, etc, even if it is clean (once it has been used as a lavatory for the first time). For this reason, we avoid reciting blessings in a space designated as a lavatory under all circumstances.
Nevertheless, if there is no easy alternative, one can wash his hands ritually (ie for eating bread, and certainly upon arising) there, and recite the berachah outside. Many rely on this approach on an airplane, for example. There are those who advance the view that a modern toilet facility should not be subject to these restrictions altogether (as per your question), however the accepted practice is as above.
Best wishes
Rabbi Rashi Simon