We're continuing over here with the daily halacha (Jewish law). Can one say the Beracha (blessing) of Asher Yatzar (Who formed) right outside the restroom? In many homes, in many shuls, in synagogues, they put the Asher Yatzar sign on the wall, which is a very good thing to do, because then the person remembers to say the Beracha right away, right after they wash their hands. There's a time limit for how long you're able to say Asher Yatzar after one leaves the restroom. There's a Machloket (dispute) about whether the time window is a half-hour or 72 minutes. But definitely, one should say Asher Yatzar right after he leaves the restroom, after they wash their hands, and not wait until 30 minutes. And according to some opinions, even if the time limit is 72 minutes, they should say it right away, not push it off. We're going to discuss that B'ezrat Hashem (with God's help). However, the question over here is, can one say the Beracha right outside the restroom?
The answer is, a person cannot say any tefillah, any prayer, facing the restroom, whether it's Birkat HaMazon (Grace after Meals), whether it's Amidah (Standing Prayer), whether it's learning Torah—I'm talking about talking and learning—or a person saying Tehillim (Psalms). If you're facing the restroom, even if you're far away—let's say a person is saying Birkat HaMazon, he's sitting at the dining room table, and the architecture of the house is such that while he's sitting, he's able to see one of the restrooms on the first floor, and the door is open, and you see, you see the restroom, you see the toilet seat—even though you're far away, even if the bathroom is clean, you cannot say Birkat HaMazon. You first must close the door and not face the restroom. Only then can you say Birkat HaMazon, or turn your back so you don't face the restroom. That's halacha number one.
By the way, this goes for the Amidah. If a person is praying at home, whatever it is, you should make sure the bathroom doors are closed at all times, even if they're clean. Only then can you pray, because you can't pray while you're facing the restroom when the door is open, unless you turn your back and you're at least eight feet away from the restroom, ten feet away from the restroom.
Now, let's say a person is standing right outside the bathroom, and you want to say Asher Yatzar. This happens very, very often in shuls, in synagogues. The halacha is, you're not allowed to say the Asher Yatzar after you wash your hands while facing the restroom. The door has to be closed. If the door is closed and it doesn't smell, then a person can say the Asher Yatzar right by the sinks over there, and after you wash your hands, it's Asher Yatzar. But if the door is open, then you can't, and if the door is closed, you could. However, if there's a strong smell coming out of the bathroom, you also cannot make the Asher Yatzar even when the door is closed. You have to walk away to a safe spot where it doesn't smell anymore. Only then can you make the Asher Yatzar. And a person has to be careful. This happens a lot of times in public locations where a person wants to say Asher Yatzar. A person needs to be careful where they can say Asher Yatzar after their hands are clean.